Habitat loss and climate change make it tough to be an amphibian. Some humans are helping
On a rainy March evening, John Bateman puts on his boots and a headlamp and heads to a wetland cut through by a busy road. As he walks, he scans the pavement for spring peepers, toads, salamanders and newts making their slow way as they migrate to new habitat each spring, and leans down occasionally to help guide one across.
It's a small act that makes a big difference for these amphibians, who need different habitats for different stages of their life cycle — sometimes wetlands, sometimes drier uplands. Roads often separate these habitats, and migrating amphibians can get squished.
They already face challenges from habitat lost to development. That's especially true for vernal pools, the small pools that show up each spring in forested ecosystems as snow melt and rainwater collect at low points on the ground. These pools hold water as late as July, and provide essential breeding habitat for amphibians like salamanders and frogs.
Larger wetlands can enjoy federal protections, but not the vernal pools, which are too small and temporary.
'Unfortunately, with urban sprawl and development, a lot of the forests are being cleared for new housing developments as people move out of the cities and into the suburbs," said Bateman, a professor of environmental conservation and horticulture at Finger Lakes Community College. "When they clear these forest habitats, vernal pools are going to be buried and become new houses, condominiums, and neighborhoods.'
___
EDITOR'S NOTE: This story is a collaboration between Rochester Institute of Technology and The Associated Press.
___
The U.S. Geological Survey calls amphibian declines 'a global phenomenon' and one that's been underway in the U.S. since at least the 1960s. The agency said populations are dropping almost 4% each year in the U.S.
Development isn't the only threat. Amphibians are being affected by Earth 's changing climate. The Appalachian region is particularly rich in salamander species, and with temperatures rising, their range is shifting northward, Bateman said.
That concerns him.
'At one point you hit the top and there is nowhere else to go," Bateman said.
A warming climate also requires cold-blooded amphibians to spend more time hunting to get the food they need to maintain their metabolism, said Karen Lips, a University of Maryland biology professor whose research found salamanders becoming smaller as a result.
Bateman isn't the only conservationist working to help amphibians.
Margot Fass owns A Frog House, a center for frog advocacy in Pittsford, New York. In April, she raised money and worked with 70 volunteers to build three vernal pools as part of Save the Frogs Day. The pools should help amphibians, but will also be a source of water for birds and other wildlife.
Fass grows animated as she talks about chemical-free gardens and their importance to amphibians: 'One spray of pesticides can kill a frog within an hour. It's just horrible."
Both she and Bateman are strong believers in educating their communities to help amphibians. They often give talks in schools, libraries and to various groups.
'It's amazing how few people really know that frogs are endangered or that a third of them have gone extinct," Fass said.
The Genesee Land Trust, a not-for-profit conservation organization, is another active member in preserving and protecting land in the greater Rochester region. It owns Cornwall Preserve in Pultneyville, New York, on the edge of Lake Ontario. The trust bought the 77-acre property in 2016, becoming the first non-farmers to own the land in 200 years. They're preserving the historical farmland and in doing so have restored some wetlands and vernal pools.
'The wetland immediately served a population of birds after we first started digging,' said Elliotte Bowerman, the trust's director of communications.
Catching amphibians may just be a nostalgic childhood memory for most, but for Bateman it never lost its magic. He believes preserving wetlands and vernal pools is critical not only for the amphibians and the environment, but for the next generation to experience the childlike wonder of discovering these hidden creatures.
'I think that the future generations are absolutely going to be at a loss to not have those experiences that I did as a child, to have that connection with nature," he said.
___
The Associated Press' climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
37 minutes ago
- Reuters
US judge blocks slashing of universities' federal funding from National Science Foundation
WASHINGTON, June 20 (Reuters) - A federal judge on Friday blocked the National Science Foundation from sharply cutting research funding provided to universities in the latest legal setback to efforts by U.S. President Donald Trump's administration to slash government support of research at major academic institutions.
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
ChatGPT use linked to cognitive decline, research reveals
Relying on the artificial intelligence chatbot ChatGPT to help you write an essay could be linked to cognitive decline, a new study reveals. Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Lab studied the impact of ChatGPT on the brain by asking three groups of people to write an essay. One group relied on ChatGPT, one group relied on search engines, and one group had no outside resources at all. The researchers then monitored their brains using electroencephalography, a method which measures electrical activity. The team discovered that those who relied on ChatGPT — also known as a large language model — had the 'weakest' brain connectivity and remembered the least about their essays, highlighting potential concerns about cognitive decline in frequent users. 'Over four months, [large language model] users consistently underperformed at neural, linguistic, and behavioral levels,' the study reads. 'These results raise concerns about the long-term educational implications of [large language model] reliance and underscore the need for deeper inquiry into AI's role in learning.' The study also found that those who didn't use outside resources to write the essays had the 'strongest, most distributed networks.' While ChatGPT is 'efficient and convenient,' those who use it to write essays aren't 'integrat[ing] any of it' into their memory networks, lead author Nataliya Kosmyna told Time Magazine. Kosmyna said she's especially concerned about the impacts of ChatGPT on children whose brains are still developing. 'What really motivated me to put it out now before waiting for a full peer review is that I am afraid in 6-8 months, there will be some policymaker who decides, 'let's do GPT kindergarten,'' Kosmyna said. 'I think that would be absolutely bad and detrimental. Developing brains are at the highest risk.' But others, including President Donald Trump and members of his administration, aren't so worried about the impacts of ChatGPT on developing brains. Trump signed an executive order in April promoting the integration of AI into American schools. 'To ensure the United States remains a global leader in this technological revolution, we must provide our Nation's youth with opportunities to cultivate the skills and understanding necessary to use and create the next generation of AI technology,' the order reads. 'By fostering AI competency, we will equip our students with the foundational knowledge and skills necessary to adapt to and thrive in an increasingly digital society.' Kosmyna said her team is now working on another study comparing the brain activity of software engineers and programmers who use AI with those who don't. 'The results are even worse,' she told Time Magazine.
Reuters
2 hours ago
- Reuters
AseptiScope Reports Major Success in Eliminating Life-Threatening Hospital Infections
SAN DIEGO, CA, June 20, 2025 (EZ Newswire) -- A promising new chapter in infection control has opened as AseptiScope, opens new tab® announces its recent peer-reviewed publication, opens new tab of clinical results using its DiskCover® System, a touch-free stethoscope hygiene solution, by the Journal of Infectiology and Epidemiology. The study documents how healthcare professionals at the Memphis VA Medical Center integrated the system into their infection prevention protocols, resulting in an unprecedented reduction of Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections (CLABSIs) to zero over a one-year period. Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections (CLABSIs) CLABSIs are among the most severe and preventable hospital-acquired infections, typically occurring when pathogens enter the bloodstream via a central venous catheter. These lines are commonly used in critical care to administer medication or collect diagnostic data. Despite rigorous hygiene protocols, including antiseptic bathing and aseptic line management, CLABSI rates persist, posing serious threats to already-vulnerable patients. Until now, stethoscope hygiene has never been included in CLABSI prevention bundles. 'The problem with central line infections is that critically ill patients are vulnerable, and these preventable occurrences can shift a routine procedure into a deadly, critical emergency,' stated Nicole Kupchik, clinical nurse specialist and leading authority on critical care nursing. 'This is not only a significant professional challenge, but I lost a dear friend going through cancer treatment to this preventable, deadly infection.' That changed when infection control specialists Naomi Ragsdale and Wendy Simpson at the Memphis VA took a bold step. Recognizing the stethoscope as a significant but often overlooked vector, frequently called the clinician's 'third hand,' they incorporated AseptiScope's DiskCover System into their CLABSI prevention strategy. The result: a complete elimination of CLABSIs over a 12-month span. AseptiScope's DiskCover System The DiskCover System works by automatically applying a sterile, single-use barrier to the diaphragm of a stethoscope, ensuring that each patient encounter begins with a clean device, something that traditional alcohol wipes fail to guarantee. In fact, numerous studies have shown that not only are alcohol wipes often used incorrectly or inconsistently, but some hospital pathogens are increasingly resistant to alcohol-based disinfectants altogether. Unlike manual cleaning, the DiskCover System is intuitive, immediate, and compatible with fast-paced clinical environments. Located near hand hygiene stations, the device activates with a wave of the stethoscope, applying a clean disk in a second, allowing for seamless patient care without compromising safety. Cindy Cadwell, a nurse practitioner, patient safety and quality expert, has been focused on the problem of stethoscope hygiene for years. 'Our clinical teams want to do all the right things, but today's world is fast moving, and even with the most diligent cleaning, more pathogens than ever are increasingly resistant to cleaning with alcohol and other disinfectants,' said Cadwell. 'So, a barrier system that breaks direct contact is exactly what we've been waiting for; high-quality infection control, that is both clinician and workflow friendly.' Kathleen Vollman, president of the World Federation of Critical Care Nurses, emphasized the implications: 'The stethoscope has been a problem without a solution for a long time, and it seems we finally have what we need here. Tools like this are elegant in their simplicity, but have a huge impact on healthcare. Ultimately, innovation like this saves patient lives, saves time for our clinical teams, and saves money for our hospitals.' Physicians, too, are taking note. Dr. Frank Peacock, a medical doctor, leading authority on stethoscope hygiene and infection control, and co-founder of AseptiScope, stated during an event for the CDC's Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion (DHQP) last year on the subject: 'Placing a disk cover barrier on stethoscopes using a touch-free dispenser means I barely break stride when applying them, and ensures clean patient exams for the first time in my career. The visible barrier doesn't just give me confidence, it also gives the patient comfort, which is fantastic." AseptiScope, a California-based medical device startup, was founded by a team of healthcare veterans. CEO Scott W. Mader, a longtime clinical innovation expert, said the company was born out of a recognition of the overlooked infection risks of stethoscopes. 'I've spent my career bringing health innovations to market, and when we say this enormous gap in patient safety, as the stethoscope is like the clinician touching patients with a dirty third hand,' said Mader. 'The touch-free application of the perfectly clean disk cover barrier blocks any pathogen exposure instantly'. While the DiskCover System is still relatively new to hospitals, its impact is expanding quickly. AseptiScope reports that major cancer centers, urgent care clinics, and primary care facilities are now deploying the device to protect patients, particularly those who are immunocompromised or medically fragile. 'Now our customers are confirming this is not just another product; it's a public health intervention,' Mader added. 'This low-cost, high-impact innovation could prevent life-threatening infections for millions of patients.' Looking forward, AseptiScope is developing additional touch-free devices based on the same principle of automated aseptic barriers. As the Memphis VA's success story gains national attention, hospitals across the U.S. are taking notice. In an age where healthcare systems are under enormous strain and antimicrobial resistance continues to rise, tools like the DiskCover System may offer a critical path forward. About AseptiScope AseptiScope is a healthcare technology company focused on infection prevention for both clinicians and patients. The company develops innovative aseptic solutions aimed at reducing the risk of contamination and infection within healthcare systems. Their flagship product, the DiskCover™ System, addresses the persistent issue of stethoscope contamination—a significant yet often overlooked vector for healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). The DiskCover System is an evidence-based, automated, and touch-free solution designed to create a highly visible and effective infection barrier during patient examinations, filling a critical gap in infection prevention technology. AseptiScope is led by a team of prominent medical professionals and experts in the field. For more information, visit opens new tab. Media Contact Anthony Pham apham@ ### SOURCE: AseptiScope Copyright 2025 EZ Newswire See release on EZ Newswire
