Combined effects of copper, climate change can be deadly for amphibians, research finds

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-04/uog-ceo041116.php

Public Release: 11-Apr-2016
Combined effects of copper, climate change can be deadly for amphibians, research finds
University of Georgia

Researchers at the University of Georgia's Savannah River Ecology Laboratory warn that the extinction to two amphibian species--the southern toad and the southern leopard frog--may be hastened by the combined effects of climate change and copper-contaminated wetlands.

Scott Weir, a postdoctoral researcher who led the study, said copper is naturally found in aquatic environments and, to some extent, facilitates physiological processes. However, it is toxic at elevated levels. Seasonal wetlands, which are breeding grounds for amphibians, often contain copper and other contaminants as a result of industrial activities and runoff from roads.

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