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Origins of amphibian-killing fungus uncovered
A deadly fungus that has ravaged amphibian populations worldwide probably originated in East Asia, new research suggests. A study in Science journal [open, DOI: 10.1126/science.aar1965] [DX] supports an idea that the pet trade helped spread killer strains of the chytrid fungus around the globe.
The fungus is a major cause of the devastating declines experienced by frogs, toads, newts and salamanders. There is no known effective measure for controlling the disease.
The authors of the report highlight the need to tighten biosecurity along country borders, including a potential ban on the trade in amphibians as pets.
The chytrid fungus, known as Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, or Bd, was first identified as a problem in the 1990s, said co-author Dr Simon O'Hanlon, from Imperial College London.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Mykl on Monday May 14 2018, @12:33AM
We've been hearing for years that the frog population is a good overall health indicator of their environment. The discovery of this fungus sounds like it could have turned the environmental health theory on its head. I wonder whether this will result in re-assessments of certain environments where frog populations have plummeted? Perhaps these areas are actually a lot healthier than we had previously thought?
It will be interesting to see whether this is an 'inconvenient truth' that could get in the way of environmental preservation efforts. Has the decline of a frog population ever resulted in the shutdown of industry (e.g. logging)?