When deformed frogs-many with missing legs or eyes, footless stumps, or misshapen jaws-began to emerge from Minnesota wetlands, alarm bells went off. What caused such deformities? Pollution? Ultraviolet rays? Biological agents? And could the mysterious cause also pose a threat to humans? Former government biologist Judy Helgen provides an inside view of a highly charged environmental issue that continues to spark controversy among scientists, politicians, and government agencies. Book jacket.
In the tradition of "The Hot Zone" comes an explosive investigation into a global catastrophe in the making. Moving from America's swamps and wetlands to laboratories and government back rooms, Souder dramatically reveals the warning implicit in an outbreak of mutated frogs, explaining the importance of the amphibians to our fragile ecosystems and suggesting what their possible extinction means to the habitability of the planet for all species, including the human race.
The widespread appearance of frogs with deformed bodies has generated much press coverage over the past decade. Frogs with extra limbs or digits, missing limbs or digits, or misaligned appendages raise an alarming question: "Are deformed humans next?" Taking a fresh look at this disturbing environmental problem, this reference provides a balanced overview of the science behind the malformed frog phenomenon. Bringing together data from ecology, parasitology, and other disciplines, Michael Lannoo considers the possible causes of these deformities, tells which frogs have been affected, and addresses questions about what these malformations might mean to human populations. Featuring high-quality radiographic images, Malformed Frogs suggests that our focus should be on finding practical solutions, a key component of which will be controlling chemical, nutrient, and pesticide runoff into wetlands.
Documents in comprehensive detail a major environmental crisis: rapidly declining amphibian populations and the disturbing developmental problems that are increasingly prevalent within many amphibian species.
Frogs and toads have become canaries in the coal mine when it comes to conservation, as the discovery of malformed frogs has brought increased attention to global habitat loss, declining biodiversity, and environmental pollution. Midwestern species of frogs and toads—already declining due to habitat loss from agriculture—have been greatly affected by this worldwide phenomenon. VanDeWalle includes a complete description of each species along with distinguishing characteristics for three subspecies, information about range and habitat preferences, diet, types of calls, and breeding season.
This is ideal for middle and high school teachers and nature center staff who want to mix serious issues with amazing science. Plentiful, diverse, and readily available, these animals - known in science as 'herps' - are also perfect for teaching students about biology, ecology, and conservation. This highly readable resource melds rigorous science content with science research.
Offers substantial information designed for use by both amateurs and specialists and useful to residents of other Upper Midwest states and bordering Canadian provinces as well. Introductory chapters present the history of herpetology in Minnesota, the preferred habitats of these species, techniques
Second Edition Available February 2008! "The Ad Hoc Committee to Oversee the Use of the Catechism, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, has found this catechetical textbook, Living Justice and Peace, copyright 2002, to be in conformity with the Catechism of the Catholic Church." "What is justice? How can I respond to the call of justice in my daily life?" Living Justice and Peace is a one-semester course for eleventh and twelfth graders that gives students practical ways to respond to the call to justice in their daily lives. The Living Justice and Peace course fosters students' sense of compassion for those who suffer from injustice and enables students to examine society critically, using the values of the Scriptures and Catholic teaching. Specific topics are addressed, including abortion, capital punishment, racism, poverty, the environment, violence, and peace. Colorful graphs, charts, student artwork, and illustrations engage students with the text. True stories of people transforming the world through justice and peace and "what you can do" sidebars give teens practical applications for the teachings. This course encourages teens to imagine ways to work toward justice and peace--and to act on their beliefs.
Some investigators have hypothesized that estrogens and other hormonally active agents found in the environment might be involved in breast cancer increases and sperm count declines in humans as well as deformities and reproductive problems seen in wildlife. This book looks in detail at the science behind the ominous prospect of "estrogen mimics" threatening health and well-being, from the level of ecosystems and populations to individual people and animals. The committee identifies research needs and offers specific recommendations to decision-makers. This authoritative volume: Critically evaluates the literature on hormonally active agents in the environment and identifies known and suspected toxicologic mechanisms and effects of fish, wildlife, and humans. Examines whether and how exposure to hormonally active agents occursâ€"in diet, in pharmaceuticals, from industrial releases into the environmentâ€"and why the debate centers on estrogens. Identifies significant uncertainties, limitations of knowledge, and weaknesses in the scientific literature. The book presents a wealth of information and investigates a wide range of examples across the spectrum of life that might be related to these agents.
