“It was not a virus as Laurence had first suspected, but an exotic and previously unknown chytrid fungus, now named Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (“Bd” for short).”-“The pet trade and educators often relocate amphibians, and the fungus can cling to the boots of researchers and tourists. Indeed it appeared that the best studied populations were the most devastated”-“Around the world, rapid amphibian die-offs continued and each extirpation consistently coincided with the sudden arrival of the Bd fungus”-“Reminiscent of the wave of introduced diseases brought by Conquistadors that extirpated millions of native Incas and Aztecs, Central and South American amphibians were under the attack of a rapidly spreading fungus. Karen Lips had been surveying amphibians in Central and South America and had tirelessly warned of the impending dangers of spreading Bd. In 2008 she reported, “Available data support the hypothesis of multiple introductions of this invasive pathogen into South America and subsequent spread along the primary Andean cordilleras.”-https://www.amazon.com/Extinction-Our-Times-Amphibian-Decline/dp/0195316940-Now tell us al about how researchers sterilize:A) ThemselvesB) Their clothingC) Boots, waders, gloves, etc.D) tools-A sterilization that requires autoclaving, or UV radiation baths, or Dips into chlorine baths. -Remember these sterilization require the act of sterilization immediately after one traverses an infected area, before entering the pristine area.-Virginia DNY identified researchers as significantly spreading invasives by filing to clean and sterilize themselves and gear when entering a pristine area.-The spread of “White nose fungus” is matched by “researchers visiting bat environments”. Again, a failure to thoroughly clean and sterilize after exiting contaminated areas and before entering pristine areas.-Fungus spores are widespread and easily picked up and carried.
Florida’s problem is ground water extraction causing the land to sink. At 2-3mm per year sea level rise, normal for several hundred years, it will take many decades for even Florida’s lowest golf courses to be underwater. Florida, explicitly Miami’s problem is well known from the early 20th century when storm surges or even the highest tides would flood certain areas.
The comic’s premise overlooks that disappearing amphibians and bats have been caused by researchers spreading contaminations, fungus and pathogens to previously pristine sites.
“It was not a virus as Laurence had first suspected, but an exotic and previously unknown chytrid fungus, now named Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (“Bd” for short).”-“The pet trade and educators often relocate amphibians, and the fungus can cling to the boots of researchers and tourists. Indeed it appeared that the best studied populations were the most devastated”-“Around the world, rapid amphibian die-offs continued and each extirpation consistently coincided with the sudden arrival of the Bd fungus”-“Reminiscent of the wave of introduced diseases brought by Conquistadors that extirpated millions of native Incas and Aztecs, Central and South American amphibians were under the attack of a rapidly spreading fungus. Karen Lips had been surveying amphibians in Central and South America and had tirelessly warned of the impending dangers of spreading Bd. In 2008 she reported, “Available data support the hypothesis of multiple introductions of this invasive pathogen into South America and subsequent spread along the primary Andean cordilleras.”-https://www.amazon.com/Extinction-Our-Times-Amphibian-Decline/dp/0195316940-Now tell us al about how researchers sterilize:A) ThemselvesB) Their clothingC) Boots, waders, gloves, etc.D) tools-A sterilization that requires autoclaving, or UV radiation baths, or Dips into chlorine baths. -Remember these sterilization require the act of sterilization immediately after one traverses an infected area, before entering the pristine area.-Virginia DNY identified researchers as significantly spreading invasives by filing to clean and sterilize themselves and gear when entering a pristine area.-The spread of “White nose fungus” is matched by “researchers visiting bat environments”. Again, a failure to thoroughly clean and sterilize after exiting contaminated areas and before entering pristine areas.-Fungus spores are widespread and easily picked up and carried.