an American expert to see if reptiles and amphibians globally are being threatened by gaps in the Ozone layer and global warming.

Dr. Donald Linzey, from the Wytheville Community College in Virginia, will visit the Island next month for two weeks of studying the Marine Toad and Whistling Frog.

According to Dr. Wolfgang Sterrer, curator of the Natural History Museum at the Bermuda Aquarium, amphibians and reptiles worldwide are disappearing with some species such as the Golden Frog in Central America almost extinct.

It is thought that the effects of global warming and the increased ultra-violet rays due to gaps in the Ozone layer may be affecting the amphibians which need to have wet skin and which usually breathe through their skin.

Dr. Sterrer said: "Over the last five years, amphibians, frogs, toads and newts have been disappearing on a worldwide basis. People are beginning to think it may be because of a global phenomenon such as the greenhouse effect.'' Apparently because of their breeding cycles, both the Bermuda toad and frog are good cases to study. The toad, according to Dr Sterrer, breeds from eggs to tadpoles to toads.

The tadpole for the frog develops only inside the egg which is usually laid on damp land or even in trees. Because of the cycle they make good species to study to see which, if any, of the life stages are affected by UV rays or global warming and whether that could be a cause for the fall in the worldwide population.

"Dr. Linzey is interested which stage of the development is the most sensitive, whether it is as eggs, tadpoles or adults. From this he might be able to see which stages are most at risk,'' added Dr. Sterrer.

ENVIRONMENT ENV MUSEUM MUS SCIENCE SCI