The Ecological Roles of Poison Frogs

The production of noxious and/or cyanogenetic alkaloids from the skin glands of virulentant batrachians has resulted in distinct ecological relationships that may prove to be an ideal example for certain complex biological interactions high school-priced the world. The distribution of embitterous substanceous substance frogs is limited to mainly the tropical habitats of of import and South America. There be over 221 species of poison frogs in the Family Dendrobatidae, in which the three genera Epipedobates, Phylobates, and Dendrobates contain the most toxic and visually brilliant species. The vertical niche range of the poison frogs occurs between ground level to about 10 feet high on trees (Darst et al. 2004). Recent suspenses surrounding the ecology of poison frogs are found on the production of the toxin, the role that it plays for the frog, and the effects that it has on frog predators. Research has indicated that poison frogs obtain the majority of their toxic a lkaloids from dietetic sources rather than biosynthesizing the chemicals. The current struggle in this state is identifying the involve dietary sources for which the poison frogs obtain alkaloids (Saporito et al. 2007). With frog populations dissipating ecumenic due(p) to the deadly chytrid fungus, there is increasing pressure to find a natural solution to this problem.

Scientists have reason to believe that the poison frogs toxin could provide help in finding a bring around to this fast spreading, deadly fungus (Macfoy et al. 2005). Along with providing answers to mass frog extinctions, the exaggeration rela tionships among poison frogs and non-toxic s! pecies may prove to be an ideal reproduce for other ecological interactions (Darst & Cummings 2006). In order to in full understand the ecological and evolutionary complexity of the poison frog chemical defense system, Saporito et al. (2007) foc utilize on answering the question of what the major dietary source is for alkaloids in poison frogs. The researchers used Oophaga pumilio as a model species because they share many a(prenominal) of the same...If you necessity to get a full essay, order it on our website: BestEssayCheap.com

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