The Ecological Roles of Poison Frogs

The production of noxious and/or hepatotoxic alkaloids from the skin glands of embitter batrachians has resulted in distinct ecological relationships that may prove to be an ideal example for certain complex biological interactions well-nigh the world. The distribution of toxicantous substance frogs is limited to mainly the equatorial habitats of of import and South America. There are over 221 species of embitter 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 toxicant frogs occurs between ground level to about 10 feet tall on trees (Darst et al. 2004). Recent suspenses surrounding the ecology of toxicant 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 poisonous substance frogs obtain the majority of their toxic alkalo ids from dietetic sources rather than biosynthesizing the chemicals. The current struggle in this electron orbit is identifying the involve dietary sources for which the poison frogs obtain alkaloids (Saporito et al. 2007). With frog populations dissipating worldwide 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 retrieve to this fast spreading, deadly fungus (Macfoy et al. 2005). Along with providing answers to mass frog extinctions, the travesty relationships among poison frogs and non-toxic species may prove to be an ideal dissemble 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 respond the question of what the major dietary source is for alkaloi ds in poison frogs. The researchers used Oop! haga pumilio as a model species because they share many another(prenominal) of the same...If you necessity to get a full essay, order it on our website: BestEssayCheap.com

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