Why are amphibians important indicators of environmental health?

Amphibians are considered important global indicators of environmental health primarily because they are exceptionally sensitive to changes in their surroundings.1

This sensitivity is largely due to their unique biology, specifically their integument, or skin. Unlike many other vertebrates, amphibians rely heavily on cutaneous respiration, meaning they breathe through their skin. This process involves a broad network of capillaries that facilitates the direct exchange of gases, water, and ions between the animal and its environment. Because their skin is permeable and constantly interacting with the external world, amphibians are highly susceptible to pollutants, toxins, and shifts in water quality.231

Furthermore, because many amphibians occupy both aquatic and terrestrial habitats throughout their life cycles, they are exposed to environmental stressors in multiple ecosystems. Their vulnerability to habitat destruction, climate change, and diseases like amphibian chytridiomycosis makes them early warning signals for broader ecological degradation.241