AMPHIBIANS the world over are in trouble. Habitat destruction, pesticides and other pollutants have sent their numbers crashing in recent decades. Then, in 1989, scientists identified a fungus that killed frogs in Panama and Australia, and which has since spread all over the world. Even knowing this, it is a shock to hear that the fungus could see off all New Zealand鈥檚 native frogs (see Ready to croak). These rare endangered species have changed little over the past 200 million years, and for such living fossils to go extinct would be a huge loss to evolutionary biology.
But averting the tragedy will be tough. There is no good way of identifying the fungus in the field. Antibody and DNA tests are being developed, but for now the only sure test is when frogs start to die. Where this happens, the area needs to be cordoned off to stop the infection spreading. The fungus seems to travel via the pet trade in infected water or animals, and on the boots and equipment of hikers, hunters and even conservationists. Until 鈥渃lean鈥� and infected areas can be identified, it seems prudent to limit the trade in frogs and warn walkers to disinfect their kit.
Some scientists also want to see captive breeding programmes set up for different populations. This will mean screening captured creatures for the fungus, and treating any that turn out to be infected. New Zealand has an fine record of conserving endangered species such as the kakapo, the flightless parrot that is intensively monitored. It鈥檚 time to lavish similar attention on the nation鈥檚 amphibians. They may not be as cute as the kakapo, but they are no less important.
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