Scientists have concluded that global climate change is forcing many species of frogs and toads to switch to a plant-based diet.
As you know, adults of most frogs feed mainly on small invertebrates, although some species are omnivorous, and some prefer fruits. Toads are also typical predators. Most often they eat butterflies, snails, worms, fish fry. Moreover, large toads are able to hunt frogs, small rodents and lizards.
Now scientists from Sweden and Portugal have found out how global warming affects the diet of frogs and toads. The results were reported in the journal Ecology. As part of the experiment, three groups of tadpoles representing different species were considered. The first was fed exclusively plant foods, and the second was fed with animal food. Tadpoles from the third group could choose their food. The researchers drew attention to the fact that when the water temperature rises, the "volunteers" of the third group began to give preference to plant foods. They also found that a vegetarian diet allowed them to increase survival and accelerate development.
According to one of the authors of the work, Germán Orizaola, the findings may be relevant for many species of animals whose home is the aquatic environment. So in the future, the latter, obviously, will face major changes.
The dominant role in global climate change is played by the warming of the World Ocean. Since the 1970s, it is there that at least 90% of all warming energy has been accumulated. Scientists call the activity of people the cause of the phenomenon itself.
Recently, we recall, another group of scientists found out how global warming will affect butterflies living in countries with temperate climates. It turned out that warm winter weather, more frequent torrential rains, as well as a number of other phenomena will lead to the extinction of many species of Lepidoptera, including cabbage and small-eyed cabbage, by the middle of the century. Moreover, in the case of some species, an increase in temperature contributes to greater fertility of adults.
Ilya Vedmedenko
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