VU LSC Researchers Study the Impact of Climate Change on Amphibians in the Amazon

Scientists from the Life Sciences Centre at Vilnius University (VU LSC), in collaboration with colleagues from the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna and partners in French Guiana, are currently undertaking an expedition to the Amazon rainforest, where they are studying the impact of climate change on amphibians.

The expedition is led by Dr Andrius Pašukonis and includes PhD student Shubham Prashant Soni and Master’s student Edgaras Žigis from the VU team. The research is being carried out in the remote Nouragues Nature Reserve in French Guiana – a research station accessible only via several hours of river travel or by helicopter. The expedition is supported by the Research Council of Lithuania through the project “Drought Impacts on Amphibian Reproduction in Ephemeral Rainforest Pools.”

“We’re studying how tropical amphibians adapt to changing climate conditions. We’re installing environmental sensors to record year-round data on temperature, humidity, water levels, and sound, allowing us to monitor amphibian activity under varying conditions. We’re also gathering behavioural and habitat data on species that remain poorly understood.

Amphibian habitats in tropical forests are incredibly diverse – ranging from temporary forest ponds to the canopy high above the ground. On any given day, the team might find themselves wading through waist-deep water or climbing 30-metre-tall trees using ropes. The heavy rains typical of this season create ideal breeding conditions for amphibians, making the pace of work especially intense – with the team often continuing into the night. Although the work is physically demanding, the team`s spirit remains high – we’re full of impressions, and the amount of data we’ve collected is truly rewarding,” says Dr A. Pašukonis.