Frog Chytrid
Fungus
The top frog shows a Chyrid
Infection on the pink
underbelly.
The bottom frog shows an
infected, lethargic frog with
peeling skin.
By Maggie McKitrick
2007
Block II
Introduction
By doing this project, I have learned a lot about Chytrid
Fungus and frogs in general. I have learned about what causes
the fungus, how frogs get it, some side affects of the fungus and
even about different species of extinct frogs because of the
fungus. If you read this you will learn everything that I did!
How does Chytrid Fungus start?
A new scientific study suggests that climate change is
actually good for the fungus. The climate change has
made it so the temperatures are cooler during the day and
warmer during the night, with increased cloud cover.
With that climate change, it makes it easier for fungus
to grow.
QuickTime™ and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
How does this fungus work?
The fungus attacks some parts of the frog’s skin with
keratin in them. Frog’s use their skin for respiration,
so this makes it very hard for the frogs to breathe.
With this fungus, frogs may have the following side effects:
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Have discolored skin, be sloughing, or peeling on the outside layers of its skin.
This can vary from obvious peeling of skin (particularly on the feet), to a roughness
of the frog's skin that you can barely see.
Sit out in the open, not protecting itself by hiding
Be sluggish, and have no appetite
Have its legs spread slightly away from itself, rather than keeping them tucked
close to its body.
In more extreme cases, the frog's body will be rigid, and its back legs will trail
behind it.
The Panamanian golden frog is one of 100 species
endanger of extinction.
QuickTime™ and a
TIFF (Uncomp resse d) de com press or
are nee ded to s ee this picture.
What kind of frog does Chytrid
Fungus effect?
Chytrid Fungus does not effect just one species of frog. It
effects frogs all over the world.
QuickTime™ and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
How has ozone depletion damaged frogs
and other organisms?
Ozone depletion has increased ultraviolet
radiation. It is affecting lots of different organisms
such as frogs, coral reefs, insects, fishes and
microorganisms. Ultraviolet rays make it so there is
less water. When sunlight hits frog eggs with less
water, it allows them to grow a different kind of
fungus.
Frogs eggs
QuickTime™ and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
How can we reverse this trend of Chytrid
Fungus and climate change?
We can reverse the trend of this frog fungus by
Getting control of some environmental laws; we
can also sign the Kyoto protocol which focuses
on the emissions of six greenhouse gases
including carbon dioxide methane, nitrous oxide,
hydroflourocarbons, perflurocarbons and sulfur
hexafluoride.
QuickTime™ and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
The extinct Hula Painted Frog
There are all kinds of extinct frogs because of the
global warming problem. One kind of extinct frogs is
called the Hula Painted Frog. It only lived in Lake
Huleh marshes in Israel and adjacent Syria.
Because of drainage of the marshes in the 1950’s,
this frog species disappeared. The drainage was
because of climate change and heat. Its body length
was 4 cm and it was grey/olive-grey.
QuickTime™ and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
The extinct Platypus Frog
Another kind of extinct frog is the Platypus Frog, short for
the Gastric-brooding Frog. They were found in Australian
rainforests and the reason they have become extinct in the
1980’s is not very clear. It has something to do with pollution
and climate change. The frogs are grayish/green and they are
50 mm.
QuickTime™ and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Bibliography
BBC News. "BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Climate culprit for frog deaths." BBC NEWS
News Front Page. 11 Jan 2006. 29 Sep 2007 <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asiapacific/4602116.stm>.
Department Of Environment and Climate Change. "Frog Chytrid Fungus."
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. 16 Dec 2004. 26 Sep 2007
<http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/npws.nsf/Content/Frog+Chytrid+fungus>.
"Frogs Australia Network - Australian Frog Database - Rheobatrachus silus Southern Gastric Brooding Frog." Frogs Australia Network - Home. 23 Feb 2005.
26 Sep 2007 <http://www.frogsaustralia.net.au/frogs/display.cfm?frog_id=84.>.
"Israel painted frog - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Main Page Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 26 Aug 2007. 29 Sep 2007
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel_painted_frog>.
Samurai, Prodigal. "Explaining the Kyoto protocol - Climate Change Helium - by Prodigal Samurai." Helium - Where Knowledge Rules. 11 Oct 2007
<http://www.helium.com/tm/290172>.