The frogs are alright.
Locally, and across the state of Missouri, frogs and toad populations have remained stable for at least 6 years.
This less-than-startling news is actually very good news, in view of a worldwide decline in frog and toad numbers, with about 500 of the approximately 6000 known species considered critically endangered.
Chitrid fungus deadly, habitat destruction deadlier
Some of the amphibian decline can be traced to the deadly chytrid fungus that is currently decimating frog and toad populations in Central and South America. This fungus has been traced to the South African clawed frog, used in pregnancy testing in the mid 1900’s. That species was resistant to the fungus, but was a ‘typhoid Mary’ type of carrier. The fungus is spread by contact and in the water. It does not do well in very warm temperatures.
Photo courtesy of Missouri Department of Conservation
The chytrid fungus came to Missouri in the 1960’s, so the 24 species of frogs and toads in the state are either naturally resistant, like the American bullfrog, or have survived the crisis, according to Missouri Department of Conservation’s herpetologist Jeff Briggler.
According to Briggler and St. Louis Zoo naturalist instructor Mike Dawson, by far the greater danger to amphibians is habitat destruction. Since amphibians breed in water, wetland destruction is the destroyer of populations. Weather may play a role. Introduction of a new fungus or bacterium may cause a frog or toad pandemic.
Continue reading Counting frogs and toads, one croak at a time