Amphibians are among nature's most sensitive messengers about changing climate. Their exposure to both land and water means they can reflect the health of both ecosystems and the transition zones between them, such as wetlands.They serve as important bioindicators, reflecting environmental changes such as pollution and habitat loss. The decline or extinction of amphibians can destabilize food webs, reduce biodiversity, and disrupt essential ecological functions.
Their population trends provide early warning signals about shifts in local climate, such as the onset of droughts, changes in rainfall timing, or increased frequency of extreme weather events.
These tiny, seemingly insignificant creatures are a treasure trove of information for scientists and speak to us about climate change and its immediate ramifications.
My love for Amphibians
Picture a spring morning in the mountains of Costa Rica thirty years ago, the forest floor alive with rustling leaves and the gentle chorus of dozens of frog species. Today, that same forest is eerily quiet. The frogs have vanished, leaving behind only dried leaf litter that decomposes faster in the warming air. This haunting silence tells a story that scientists around the world are learning to read: amphibians hold the climate crystal ball, and their absence portends a gloomy future.
Six months in the Aravallis with biologist, Dr. Robin Suyesh taught me to hear what I once overlooked - the choir of frogs and the never-ending secret songs of the forest. Over time, I've grown a profound appreciation for these fantastic creatures.
Amphibians - frogs, toads, salamanders, and their relatives are essentially living thermometers and rain gauges. Unlike mammals and birds, amphibians rely on the environment to regulate their body temperature—just a small change can impact their energy, behavior, and survival.
Most amphibians drink through their skin, acting like a biological *sponge that constantly exchanges moisture with the environment. Their eggs, lacking protective shells, are equally vulnerable to temperature and moisture fluctuations.
Catching a frog doesn’t harm human skin but vice-versa! They usually keep themselves groomed.
Their skin breathes the environment, their bodies mirror its warmth, and their lives depend on rhythms of rain - because they respond quickly to shifts in climatic conditions. They also have limited dispersal ability - they can't easily pack up and move when conditions become unfavorable, which means they must adapt in place or perish. This makes amphibians purveyors of early biological signals of climate change.
Amphibians also play a critical ecological role as both predators and prey, helping regulate insect populations and supporting species such as birds, mammals, snakes, and fish. Their larvae, like tadpoles, contribute to nutrient cycling by consuming algae and breaking down organic matter, maintaining the productivity of aquatic ecosystems.
Reading the Amphibian Weather Report
Scientists monitor amphibians like meteorologists track storms, watching for three key indicators.
Physiological changes: include shrinking body size as animals struggle with increased energy demands in warming temperatures, making them more prone to diseases.
Behavioral shifts: Warmer temperatures and changes in rainfall can cause amphibians to breed earlier in the year, shift their migration timing, or even emerge from hibernation during unseasonal weather.
Demographic impacts: Most dramatically, scientists track how they migrate gradually seeking cooler temperatures, while others face extinction. These patterns teach us about impending weather calamities. 93% of threatened amphibians are affected by habitat loss*
Working on Amphibians is no easy task. I burnt more than 300 calories a day just scouting them.
The Current Amphibian Report Card
The news is sobering. According to The International Union for Conservation of Nature, globally 41% of amphibians are showing clear signs of climate stress. In India, the western ghats are most vulnerable with nearly one-third of amphibian species threatened with extinction, including many found nowhere else. In the Appalachian Mountains, six salamander species have shrunk in size over 55 years of warming and drying trends. The famous *golden toad was last seen in 1989, and was declared extinct in 2004.
The golden toad’s extinction was rapid and mysterious. It’s assumed that they disappeared due to sudden climate change in Costa Rica.
Perhaps most concerning are the disappearances. For instance, in Ecuador, the upslope movement of cloud layers threatens the endemic Bumpy glass frog. This is not to say we can’t do anything to change the status quo. Nature knows how to heal itself. During the pandemic, nature rewilded - all known frog and toad species in Delhi-NCR resurfaced, thriving alongside residential setups in a rare revival. We just have to do better.
Climate models predict that over 40% of more than 8000 amphibian species could die out in the coming decades.
Amphibians have survived massive environmental changes — from adapting to ice ages and volcanic catastrophes over millions of years. The question is whether they can adapt fast enough to keep pace with today's unprecedented rate of change?Your guess is as good as mine.
On that somber note, it’s safe to say the fate of my fellow creatures may very well mirror our own planet's future.