How Do Mutations Affect Local Life?

Mutations that affect amphibians are unlike the mutations we humans know. Amphibian
mutation is not only caused by mutated DNA strands (which we humans experience) but is also caused
by their environment, other life forms, and the world itself. As humans, we experience very few cases
of mutations that cause extra limbs, multiple organs, and so on. However, in the animal kingdom, these
mutations are becoming more and more common.
Amphibian predators are normally very intelligent when it comes to hunting; they understand
that some frogs are poisonous, while other are not. However, due to the recent decline in amphibian
species (mainly frogs), airborne predators, such as hawk, have started to prey on easy targets. Recently,
their easy targets have been trematode parasite infested frogs. The parasite latches on to the tadpoles
limbs, interfering with proper limb development, resulting in the frog being unable to walk or swim.
The airborne predator sees the frog as an easy meal and swoops it up. However, once ingested, the
parasite then sexually reproduces, much like it does with trout, lays its eggs in the bird's waste, and the
trematodes eventually make their way bake to their original host, completing the cycle. During the
reproduction phase, the parasite feeds on the bird's essential proteins, making it weak and brittle. This
causes the bird to become prey for other animals.
This overall effect is resulting in a decline of overall species. A recent report summarizing the
findings of 500 scientists from 60 countries confirms that the worlds amphibian population is
undergoing a die-off of unprecedented proportions, most likely as a result of a combination of human
-caused environmental problems. According to researchers at the World Conservation Union, almost a
third of the 5,743 known species of frogs, toads, newts and salamanders on Earth are facing extinction
within the next few years. This will result in all things that coexist with amphibians such as things that
are the same size, and contain the same toxicity level. It will also affect the amphibian predators. Over

the past three years, scientists analyzed the distribution and conservation status of all 5,743 known
amphibian species, which include frogs and toads, salamanders, and caecilians. Of these, 1,856 (or 32
percent) are now considered threatened with extinction. In addition, environmentalists are lacking the
data to accurately assess the status of nearly 1,300 other species, most of which scientists believe are
also threatened. Amphibians are widely regarded as canaries in the coal mine, since their highly
permeable skin is more immediately sensitive to changes in the environment, including changes to
fresh water and air quality.

Caecilian
Some people have become to believe that animal mutations are a result in evolution. Knowing
that mutation is only one of the four forces of evolution, I asked several individuals to explain to me
the difference between mutation and evolution. However, after speaking with them, I came to realize
that they were unaware of the difference between mutation and evolution. A mutation is the changing
of the structure of a gene, resulting in a variant form that may be transmitted to subsequent
generations, caused by the alteration of single base units in DNA, or the deletion, insertion, or
rearrangement of larger sections of genes or chromosomes. This differs from evolution, which is the
gradual development of something, especially from a simple to a more complex form. The other three
forces of evolution are selection, migration, and genetic drift. The central question behind mutation is
to what extent mutations are harmful, harmless, or useful. This is where the split appears between
mutation and evolution. Although mutation is a force of evolution, it normally does more harm than

good, where evolution is changes a species according to its environment.

In conclusion, mutations affecting amphibians harm a wide scale of other species, however they
do not harm us at all. We never directly ingest the mutated animal, so we do not ingest the parasite or
the mutation. Even if a human were to ingest a mutated amphibian, the mutation would be on so small
of a scale, it wouldn't affect our bodies.

Trematode Infected Frog