The Science Mouse

A frog that died of chytrid. Photo courtesy of wikipedia.org

Did you know that up 1/2 of all amphibians are in danger of extinction?  They are dying off at an alarming rate.  Amphibians are one of the first animals to suffer when there are changes in habitat.  Since they live on both land and in water, they are sensitive to problems in both environments.  This is why they are called a bellwether species.

The term bellwether came from the practice of putting a bell on the leader of a flock of sheep. The term is now used to describe an indicator of a complex of ecological changes. Bellwether species are also called indicator species and are seen as early warning signs of environmental damage and ecosystem change.  Bellwether Species

So what is causing the big amphibian die off?  Normally when animal populations are dying off, scientists look at habitat loss.  Habitat loss is a big factor in animals becoming endangered or extinct.  Without habitat, an animal has no home, no place to eat and no place to raise babies and no place to roam.

Habitat loss is affecting amphibians, but it is not the main problem right now.  The main cause of amphibian die off is a disease called chytridiomycosis, or chytrid.  Chytrid is a fungus which attacks the keratin in the frog’s skin, making it hard for them to breathe.  It started in Africa and can now be found in Australia, the Caribbean, the Americas and it is continuing to spread around the whole world.

To save amphibians, scientists and researchers have started the “Amphibian Ark.”  It is like Noah’s Ark in that they are taking a few animals of each species and protecting them to breed and study until they can be reintroduced in the wild.  Clorox is helping by donating bleach which kills chytrid.  Researchers are using it to sterilize clothing and equipment to keep from introducing the disease into new places while they collect animals.