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Article: Sunlight and Fungus As Amphibian Hazards; While Thinning Ozone Lets In UV Rays, Disease Also Spreads, Researcher Suspects
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- March 7, 1994
- Author:
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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The mysterious, worldwide decline in populations of frogs,
toads and salamanders - which has been puzzling and alarming
biologists at least since 1989 - might be a result of increased
solar radiation leaking through a thinned ozone shield.
When researchers announced that possibility last week, many
news reports left the alarming impression that an increase in
ultraviolet radiation was clearly threatening the world's
amphibians. In fact, no such long-term increase has been observed.
Moreover, the biologist who made the headlines believes that
another cause is just as likely: An amphibian-killing fungal disease
has been spreading throughout the world's aquatic habitats and is
known to be ...