Scientist To Discuss Climate Change at YCP
Posted October 12, 2007FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
YORK, Pa. - The first scientist to document a direct correlation between global warming and mass species extinction will speak at York College on October 30 at 7 p.m. in DeMeester Theater.
An estimated two thirds of Central and South America's 110 brightly colored harlequin frog species have vanished in the past 20 years. This recent mass extinction associated with pathogen outbreaks is tied to global warming.
"The basic message is that global warming is already causing species extinctions, and a lot of them," Dr. Alan Pounds says. "In this case lethal disease may be the bullet, but climate change is pulling the trigger."
The bullet is the chytrid fungus. The fungus grows on the skin of amphibians and produces aquatic zoospores creating a potentially fatal dermatological condition. The trigger is higher temperature. Global warming may have created ideal conditions for the fungus to grow.
The lecture is free and open to the public. For more information please contact Dr. Keith Peterman at 815-1334.
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