May 22, 2019

Frogs Are In Big Trouble

Listen Later

2 minutes

Scientists first noticed in the 1970s that some frog populations were declining rapidly. By the 1980s, some species appeared to be extinct. The loss of frog species was mysterious because many were actually living in pristine habitats that did not face pollution or deforestation.

By the late 1990s, researchers had identified that frogs in widely

different places around the world were infected with a deadly fungus called

Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis – or Bd for short. The fungus originated on the Korean peninsula,

but the pathogen spread throughout the world, probably via the international

trade in pet amphibians. By 2007,

researchers speculated that Bd might be responsible for all known declines of

frogs that had no other apparent cause – about 200 species.

Recently, a group of 41 scientists published the first worldwide

analysis of the fungal outbreak and the devastation turns out to be far worse

than anyone had previously realized.

Populations of more than 500 species of amphibians have declined significantly

because of the outbreak, including at least 90 species presumed to have gone

extinct. These figures are more than

twice as large as earlier estimates.

According to biologists, Bd is now considered to be the deadliest

pathogen known to science. But the

decimation of frogs peaked in the 1980s.

Today, although 39% of the species that suffered population declines in

the past are still declining, 12% are showing signs of recovery, possibly

because natural selection is favoring resistant animals.

There is cautious optimism for the surviving amphibian species, but

scientists worry that another strain of Bd or some different species of fungus

altogether may prove even deadlier. The

best we can do is not participate in moving pathogens around the world.

**********

Web Links

The Plague Killing Frogs Everywhere Is Far Worse Than Scientists Thought

Photo, posted June 19, 2010, courtesy of Chris Luczkow via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.

...more

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Earth Wise

By Randy Simon

4.7

1515 ratings

May 22, 2019

Frogs Are In Big Trouble

Listen Later

2 minutes

Scientists first noticed in the 1970s that some frog populations were declining rapidly. By the 1980s, some species appeared to be extinct. The loss of frog species was mysterious because many were actually living in pristine habitats that did not face pollution or deforestation.

By the late 1990s, researchers had identified that frogs in widely

different places around the world were infected with a deadly fungus called

Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis – or Bd for short. The fungus originated on the Korean peninsula,

but the pathogen spread throughout the world, probably via the international

trade in pet amphibians. By 2007,

researchers speculated that Bd might be responsible for all known declines of

frogs that had no other apparent cause – about 200 species.

Recently, a group of 41 scientists published the first worldwide

analysis of the fungal outbreak and the devastation turns out to be far worse

than anyone had previously realized.

Populations of more than 500 species of amphibians have declined significantly

because of the outbreak, including at least 90 species presumed to have gone

extinct. These figures are more than

twice as large as earlier estimates.

According to biologists, Bd is now considered to be the deadliest

pathogen known to science. But the

decimation of frogs peaked in the 1980s.

Today, although 39% of the species that suffered population declines in

the past are still declining, 12% are showing signs of recovery, possibly

because natural selection is favoring resistant animals.

There is cautious optimism for the surviving amphibian species, but

scientists worry that another strain of Bd or some different species of fungus

altogether may prove even deadlier. The

best we can do is not participate in moving pathogens around the world.

**********

Web Links

The Plague Killing Frogs Everywhere Is Far Worse Than Scientists Thought

Photo, posted June 19, 2010, courtesy of Chris Luczkow via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.

...more