Racing Against Time
Biologist Catalogs Amphibians Before They Disappear
Exploring in some of the planet鈥檚 most remote habitats, Assistant Professor of Biology Edgar Lehr has contributed to the discovery of over 70 new species of amphibians and more than 10 varieties of reptiles.
Lehr aims to help catalog the world鈥檚 amphibian population and learn why its numbers are rapidly declining. Habitat loss, global climate change and a fungal skin disease have decimated dozens of species.
Lehr and his colleagues have focused on protected areas in central Peru where no biodiversity fieldwork had been conducted before. During an expedition in Man煤 National Park, discoveries by the team established Man煤 as the park or protected area with the highest number of species of amphibians and reptiles on Earth. Funding from National Geographic鈥檚 Global Exploration Fund allowed Lehr to travel to Peru鈥檚 Pui Pui Protected Forest, a mountainous area with hazardous terrain and extremes of suffocating humidity and dangerous cold. In spite of the inhospitable conditions, Lehr found inspiration in the region.
鈥淲hen you鈥檙e working in an area no one鈥檚 been, you鈥檙e very excited,鈥� Lehr says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 like opening a gift. You want to know what鈥檚 inside.鈥�
鈥淲hen we understand more about the species that live on this planet,鈥� he added, 鈥渨e can understand how we are interconnected, and how each species contributes to our lives.鈥�
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