SUMMARY OF ISSUE
As a group, frogs are among the most endangered animals on the planet due to their sensitivity to environmental changes. A global extinction crisis of disturbing proportions is now unfolding among them due to a decidedly creepy cause: fungus outbreaks.
A disease triggered by exposure to the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis has been found by researchers on at least 287 amphibian species in 36 nations. “Chytridiomycosis” is responsible for declines in amphibian populations in Australia, North and South America, Europe, Central America, Africa, and New Zealand. Causing serious skin outbreaks and a wide range of body damages, chytrid kills amphibians with relative ease. It’s now thought responsible for over 100 species extinctions.
WHY THIS ISSUE IS IMPORTANT
This issue is important to us because while these fungi are natural, their spread worldwide is anything but. The culprit is human activity, with transportation of amphibians for research and the pet trade to blame for the unnatural spread of the deadly chytrid fungus.
As a group, frogs are among the most endangered animals on the planet due to their sensitivity to environmental changes. A global extinction crisis of disturbing proportions is now unfolding among them due to a decidedly creepy cause: fungus outbreaks.
A disease triggered by exposure to the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis has been found by researchers on at least 287 amphibian species in 36 nations. “Chytridiomycosis” is responsible for declines in amphibian populations in Australia, North and South America, Europe, Central America, Africa, and New Zealand. Causing serious skin outbreaks and a wide range of body damages, chytrid kills amphibians with relative ease. It’s now thought responsible for over 100 species extinctions.
WHY THIS ISSUE IS IMPORTANT
This issue is important to us because while these fungi are natural, their spread worldwide is anything but. The culprit is human activity, with transportation of amphibians for research and the pet trade to blame for the unnatural spread of the deadly chytrid fungus.