This has nothing to do with global warming. Please do not post this spam
there!

"Lion Kuntz" wrote in message
om...

http://www.oaklandtribune.com/Storie...009418,00.html

Pesticides blamed in decline of 3 additional frog species
Research shows more than red-legged likely hurt by chemicals
By Don Thompson, Associated Press
SACRAMENTO -- Pesticides may be a cause in the decline of three frog
species in addition to the threatened California red-legged frog, a
new study says.

University researchers previously found pesticides were hurting the
red-legged frog, believed to be the amphibian featured in Mark Twain's
tale "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County."

Now they have found that wind-blown farm chemicals may be a factor as
well in the decline of populations of the mountain yellow-legged frog,
the foothill yellow-legged frog and the Cascades frog.

The study follows a lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency filed in April by the Center for Biological Diversity.

The environmental group accused the EPA of ignoring the Endangered
Species Act by allowing certain pesticides to remain on the market
even though they are known to kill or deform the red-legged frog. The
EPA denied the allegations.

Only about 10 percent of the historic red-legged frog population
remains, and only four regions have populations with more than 350
frogs.

The new study by California State University, Sacramento,
environmental studies professor Carlos Davidson; Brad Schaffer of the
Center for Population Biology at the University of California, Davis;
and Mark Jennings of Rana Resources is published in the current issue
of the journal "Conservation Biology."

The researchers also studied the effects not only of windblown
pesticides, but of habitat loss, ultraviolet radiation and climate
change on eight amphibian species found in distinct areas of
California.

Of the four factors, windborne pesticides could be linked to
population drops for all four frogs. Historic habitat where the frogs
no longer exist had up to four times more agricultural use than areas
where the four species are still found.

California Plant Health Association President Steve Beckley said the
pesticide industry association hadn't had a chance to review the study
and had no comment.

California Department of Pesticide Regulation spokesman Glenn Brank
said department scientists found Davidson's earlier research "to be of
significant interest and concern." The department will evaluate the
latest study to see if there is a need for regulatory action, he said.

Davidson now is looking back at historic pesticide use and the decline
of the four species, while he and Schaffer are studying whether low
concentrations of pesticides can make amphibians more vulnerable to
disease.

Ditto with alt.forestry, cut your own damn headers.

--
DS
"Alastair McDonald" wrote in
message ...
This has nothing to do with global warming. Please do not post this spam
there!

"Lion Kuntz" wrote in message
om...


http://www.oaklandtribune.com/Storie...009418,00.html

Pesticides blamed in decline of 3 additional frog species
Research shows more than red-legged likely hurt by chemicals
By Don Thompson, Associated Press
SACRAMENTO -- Pesticides may be a cause in the decline of three frog
species in addition to the threatened California red-legged frog, a
new study says.

University researchers previously found pesticides were hurting the
red-legged frog, believed to be the amphibian featured in Mark Twain's
tale "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County."

Now they have found that wind-blown farm chemicals may be a factor as
well in the decline of populations of the mountain yellow-legged frog,
the foothill yellow-legged frog and the Cascades frog.

The study follows a lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency filed in April by the Center for Biological Diversity.

The environmental group accused the EPA of ignoring the Endangered
Species Act by allowing certain pesticides to remain on the market
even though they are known to kill or deform the red-legged frog. The
EPA denied the allegations.

Only about 10 percent of the historic red-legged frog population
remains, and only four regions have populations with more than 350
frogs.

The new study by California State University, Sacramento,
environmental studies professor Carlos Davidson; Brad Schaffer of the
Center for Population Biology at the University of California, Davis;
and Mark Jennings of Rana Resources is published in the current issue
of the journal "Conservation Biology."

The researchers also studied the effects not only of windblown
pesticides, but of habitat loss, ultraviolet radiation and climate
change on eight amphibian species found in distinct areas of
California.

Of the four factors, windborne pesticides could be linked to
population drops for all four frogs. Historic habitat where the frogs
no longer exist had up to four times more agricultural use than areas
where the four species are still found.

California Plant Health Association President Steve Beckley said the
pesticide industry association hadn't had a chance to review the study
and had no comment.

California Department of Pesticide Regulation spokesman Glenn Brank
said department scientists found Davidson's earlier research "to be of
significant interest and concern." The department will evaluate the
latest study to see if there is a need for regulatory action, he said.

Davidson now is looking back at historic pesticide use and the decline
of the four species, while he and Schaffer are studying whether low
concentrations of pesticides can make amphibians more vulnerable to
disease.