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The Puzzling Golden Toad Crack the puzzle and reveal the secret word

Activity  Guide          

Try This!

Step  1:  Set  up  the  time  line  sheet.    Step  2:  Find  the  seven  puzzle  pieces  and  read  the  information  on  each.      Step  3:  Organize  the  time  line  to  reveal  the  secret  word.      How  do  you  think  scientists  study  the  effect  of  climate  change  on  species  such  as  the  Golden  Toad?  

Climate Connection

The  effect  of  climate  change  on  species  is  still  unknown  and  widely  debated.  Scientists  believe  that  factors  such  as  increased  droughts  and  the  spread  of  a  fungus  may  have  led  to  the  demise  of  the  Golden  Toad.      

The  number  of  Golden  Toads  people  saw  declined  from  1,500    to  zero  in  such  a  short  period  of  time.  Scientists  suspect  that  conditions  related  to  climate  change  was  the  reason  for  their  extinction.    

Did you know that the specific effects of climate change on animals are still unknown? Meet the golden toad and learn why scientists are still puzzled by his

mysterious disappearance.

Turn  the  page  over  to  learn  more!  

The Puzzling Golden Toad Activity Guide

Sciencenter, Ithaca, NY Page www.sciencenter.org 2

What’s Happening?

The  Golden  Toad  (Bufo  periglenes)  was  an  amphibian  only  found  in  areas  near  the  Monteverde  Cloud  Forest  Preserve  in  Costa  Rica.  This  species  strangely  disappeared  in  the  late  1980’s,  which  led  to  extensive  studies  on  what  caused  the  extinction  of  this  species.      After  studying  the  drastic  manner  in  which  this  species  declined,  scientists  started  to  suspect  that  climate  change  was  the  reason  for  their  extinction.    Scientists  began  to  study  how  stress  relating  to  moisture,  temperature,  diseases  and  contaminants  in  combination  with  climate  change  could  have  affected  the  Golden  Toad.    Recent  studies  also  suggest  that  the  species  could  have  been  affected  by  natural  occurring  weather  events  known  as  El  Niño.  This  was  proposed  after  studying  how  weather  has  affected  trees  in  the  Costa  Rican  cloud  forest  over  time.  But  little  is  still  known  on  how  climate  change  can  affect  natural  occurring  weather  events  like  El  Niño.                      

Climate Detective Challenge

     What  are  some  factors  that                                                                                                                                                                  might  have  contributed  to  the                                                                                                                                            demise  of  the  Golden  Toad?    

The  Golden  Toad  would  remain  hidden  underground  throughout  the  year,  emerging  only  for  a  short  period  during  the  rainy  season.      

Find  the  answer  to  this  question  on  the  Activity  Map!