By: Erica Rex
Published: October 4, 2010
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/05/science/05frog.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss
Summary:
This article explains that over the last decade chytridiomycosis, or chytrid, (a deadly fungal disease) has killed at least 200 of the world's 6,700 amphibian species to extinction. Vance Vredenburg is conducting an experiment that he hopes will preserve the Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog, Rana sierrae. Even before chytrid arrived, the yellow-legged frog population was decreasing because of "California Department of Fish and Game’s practice of seeding high-elevation lakes with hatchery-raised fingerling trout for the sport fishing industry." Chytrid just happened to make this reduction go by faster. In July Vredenburg and his students captured and tagged 100 frogs at the Dusy Basin. The experimental group contained 80 frogs, 20 of them were designated controls. They placed the frogs in containers for an hourlong bath in cultured J. liv. They then released the frogs into the ponds and streams where they were previously captured. What he found out later was that the frogs with the J. liv on them were surviving or had the lowest levels of infection. Hopefully the frogs survive the winter so that the future of amphibians will be safe.
Reflection:
Reading this article really opened my eyes to the amphibian species. I cannot believe this this one disease could completely wipe out an entire species. I predict that when Vredenburg checks on the frogs again after winter that the J. liv will work correctly and the species will be saved. Without this experiment working who knows what will happen in even a year from now. All we can do now is wait to see how the experiment turns out.
Questions:
1. How do you think the experiment will turn out?
2. Can you think of another way to save this frog?
3. What food chains do you think the extinction of the Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog will effect?
Opinion:
ReplyDeleteI was shocked when I read this article. I could not believe that 200 out of 6,700 species have died out recently. It seems like J. liv is very effective thus far and because of this, hopefully the frogts will be able to make it through the winter. Amphibians really need help since so many are in danger. I think experiments like these need to be conducted more frequently so we can save more species. This reminded me of the sea otters I talked about in my blog. So many diferent types of species are threatened. Every time I read a new article about endangered species, I am appalled that this has been going on for so long and is still happening. Drastic measures need to be taken.
Questions:
1. How can we prevent so many amphibious species from becoming extinct?
2. Can J. liv help other amphibians survive or only these frogs?
3. How can average every day people like ourselves help save endangered species?
Opinion: When I found at that chytrid has killed at least 200 of the 6,700 amphibian species in the world, I was utterly shocked. I had no idea that this disease was wiping out the world's amphibians. More experiments like the J. liv will help get the amphibians back on their feet. Without our help, this cycle may keep repeating over and over again and eventually there be no amphibian species left in the world. There is still numerous amounts of things that we can learn from studying the amphibian race and we won't be able to if the amphibian species' die out.
ReplyDeleteAnswer to # 1: I believe that the experiment will turn out to be extremely helpful in our favor. I think that we will learn a lot about what is causing the derailment of the amphibians. This will help us adapt to the problem and save the amphibians.
I guess this is just to add to the number of endangered and extinct species list, which is not small. 200 out of 6700 amphibians are already dead due to a certain infection, and I'm sure that's not the only factor killing out amphibians. There's pollution, natural predators, human activity and many more we need to tie into the equation. If this rate steadily continues, it'll no longer be 200 out of 6700 but maybe even 3-4 times that. And with every technological advancement humans make, we're bound to keep killing more and more species. Despite how cliche this might sound, everyone needs to strive for a greener tomorrow or there won't be a tomorrow at all.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.californiaherps.com/frogs/pages/r.sierrae.html#description (scroll down to see description on sierra nevada yellow legged frogs)
It is hard to believe that in the last ten years one disease has killed 200 of the 6700 amphibians on the planet. Which makes me believe that there are more factors than one disease. People are always a factor when it comes to the environment. We need to stop being part of the problem and become a part of the solution. If people want to still want to see frogs and lizard in the next 100 years, then they should start to help them instead of hurt them.
ReplyDeleteQuestions:
1:Where has this disease been in the world?
2:When and where was chythid discovered?
3:Does this disease effect humans?