It's not easy being green

 Frogs are natural environmental indicators, and when they start disappearing from the wild like they have been doing in recent years then we know that there is something seriously wrong with the ecosystem. Amphibians, like these cute tree frogs pictured with writer Jens Ward, have porous skin so fluids and air are easily absorbed into their bodies making them very susceptible to pollutants. When these extraordinary bio-indicators disappear it means that the water or air is tainted. Frogs are also very sensitive to ultraviolet radiation which has increased in recent times due to holes in the ozone layer that surrounds our planet providing a protective shield from the sun’s deadly rays. As a result the earth is overheating creating a hothouse effect which is a major cause of climate change. Frogs are an important food source for many animals and are beneficial to humans too because they eat insects and pests while tadpoles act as natural filters for our drinking water. So, taking frogs out of the environment impacts seriously on the food chain, and on our already fragile ecosystem. We can learn from frogs, and take action to correct problems in the environment.