Half of Europe's frogs face extinction More than half of all
amphibian species in Europe could become extinct by 2050 because
of a combination of habitat loss, infectious diseases and the
effects of climate change, scientists have found. The latest
assessment of frogs, toads, salamanders and newts suggests many
will be severely threatened in the coming decades, especially in
southern Europe where the climate is expected to become
significantly warmer and drier. But even familiar British
amphibians such as the common frog and toad are highly
vulnerable, said Trent Garner, of the Zoological Society of
London. "Published projections show that climate change alters
amphibians' habitats so we expect a large number of species to
be faced with loss of habitat and, ultimately, extinction," Dr
Garner said yesterday. "In the UK, we are already seeing common
toads losing condition and experiencing reduced survival. As
climate change continues to impact habitats, the situation gets
far worse for these native species," he