Biologists at Macquarie University Build Affordable Mini Saunas to Protect the Yellow-Bellied Frog from Chytrid Fungus.
A series of yellow-bellied frogs, a threatened species in Australia, are taking refuge in mini saunas to escape the cold winter of Sydney. These saunas are small greenhouses containing black-painted bricks warmed by the sun, helping to shield the frogs from a deadly chytrid fungus that could lead to their extinction, AFP reported on August 30.
Yellow-bellied frogs gathered in a sauna at the research center of Macquarie University, Sydney. (Photo: AFP/Saeed Khan).
“Chytrid is the worst pathogen ever”, said biologist Anthony Waddle at Macquarie University. This waterborne disease penetrates the skin of frogs, attacking their bodies and eventually killing them. Waddle noted that worldwide, the disease has caused declines in 500 amphibian species and pushed 90 species to the brink of extinction, including six species in Australia.
Waddle’s mini saunas could change this. In the warm space, chytrid fungus cannot thrive on the frogs, helping them fight off infections and survive.
Frogs play a vital role in the environment and are biological indicators – they help assess the health of ecosystems. Without them, entire ecosystems could collapse.
Globally, 41% of frog species are at risk of extinction, making them one of the most vulnerable groups of invertebrates, according to research by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Major causes include habitat loss, climate change, and chytrid fungus.
These challenges are difficult to address, but in the absence of solutions, Waddle hopes his frog saunas will help mitigate the damage. “This could be the first evidence that we can reduce the number of frogs dying each year at a low cost. For the yellow-bellied frog, this could make the difference between a population disappearing or surviving,” Waddle said.
The saunas demonstrate that creative solutions are needed, ranging from complex approaches, like discovering genes that help frogs resist chytrid fungus, to simpler methods if we want frog populations to survive. The advantage of the frog saunas is that they only cost $50 to build, and Waddle has helped dozens of amateur scientists construct saunas right in their backyards. This not only provides valuable data on endangered frog species but also saves some species from the deadly fungus.
According to Jodi Rowley, an amphibian biologist at the Australian Museum, the frog saunas showcase how innovative solutions can yield practical benefits. “It’s easy to feel powerless in the face of biodiversity decline, but this research gives us a clear solution to help frogs combat deadly fungus,” she said.
