Contact: Valene Marshall
vmarshal@nsf.gov
703-292-2984
National Science Foundation

Disappearing Frogs

Caption: Disease, pollution and loss of habitat are killing off hundreds of species of amphibians. One of the biggest threats right now is an aquatic fungus called chytrid that infects the skin of these historically tough, resilient creatures. While a few species seem to be resistant to the fungus (marine toads, American bullfrogs and African clawed frogs), chytrid is usually fatal to most others. Biologist Vance Vredenburg studies the disease and shares his research with scientists who are dealing with this crisis on every continent where amphibians live.

Credit: Marsha Walton, Science Nation Producer

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