Chapter 4, Problem 1CR

To determine

The term amphibian, the threat faced by these organisms and the result of the extinction of amphibians due to human activities.

Answer to Problem 1CR

Amphibians are the group of vertebrates that have a dual mode of life. They can live in water and also have a terrestrial life. The amphibians are facing the threat of extinction due to an increase in the hunting activities for the skin, flesh and so on.

The result of the extinction of the amphibian can imbalance the food chain and pose serious consequences to the existence of different organism including humans.

Explanation of Solution

The amphibians are the class of organisms that are cold-blooded animals and live a dual mode. They live in water and also on land, they require water for fertilization. Therefore they are not completely terrestrial animals. The amphibians include frogs, salamanders, toads, and many others.

The amphibians are facing a constant threat of extinction due to the increase in animal hunting, poaching, water pollution, and deforestation. The hunting and poaching include the killing of the animals for various products like skin, nails, horns, teeth, hoofs and so on. This is leading to a progressive decrease in the number of amphibians in several areas.

The deforestation also causes the extinction of the animals as the natural habitat for the amphibians is lost which makes them incapable of surviving in the changing habitat, and as a result, the animals tend to die. The water pollution also causes the destruction of habitat due to the development of various types of disease and infections in amphibians.

The extinction or a decrease in the majority of the amphibian population can result in destructive effects. This is because the amphibians form an important part of the food chain that works to balance various natural processes. The amphibians also act as important bioindicators, implying they can indicate the deteriorating condition of a particular area and its likeliness of causing infections.

The frogs and toads are known to feed on the larva of the mosquito that spread diseases like malaria, typhoid. Without these amphibians, the incidence of such diseases would increase drastically. They also keep the water bodies clean by eating off the algae and other fungal population.