Fall 2021 Children's Sneak Previews
Fighting Chytrid Fungus
WIKIMEDIA, TUURIO AND WALLIEChytridiomycosis, a disease caused by the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, threatens amphibian species the world over. But a team of researchers from Spain and the U.K. Has successfully cured a wild population of Mallorcan midwife toads (Alytes muletensis), the group reported yesterday (November 18) in Biology Letters.
"This is the first time that chytrid has ever been successfully eliminated from a wild population," said study coauthor Jaime Bosch of Madrid's National Museum of Natural Science in a press release.
The Mallorcan midwife toad is endemic to the island of Mallorca, where chytrid fungus was accidentally introduced in the 1990s. Bosch's team began trying to eliminate the disease in 2009, but while tadpoles treated with itraconazole in the lab were cured, the amphibians were reinfected once returned to their environment—even after their seasonal ponds had dried and refilled with autumn rains.
In 2013, the team removed tadpoles for lab treatments again, but also treated the seasonal pond locations with an industrial disinfectant called Virkon S. "The disinfectant was liberally applied to all rock, ...
Origin Of Frog-Killing Chytrid Fungus Found
Oriental fire-bellied toad from South KoreaFRANK PASMANSIn recent decades, large populations of frogs, toads, and salamanders in disparate regions of the world have been succumbing to the deadly chytridiomycosis disease caused by the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. The sudden and dramatic die-offs have prompted a large-scale research effort to pinpoint the source of the deadly fungus, and now the results of that research are in.
After analyzing the genomes of hundreds of B. Dendrobatidis samples collected from wild and captive amphibians in Australia, North and South America, Africa, Asia, and Europe, an international team of scientists reports in Science today (May 10) that the pathogen likely emerged from East Asia at the beginning of the 20th century.
"It's the sort of study that we've needed for quite some time in the amphibian-chytrid world," says ecologist Jason Rohr of the University of South Florida who was not involved with the study. "There's been a lot of debate regarding the origins of the pathogen and a global analysis of this scope and scale was needed to resolve that."
"They have done years of work to gather and culture chytrid [specimens] from around ...
Todos Os Artigos De Chytrid Fungus
Anthony Waddle June 26, 2024Our purpose-built "frog saunas" allow amphibians to warm up in winter and bake off chytrid infections. You can even DIY and build a frog sauna for your own backyard with our step-by-step guide.
Australian lace-lid treefrog. Geoff Heard August 29, 2023Introduced species and diseases can drive native species into smaller environmental niches – and that could mean change to how we work to conserve them.
Jack Hamilton/Unsplash May 23, 2023The chytrid fungal disease has been decimating frog populations worldwide for decades, and research progress has been slow. A new method for detecting the disease could help change its course.
California red-legged frogs are threatened with extinction. KQED QUEST/Flickr December 16, 2022Amphibians have been devastated by a chytrid fungus pandemic. Researchers immunized California red-legged frogs in Yosemite to give them a fighting chance at survival, with surprising results.
Papua New Guinea frog Xenorhina macrodisca. Stephen Richards November 8, 2022Melanesia's tropical islands are home to at least 700 species of frogs – many with tiny ranges. We must safeguard these biological treasures.
Matthijs Hollanders October 3, 2022Populations of Fleay's barred frog in Australia's ancient rainforests were decimated by the chytrid fungus. Now, the frogs have developed a natural resistance.
A dead Peron's tree frog (Litoria peronii) Ken Griffiths June 12, 2022Thousands of sick and dead frogs are turning up around Australia, bizarrely lying out in the open. If you see one, let these scientists know.
Melbourne Zoo January 25, 2022The rapid rate of species declines means we should trial potential solutions before it's too late.
Spotted tree frog. Michael Williams/Its A Wildlife Photography August 19, 2021We've identified three frog species very likely to already be extinct. Another four species on our list are still surviving, but not likely to make it to 2040 without help.
Green Tree Frog Jodi Rowley July 28, 2021It's typically rare to see a dead frog. Yet, we've received a flurry of emails from people coming across them in this truly unusual, and tragic, mass death event.
The red salamander (Pseudotriton ruber) is a species endemic to the United States. Betty4240/iStock via Getty Images November 6, 2020The Bsal fungus is not yet here in North America, or any place in the Western Hemisphere, but there is concern that the pet trade is the most likely route for introduction here.
The horned land frog (Sphenophryne cornuta) carries babies on its back. New Guinea must be protected from the deadly chytrid fungus, or we could see around 100 frog species be wiped out. June 3, 2019The island of New Guinea is home to 6% of the world's frogs, but if the deadly chytrid fungus invades it could cause a mass extinction.
The Mossy Red-eyed Frog is among hundreds of species threatened with extinction at the hands of chytrid fungus. Jonathan Kolby/Honduras Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Center March 28, 2019Chytrid fungus has caused declines in 501 amphibian species, according to a new analysis. Most of the damage happened in the 1980s, before the fungus itself was even discovered.
Scientists are raising Miami blue butterflies in captivity and reintroducing them in south Florida. Jeff Gage/Florida Museum of Natural History January 25, 2019How do you pack butterflies for shipping, or frogs for an overland hike to a new habitat? Three scientists explain how they keep threatened species safe on the road and in the air.
Some tropical frogs may be developing resistance to a fungus that has devastated species like Atelopus varius, the variable harlequin frog. Brian Gratwicke/Wikimedia December 19, 2018A look at new research published in 2018 on fossa, deepsea corals and tropical frogs developing resistance to a deadly fungus.
Panamanian golden frogs (Atelopus zeteki) are listed as critically endangered, and may be extinct in the wild. Jeff Kubina May 16, 2018Chytrid fungus has caused a global "amphibian apocalypse," killing frogs worldwide. Now some appear to be evolving resistance – but a closely related fungus threatens newts and salamanders.
A male boreal toad waits for opportunities to mate near a Colorado mountain lake. Brittany Mosher September 20, 2017Frogs and toads are declining around the world, with many species on the brink of extinction. Acting in time means trying strategies without complete information about how likely they are to work.
The Northern Corroboree frog is among seven species at grave risk from fungal disease. Michael McFadden April 10, 2016Chytrid fungus has already wiped out six species of Australian frogs since the disease arrived in the 1970s. Without urgent action, seven more are facing extinction.
Frog chytrid may have been spread by humans. It is a fungus that has decimated amphibian species. Reuters October 27, 2015As much as animals may pass on viruses to humans, humans pass on viruses which are sometimes lethal to the animal world as well.
A Madagascan bright-eyed frog (Boophis rappiodes), one of more than 400 species on the island. Axel Strauß February 27, 2015The chytrid fungal disease that has ravaged amphibians worldwide has reached Madagascar. But it's possible this could be a blessing in disguise.
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