Articles tagged with Frogs
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Researchers from UC Berkeley argue that devastating declines of amphibians worldwide signal a biodiversity disaster. The study highlights the impact of chytridiomycosis, habitat constriction, and pollution on frog populations, contributing to a sixth mass extinction event.
Researchers discovered an unusual frog species that can actively select sound frequencies, tuning in to specific sounds like a radio. The 'Odorrana tormota' frog's eardrums respond differently depending on the Eustachian tubes' opening state, allowing it to filter out background noise and focus on ultrasonic calls.
Researchers identified certain genes that enable frogs to develop resistance to harmful bacteria and disease. The discovery may provide new strategies for protecting frog populations in the wild by selectively breeding individuals with known disease-resistance genes.
Researchers found that toads in suburban areas are less likely to suffer from reproductive system abnormalities than those near farms. The study highlights the difference between the impact of agriculture versus development on amphibians.
Some African frogs have a unique defense mechanism where they puncture their own skin with sharp bones in their toes, creating claws capable of wounding predators. This unusual trait is found in at least 11 species and may be used infrequently, only when threatened.
A recent study published in Conservation Letters found that many animal species need broad landscape-level conservation to survive due to ecological processes. The research identified 20% of threatened amphibians and 40% of threatened freshwater turtles relying on conservation action at a large scale.
Research by JMU researchers suggests that adding probiotic bacteria to the skin of mountain yellow-legged frogs can lessen the effects of a lethal skin pathogen. Field studies have also shown that populations with higher proportions of individuals with anti-pathogen bacteria are more likely to survive.
The Gerobatrachus fossil provides key evidence for the evolution of modern amphibians from one ancient group, resolving a long-standing controversy. It suggests that frogs and salamanders separated around 240-275 million years ago, contrary to previous estimates.
A new species of neotropical treefrog has been discovered that can reproduce both aquatic and terrestrial ways. Researchers found that this frog makes a behavioral decision to lay egg masses aquatically in a pond or terrestrially on overhanging plants, allowing it to avoid predators and extreme temperatures.
A new study reveals that female concave-eared torrent frogs emit high-pitched chirps spanning audible and ultrasonic frequencies to signal their interest. Males respond instantaneously, with impressive accuracy in localizing the sound, a feat shared only by elephants, humans, barn owls, and dolphins.
A PLOS study highlights key conservation areas for threatened frogs and toads in Latin America, emphasizing the importance of considering life-history traits. The research reveals that regions with aquatic larval stages are crucial for species like Phyllomedusa ayeaye, while those without tadpoles require targeted conservation efforts.
Researchers found over 10,500 dead animals along 11 miles of roads in Indiana, with nearly 95% being frogs and other amphibians. The study suggests that road-related death contributes to their decline, highlighting the need for mitigation structures like underpasses and fences.
A 70-million-year-old giant frog fossil from Madagascar has been identified as a relative of living Horned toads, providing evidence for the link between Madagascar, India, and South America during the Late Cretaceous period. The discovery sheds light on the paleobiogeography of Madagascar's unique fauna.
The marsh frog outcompetes indigenous species due to its faster growth rate, longer lifespan, and higher fertility. This displacement process threatens the extinction of native water frog species.
A study reveals an astonishing level of cryptic diversity among frog species in the Guiana Shield region, potentially doubling previously thought numbers. The underestimation of amphibian diversity has broad implications for conservation efforts and management of biodiversity.
A new study is working to save the endangered splendid leaf frog by understanding its development and behavior in relation to diet and environment. The researchers are conducting field studies and experiments at Chester Zoo to provide a better idea of the species' nutritional requirements.
A CU-Boulder study shows that high levels of nutrients from farming and ranching activities fuel parasite infections, causing highly publicized frog deformities. The research found that increased nitrogen and phosphorus levels stimulate algae growth, leading to sharp hikes in snail populations and infectious parasites.
Researchers have created synthetic antibiotics called Teflon AMPs that are more resistant to bacterial defenses than their natural counterparts. These compounds mimic the immune system's early line of defense and show promise in battling a range of infections, including those caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
A new genetic analysis suggests that the frog-killing fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, may be a greater threat to mountain yellow-legged frogs due to its ability to spread over long distances and persist in the environment through sexual reproduction. This could make it harder to save the frogs from extinction.
A study by Penn State researchers found that nearly all Caribbean land-breeding frog species, including coqui frogs, originated from a single ancient species that rafted on a sea voyage from South America. The discovery challenges previous theories of their arrival and reveals the surprising common ancestry of these species.
Research reveals tree frogs maintain grip by keeping toe pad angle low, detaching at 90°. Larger species adapt to grasp objects, allowing them to climb like humans.
A University of Alberta study shows that beaver dams create suitable breeding habitats for frogs and toads, with approximately 5,000 species recorded at 54 beaver ponds. The beavers' presence enhances the development and growth rates of frog and toad larvae.
Researchers found that spotted salamanders, wood frogs, and American toads employ various defense strategies to avoid water mold infections, including protective jelly layers and early hatching. These mechanisms help reduce mortality rates and increase survival chances for the amphibian species.
Researchers found that waxed and inactive tree frogs have similar metabolic rates as unwaxed, dehydrating frogs, challenging the idea of a hibernation-like dormant state. Tree frogs use wiping behaviors to conserve energy by reducing surface evaporation by up to 4%, but this does not lead to significant changes in metabolic rate.
Research shows tadpoles respond more conservatively to predator cues during the day, but return to feeding quickly at night due to higher growth rate-to-predation risk ratio. This study highlights the importance of considering both external and internal factors in understanding prey behavior.
A recent survey of Tanzania's Eastern Arc Mountain range has revealed over 160 animal species, including 11 previously undiscovered ones. The discovery highlights the urgent need for conservation efforts to protect the region's unique wildlife and forests.
Researchers found that naive bats quickly learned to associate a new frog call with edible prey by observing their neighbor eating, even when the call comes from a frog they wouldn't normally eat. The study shows that fringe-lipped bats can rapidly track fluctuations in prey abundance and composition through their social learning skills.
Scientists have rediscovered two Critically Endangered frog species in the El Dorado Nature Reserve in Colombia, providing a glimmer of hope for saving these endangered species from extinction. The reserve's protection is timely, as the region has recently been affected by a fungal disease that has wiped out many amphibian populations.
A team of researchers has discovered a population of the painted frog, considered extinct since 1995, in Colombia's deserts. The finding offers hope that other species can survive the chytridiomycosis fungus and highlights the need for urgent conservation measures.
Researchers have discovered that frog proteins can rescue mouse embryonic stem cells from dividing without limit, highlighting an ancient mechanism that may hold the key to understanding human disease. The study also shows that mammals have adopted this function from amphibians, suggesting a long history of stem cell regulation.
Researchers found that female túngara frogs are attracted to males producing complex 'whine chuck' calls. By surgically removing fibrous masses in the males' larynx, scientists discovered a unique connection between these structures and call complexity.
A recent study documents six new frog species found in Laos over a two-year period, showcasing the country's remarkable biodiversity. Conservationists are concerned about the combined loss of forest cover and over-exploitation of species threatening much of Laos' wildlife.
Scientists discovered that rare Chinese frogs can communicate using high-pitch ultrasonic sounds, a trait previously thought to be exclusive to mammals. The frogs' ability to hear and respond to these sounds allows them to facilitate communication in noisy environments.
Researchers find that a unique ear canal in the concave-eared torrent frog allows it to detect and produce ultrasounds, a skill also seen in dolphins and bats. This discovery may lead to new strategies for humans to hear in noisy environments.
Researchers found that harmless frogs can look like less toxic species without losing protection from predators through stimulus generalization. This discovery challenges traditional mimicry theory and reveals a new mechanism involved in mimicry processes.
A team of scientists from Conservation International and the Indonesian Institute of Science discovered dozens of new species, including a rare bird of paradise, a new honeyeater, frogs, butterflies, and a tree kangaroo. The expedition revealed an untouched tropical forest ecosystem, providing insights into biodiversity conservation.
Scientists report a rapid spread of the deadly fungus chytridiomycosis across Central America, leading to widespread amphibian extinctions. The fungus has been linked to declines of over 40 species in Central America and 93 worldwide, with a recent outbreak causing local extinctions in Panama.
A recent study published in Nature reveals that climate-driven fungal disease is a major contributor to the decline of amphibian populations worldwide. The research found that warmer temperatures favor the growth and reproduction of a deadly skin fungus, which kills frogs mostly in cool highlands or during winter.
Scientists link global warming to amphibian population decline and disease wipeouts, citing a pathogenic fungus as the primary cause. The study found that large-scale warming is a key factor in disappearances of many amphibian species in cloud forest environments.
A new study has pinpointed epicenters of Earth's imminent extinctions, identifying 794 species in need of urgent conservation action at specific sites worldwide. The research highlights the critical need for global cooperation to protect these imperiled species and ecosystems.
Researchers found that reestablished contact between two isolated green-eyed tree frog populations led to the emergence of a new species due to females' preference for mates from their own lineage. This preference resulted in reproductive isolation and accelerated evolution, ultimately giving rise to a distinct species.
Scientists at Vanderbilt University Medical Center discovered compounds secreted by frog skin can selectively kill HIV without harming T cells. The findings hold promise for developing new treatments and vaccines against the virus.
Researchers found that Roundup(r) killed up to 71% of tadpoles and 86% of terrestrial frogs after exposure. The surfactant in the herbicide, not the active ingredient, is lethal to amphibians. The study highlights concerns about accidental spraying during lawn care.
A study by PhD student Rebecca Cramp found that the green-striped burrowing frog can maintain its gut function despite prolonged starvation, allowing it to digest massive meals efficiently. The discovery has implications for human survival during starvation, as humans often experience severe gastrointestinal issues after re-feeding.
A study by University of Pittsburgh researcher Rick Relyea found that Roundup is extremely lethal to amphibians, causing a 70 percent decline in biodiversity and an 86 percent decline in tadpole mass. The herbicide's surfactant was responsible for its toxic effects on amphibian populations.
A wireless distributed sensor network simulates synchronized calling behavior of frogs and cicadas. The system exhibits complex group behaviors, including the emergence of new calling cycles and the recruitment of nodes to these cycles.
Researchers in Australia have discovered that frog populations of critically endangered species can persist with stable fungal infections, challenging the role of a deadly disease in their declines. The study found no evidence that survival differed between infected and uninfected frogs, suggesting coexistence rather than devastating i...
Researchers found evidence of chytrid fungus persistence in surviving populations of Taudactylus eungellensis, a species that had suffered a massive decline. The study suggests that frog populations can persist with an endemic infection of the fungus, challenging the assumption that infected populations are wiped out.
The European common frog has a complex breeding strategy where males engage in clutch piracy, fertilizing eggs left unfertilized after the initial encounter. This behavior leads to a greater percentage of fertilized eggs and clutches with multiple fathers.
Excess nitrogen and phosphorus from farming activities cause eutrophication, creating a food web that imperils frogs. A parasite, Ribeiroia ondatrae, infects tadpoles, causing deformities.
A study found that high nutrient levels lead to increased rams horn snail populations, which in turn cause more parasite infections and deformities in frogs. This research may help explain the recent increase in amphibian malformations and suggest control strategies.
Researchers found bullfrog calls with stutters have a communication function and don't indicate fatigue. The frogs use stutters to extend call length while reducing air exchange, attracting mates during breeding season.
A study by UC Berkeley post-doctoral fellow Vance T. Vredenburg shows that non-native trout have devastated native frog populations in high-Sierra lakes, but removing fish allows the frogs to flourish. The mountain yellow-legged frog has declined dramatically due to introduced trout, with only 5,000 adults remaining in its range.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have successfully designed better bacteria killers by modifying arylamide-based polymers inspired by frog skin. The modified polymers can disrupt bacterial cell membranes without harming human cells, making them a promising new approach to combat antibiotic resistance.
Out-of-balance ecosystems play a significant role in the demise of amphibian populations. Human activities, parasites, and environmental changes are contributing factors. The research highlights the importance of managing landscapes and water bodies to prevent further declines.
Research reveals a significant rise in frog deformities over the past three decades, with a notable correlation to trematode parasites. Historically documented cases suggest an ongoing issue, while recent findings indicate increased occurrences and severity across more than 50 hotspots in North America.
Elizabeth Loftus presents her latest research on false memories, showing that suggestive interviewing and visual cues can plant false memories in people. Her studies have challenged the idea that memories are reliable and accurate.
Researchers found that dissolved organic matter protects most amphibian embryos from harmful levels of UV-B radiation in natural habitats. The studies suggest that the causes of amphibian population declines may be specific to each region and require a more nuanced approach.
A recent study suggests that dissolved organic matter in water absorbs UV-B, protecting 85% of amphibian habitats. The timing of breeding also plays a crucial role, with early breeding reducing UV-B exposure in certain regions.
Researchers found habitat destruction and pesticide exposure linked to declines of four frog species and two toad species in California. The study suggests that wind-borne agrochemicals may be a contributing factor to amphibian population declines.