Question

Thousands of golden toes shown below used to occupy the tropical forest of Costa Rica in the late 1980s however usually warm weather cause many of the pools that the tow used as breeding areas to dry up by 2004. The golden toad was listed as extinct this example demonstrates how, the answer be extinction as called by bacteria, fungi, and other infectious agents or extinction can be related to a failure to adapt to changes in the environment, or would it be extent extension can be related to invasion by non-native species competing for resources or extension is directly related to human impact

Answer 1

The extinction of the golden toad serves as a poignant example of how multiple factors can contribute to the decline of a species. In the case of the golden toad, several of the reasons you've mentioned may have played a role:

1. Environmental Changes: The drying up of breeding pools due to warmer weather is a significant environmental change that can directly impact species that rely on specific habitats for reproduction. This demonstrates how failure to adapt to rapid climate changes can lead to extinction.

2. Diseases: The golden toad was affected by chytridiomycosis, a fungal disease caused by the chytrid fungus, which has been devastating amphibian populations worldwide. This highlights how infectious agents can contribute to extinction.

3. Invasive Species: While the specific case of the golden toad does not emphasize invasive species, the introduction of non-native species can often disrupt local ecosystems by competing for resources or introducing new diseases.

4. Human Impact: Human activities, such as habitat destruction, pollution, and climate change, significantly affect many species' survival prospects. The golden toad's habitat in Costa Rica likely faced pressures from these factors, contributing to its decline.

In summary, the extinction of the golden toad illustrates a complex interplay of environmental changes, disease, possible invasive species, and human impact, all of which can lead to the extinction of a species.