{"id":39773,"date":"2024-07-05T17:33:56","date_gmt":"2024-07-05T15:33:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ccb3c8ed-d299-438c-866a-48ebef26f914"},"modified":"2024-07-05T18:27:30","modified_gmt":"2024-07-05T16:27:30","slug":"weird-frog-saunas-are-popping-up-around-sydney-and-they-could-save-australian-species-from-a-deadly-fungus","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/rss_feed\/weird-frog-saunas-are-popping-up-around-sydney-and-they-could-save-australian-species-from-a-deadly-fungus\/","title":{"rendered":"Weird ‘frog saunas’ are popping up around Sydney \u2013 and they could save Australian species from a deadly fungus"},"content":{"rendered":"

The devastating impact the chytrid fungus\u00a0on amphibians could be lessened thanks this clever but very simple invention, say scientists.\u00a0 <\/p>

By <\/p>

Published: Friday, 05 July 2024 at 15:33 PM<\/p>

\n\n

A\u00a0new study published in\u00a0Nature<\/em><\/a>\u00a0reveals how ‘frog saunas’ could be an\u00a0easy-to-build<\/a>\u00a0and vital tool in tackling the impact of the\u00a0 chytrid disease<\/a>\u00a0on amphibians. <\/strong><\/p>

These saunas \u2013 technically described as \u2018hotspot shelters\u2019 in the scientific paper \u2013 provide a means for wild frogs to heat up and destroy the fungus.\u00a0<\/p>

The heat created by the frog saunas helps destroy the deadly fungus. Credit: Anthony Waddle<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Chytrid \u2013 the shortened name for chytridiomycosis<\/em> \u2013 is a pathogenic fungal disease, caused by two fungi:\u00a0Batrachochytrium<\/em>\u00a0dendrobatidis<\/em>\u00a0(usually shortened to\u00a0Bd<\/em>) and\u00a0B. salamandrivorans\u00a0<\/em>(Bsal<\/em>).<\/p>
Where the fungi are thought to have originated from in Asia, amphibians<\/a> have evolved to live alongside them. However, as the fungi have spread around the world, the disease has been fatal for many amphibians and a contributing factor to the extinction of 90 species. <\/p>
One of the most notable species at risk is the\u00a0 mountain chicken frog<\/a>, a Critically Endangered species \u2013 just 21 frogs were found in the wild during a recent survey on Dominica.\u00a0<\/p>
The frog saunas were tested in Sydney. Credit: Anthony Waddle<\/figcaption><\/figure>
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However, in this new research, scientists have been looking into how to take advantage \u2013 even in winter \u2013 of the fact that\u00a0Bd<\/em>\u00a0is unable to survive high temperatures and that frogs will select areas with high temperatures. \u201cFor species in temperate areas, winter temperatures really make it tough for frogs to persist despite chytrid infection,\u201d explains Anthony Waddle, lead author on the paper.\u00a0<\/p>
Using both laboratory and outdoor experiments, they created artificial shelters that they dubbed ‘frog saunas’, and found that the frogs preferred these hotspots to the other options available and that the chytrid infections were fought off.\u00a0<\/p>
Scientists say that the chytrid disease has contributed to the extinction of 90 species of amphibian. Credit: Anthony Waddle et al.<\/figcaption><\/figure>
\u201cWe tested the saunas in Sydney in green and golden bell frogs and they worked well here,\u201d adds Waddle. \u201cFor other species and regions these shelters could work but they would likely need to be developed to cater to the unique needs of that system\/species.\u201d<\/p>
Other tools for conservationists include controls on moving amphibians in the pet trade, captive breeding programs (including selective breeding) and vaccinations. For the mountain chicken frog, the semi-wild population is provided on Montserrat in the Caribbean with heated pools, using the same idea of helping frogs heat up and reduce the infection.<\/p>
The saunas were tested on a number of species, including the bell frog. Credit: Anthony Waddle<\/figcaption><\/figure>
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A rare Australian marsupial is being genetically modified to save it from extinction<\/a><\/li><\/ul> <\/body><\/html>\n
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