SGER: A Pre-Extirpation Study of the Role of Stream-Dwelling Frogs

PringleSGER：一项关于溪流青蛙作用的灭绝前研究科学家们已经证明，在哥斯达黎加和巴拿马的三个高地，大约50%的青蛙种群已经消失，灭绝的物种几乎完全由溪流青蛙组成。有证据表明，疾病流行的典型特征是从北到南的“灭绝浪潮”。科学家们一致认为，巴拿马西部的溪流青蛙种群濒临灭绝。青蛙数量的减少预计将影响陆地和水生环境，并对食物网和生物地球化学循环产生影响。目前，我们对溪流青蛙在这些生态系统中的作用几乎没有定量的了解。该项目的研究人员将评估巴拿马河流青蛙的作用，预计在未来几年内，青蛙种群的灭绝将大大改变这些地点。

Abstract00-01615PringleSGER: A pre-extirpation study of the role of stream-dwelling frogsScientists have documented that ~50% of the total frog population has disappeared from three upland sites in Costa Rica and Panama, and that extirpated species are comprised almost exclusively of stream-dwelling frogs. Evidence indicates a north-to-south 'wave of extinction' typical of disease epidemics. There is unanimous agreement among scientists that stream-dwelling frog populations in western Panama are in imminent danger of extirpation. Loss of frog populations is expected to affect both terrestrial and aquatic environments, with impacts on food webs and biogeochemical cycles. We presently have little quantitative knowledge about the roles of stream-dwelling frogs in these ecosystems. The investigators in this project will assess the roles of stream-dwelling frogs in Panama at sites which are expected to be dramatically altered within the upcoming years by the extirpation of frog populations.