Suriname Rainforest’s New Frog
Survey Highlights Dangers of Climate Change and Gold Mining
Colorful frog is one of 24 new species found in world's largest undisturbed rainforest. Droughts and illegal gold mining may affect their continued existence.
A bright purple frog, believed to be a new species for the genus Atelopus, is on its way to becoming the poster child for some of South America’s tropical rainforests, which are threatened by development and climate change. Twenty four new species were found in a survey conducted in Suriname, the former Dutch Guiana, over the past two years. And a total of 467 separate species were counted in the 2 undisturbed sites surveyed. But illegal gold mining threatens the area, and recent droughts that are believed to result from climate change also threaten the frogs.
The New Species
The fluorescent frog is one of 4 new frog species found. Six new fish, twelve new dung beetles and a new ant species rounded out the discoveries. The 467 separate species enumerated are proof of the rich biodiversity of this ecosystem. The Atelopus frog, being the most colorful, will be used to draw attention to the plight of the entire rainforest ecosystem including its less photogenic species, like the dung beetles and ants. His bright colors even overshadow the rediscovery of a species of fish thought to have gone extinct.
Frogs and Droughts
Declines in frog populations around the world, although well documented, are not completely understood. But one of the factors affecting frogs is a fungal disease which makes their skin more vulnerable to infection. During droughts the frogs’ skin is more susceptible to the fungus. The good news from this survey is that the frogs in the undisturbed area do not appear to have the fungus and their populations are thriving.
Mining Contamination Concerns
A further concern is that some water sources have been contaminated with mercury from the illegal gold mining industry. The mercury is released during the amalgamation process but further mercury is released as the mining erodes soils which are naturally rich in mercury. Preventing illegal mining activities in this area will be a priority in protecting it. The presumed extinction of the armored catfish (Harttiella crassicauda) was believed to have occured because the last river it was found in was later contaminated by mercury.
The survey was co-sponsored by Conservation International, BHP-Billiton Maatschappij Suriname (BMS) and Suriname Aluminium Company LLC (Suralco), a subsidiary of Alcoa Inc. The aluminium companies were potentially interested in mining bauxite in the area. Conservation International hopes that, by working with the mining interests, ecological impacts of any mining activities will be reduced by this cooperative effort.
The Guyana Shield, as this area is known, is the world's largest expanse of undisturbed tropical rainforest. With nearly 20% of the world’s water running though it, protection of that water from contamination is important for more than just the frogs.
