The extinction of the golden toad is a complex issue that can be attributed to multiple factors, including:
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Environmental Changes: The tropical forests of Costa Rica experienced significant changes in climate, including warmer temperatures and altered rainfall patterns, which led to the drying up of the pools that were essential for the toads' breeding. Such changes can drastically affect amphibian populations that depend on specific environmental conditions for their survival.
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Disease: The golden toad's decline has also been associated with the spread of infectious diseases such as chytridiomycosis, caused by the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. This disease has devastated amphibian populations worldwide, leading to massive declines and extinctions.
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Habitat Loss: Deforestation and habitat destruction due to human activities have resulted in the loss of critical habitats for many species, including the golden toad. The fragmentation of their habitat inhibits their ability to find mates and resources.
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Invasive Species: Non-native species can compete with native species for resources, introduce new diseases, or disrupt local ecosystems in other ways, further contributing to the decline of native amphibian populations.
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Human Impact: Overall, many of the above factors are directly related to human impacts on the environment, such as climate change, habitat destruction, pollution, and the introduction of non-native species.
In conclusion, the extinction of the golden toad exemplifies how multiple interrelated factors, including climate change, disease, habitat loss, and human activities, can contribute to the decline and eventual extinction of a species. Therefore, while it's accurate to say that human impact plays a significant role, it is crucial to recognize the interplay of various ecological and biological factors that led to the toad's extinction.