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Specialists
analyzing conservation needs of amphibians in Costa
Rica
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff The Simón Bolívar National Zoological Park* and Botanical Garden houses more than 35 amphibian specialists from Costa Rica, Latin America, and the United States. During this week, the zoo is holding a seminar for international specialists in charge of updating the list of species in extinction known as the Red List of Species of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. From September 9 - 13, according to Fundazoo, the organization in charge of the zoo, they will be analyzing 216 species of frogs, toads, and salamanders among other species. All of which are located in different categories of the Red List. "During the seminar, 175 evaluations of existing amphibians of Costa Rica will be updated, as well as the incorporation of 24 species that are not currently on the list," said Jennifer Luedtke, coordinator of the study. According to the foundation, the Red List of species is the complete source of information, worldwide, on the risk of species extinction. It is a compilation of the conservation status of the species with the best scientific information of today, including information on threats and conservation actions, generated based on the knowledge of thousands of scientists. The goal of the Red List is to achieve the incorporation of 160,000 species from around the world by 2020. It has the participation of 1400 organizations and governments, in addition to 900 employees in 50 countries, six commissions, and 14,000 volunteers in specialized groups. "This information compiled on the Red List is used by the United Nations, scientists, and organizations around the world, and citizens in general, to inform and educate about the vulnerability of species," said Fundazoo in its statement. This study is also supported by the Alliance for Zero Extinction, know as AZE, to identify, conserve, and safeguard the most important sites to prevent the extinction of species worldwide. "The goal of this project is to review the sites identified in Costa Rica for their importance to amphibians and identify sites that could be incorporated," said AZE in its statement. According to the foundation, these studies are part of the work done by the World Association of Zoos & Aquariums, know as WAZA. Since 2007, WAZA is developing a global action plan for the conservation of amphibians for the exchange of scientific information worldwide, between zoos and captive projects, as well as scholarships for conservation and training projects. According to the Amphibian Survival Alliance, around 40 percent of amphibian species are threatened with extinction. Some of the benefits of these animals to ecosystems are: - Amphibians play an important role in nature, both as predators and prey. - They eat pest insects, which benefits agriculture around the world and they help minimize the spread of disease, including malaria. - Amphibian skin contains a myriad of different types of peptides, offering possible medical cures for a variety of human diseases. - Amphibian skin is already used in some painkillers, high blood pressure medication and to block HIV transmission and treat antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains. As species disappear, so do potential treatments. - Amphibians' ability to regrow limbs is being studied to shed light on how to improve tissue regeneration and growth. - Amphibians were the first vertebrates to colonize land evolving around 370 million years ago and have survived four mass extinction events. ------------------------ Have you seen any of the members of team A, during local surfing competitions in your community? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com |
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