Amphibian populations worldwide face unprecedented decline rates, with UV radiation emerging as a significant but complex contributor to this biodiversity crisis. Studies have revealed that the impacts of UV are heavily modulated by co-occurring environmental factors. Temperature influences DNA repair rates, pH levels can synergistically increase mortality, and UV-induced immunosuppression enhances disease susceptibility, which is particularly relevant given the role of pathogens like chytrid fungus in amphibian declines. The evidence indicates that UV radiation contributes to amphibian declines not as a primary driver, but as a critical modulator that amplifies the effects of other anthropogenic stressors.
This multi-stressor perspective is essential for understanding the complex etiology of the amphibian crisis. This presentation explores the mechanistic pathways through which ultraviolet radiation influences amphibian physiology and survival and evaluates its potential
role in population declines.