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Legless frogs mystery solved
news.bbc.co.uk ^
| 06/25/2009
| matt walker
Posted on 06/26/2009 9:38:55 AM PDT by BoneHead
Scientists think they have resolved one of the most controversial environmental issues of the past decade: the curious case of the missing frogs' legs.
Around the world, frogs are found with missing or misshaped limbs, a striking deformity that many researchers believe is caused by chemical pollution.
However, tests on frogs and toads have revealed a more natural, benign cause.
The deformed frogs are actually victims of the predatory habits of dragonfly nymphs, which eat the legs of tadpoles.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk ...
TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: demagogicparty; environment; environmentalism; frog; frogs; mystery
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To: cvq3842
21
posted on
06/26/2009 10:21:05 AM PDT
by
cvq3842
(Countless thousands of our ancestors died to give us the freedom we have today. Stay involved!)
To: BoneHead
And how many billions have we spent in our efforts to “save the frogs”?
22
posted on
06/26/2009 10:29:34 AM PDT
by
Cicero
(Marcus Tullius)
To: dfwgator
LOL! I was just thinking of that cartoon!
23
posted on
06/26/2009 10:32:20 AM PDT
by
Ruy Dias de Bivar
(A modern liberal is someone who doesn't care what you do so long as it is compulsory.)
To: BoneHead
Clearly, legislation is needed to deal with tadpole-leg-eating-dragonfly nymphs.
24
posted on
06/26/2009 10:34:11 AM PDT
by
spodefly
(This is my tag line. There are many like it, but this one is mine.)
To: BoneHead
I thought maybe French chefs were to blame.
25
posted on
06/26/2009 10:36:14 AM PDT
by
count-your-change
(You don't have be brilliant, not being stupid is enough.)
To: BoneHead
Stanley Sessions, an amphibian specialist and professor of biology at Hartwick College, in Oneonta, New York.Ballengee and Richard Sunter, the official Recorder of Reptiles and Amphibians in Yorkshire
The article is of course from "across the pond" but the researchers and studies are from both sides of the atlantic.
26
posted on
06/26/2009 11:04:47 AM PDT
by
BoneHead
To: wastoute
Sessions is careful to say that he doesn't completely rule out chemicals as the cause of some missing limbs. But 'selective predation' by dragonfly nymphs is now by far the leading explanation, he says.Looks like he is still enabling for the alamists.
27
posted on
06/26/2009 11:10:02 AM PDT
by
BoneHead
To: BoneHead
Damn it! I have to read everything before I post!
"Are parasites sufficient to cause extra limbs?," he asks. "Yes. Is selective predation by dragonfly nymphs sufficient to cause loss or reduction of limbs. Yes. Are chemical pollutants necessary to understand either of these phenomena? No."
I like that guy.
28
posted on
06/26/2009 11:13:05 AM PDT
by
BoneHead
To: Scythian
Not according to the article.
29
posted on
06/26/2009 11:14:02 AM PDT
by
BoneHead
To: dfwgator
30
posted on
06/26/2009 11:21:38 AM PDT
by
KarinG1
(You're just jealous because the voices don't talk to you.)
To: BoneHead
ROTFLMAO...
The airhead whackjob environmentalists strike again...
31
posted on
06/26/2009 11:35:22 AM PDT
by
DoughtyOne
(_res__ent of the United States, Barack Hussein Obama)
To: BoneHead
The deformed frogs are actually victims of the predatory habits of dragonfly nymphs, which eat the legs of tadpoles...and drive black SUV's.
32
posted on
06/26/2009 11:40:00 AM PDT
by
N. Theknow
(Kennedys: Can't fly, can't ski, can't drive, can't skipper a boat, but they know what's best.)
To: dfwgator
A was just about to start a search for that gem.
Thanks for saving me the trouble.
33
posted on
06/26/2009 11:42:33 AM PDT
by
aculeus
To: N. Theknow
GM should be able to make SUVs for Dragonfly nymphs at a profit. But where do the nymphs keep their checkbook?
34
posted on
06/26/2009 2:12:32 PM PDT
by
BoneHead
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