Frogs in the News: Amphibian 'Apocalypse'?

National Geographic came out with a report on a recently published article in Science about a chytrid fungus that is affecting frogs worldwide.  Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) and Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) are the major strains of the fungus that are threatening 501 species of frogs.  The study researchers compared this fungus for frogs to a zombie apocalypse.  I hadn't realized that this was such an extensive threat to amphibians until I had read this article.  I had seen reports here and there, however delving into this article has made me realize how critical a solution to this problem is.  Due to frogs having to breathe through their skin by cutaneous respiration, this fungus inhibits that process and slowly kills its victims.  Interestingly enough in Asia the frogs and the fungus are able to coexist without any negative effects, and one of our own local species Lithobates catesbeianus (American bullfrog) is not killed by the fungus either.
Scientists started to notice that the fungus was taking hold in frog populations starting in the 1970s and has gotten progressively worse.  The lead study researcher recounted how he used to have to watch his step when going out at night because there were so many frogs at his research station. Now they are extremely hard to find.  Considering how much that amphibians contribute to the overall biodiversity of the earth, it is disheartening to know that many of these species are suffering by something that we caused ourselves, however unintentionally.  In many cases this fungus is traded through the amphibian/pet trade.  The article talked about how in pet stores the disease is present too.  Makes you think twice before getting a frog from the pet store, doesn't it?  If you do, don't release it into the wild though!  You might spread it even more than it already has.






Left picture is of a Great Barred frog with the fungus, the right picture is of a healthy Great Barred frog. (Picture credits to www.tas.gov.au and www.mindenpictures.com)


Through all of the rain though, we can see the sunshine coming through!  The U.S. has been fighting Bsal since 2015, and in 2016 they banned the importation of 201 species of salamanders into the country.  Bsal has been affecting large amounts of salamanders in Europe hence the importation ban.  The U.S. has also been working with the World Organization for Animal Health to figure out a solution to the spread of the fungus while also being able to trade the frogs that might have them.  Some preventative measures that have been put into place have been to protect the frogs' natural habitat, to have more strict searches of frogs being transported from one place to another, and advocating for captive-breeding programs to have a safety net in case more species are subject to these threats.  Although more could be done, these stepping stones might be the frogs' saving grace!

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2019/03/amphibian-apocalypse-frogs-salamanders-worst-chytrid-fungus/