Known for its distinctive "ribbit" call, the noisy Pacific chorus frog is a potent carrier of a deadly amphibian disease, according to new research published today in the journal PLoS ONE. Just how this common North American frog survives chytridiomycosis may hold clues to protect more vulnerable species from the disease.
Chytrid has wiped out more than 200 frog species across the world and poses the greatest threat to vertebrate biodiversity of any known disease.
In California's Sierra Nevada Mountains, San Francisco State University biologist Vance Vredenburg has studied the impact of chytrid since 2003. His team's latest findings suggest the disease is widespread among Pacific chorus frogs but the species rarely shows symptoms, making it a highly effective carrier.
"We found that the vast majority of Pacific chorus frogs don't die or show symptoms even with surprisingly high levels of infection," said Natalie Reeder, who conducted the research for her master's thesis at SF State. "They are able to go about life as normal, moving over land and carrying the disease to new locations."
Pacific chorus frogs (Pseudoacris regilla) are one of the most common frogs on the west coast of North America and are found along the Pacific coast from Baja California to British Columbia. These small frogs range in color from bright green to gold or brown, and are common in urban yards and parks as well as remote habitats.
Their abundance and mobility make them dangerously effective at spreading the chytrid fungus. The frogs have sticky toe-pads that help them climb and can survive longer periods out of water compared to other species.
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