New method to protect amphibians from extinction

Scientists have identified a course of action which could prevent the disappearance of amphibian species.

In a report published by Plataforma SINC, the team revealed that in the last 30 years some 200 species of amphibians have become extinct as a result of a fungal infection called chytridiomycosis.

The fungus is capable of mortality rates of up to 100 per cent in some amphibian species.

For several years, scientists have fought the pathogen with little success and have now turned to an alternative technique to prevent amphibians coming into contact with the disease, thus limiting local extinctions.

"There are several alternatives for mitigating chytridiomycosis that are more effective than trying to prevent the pathogen from arriving or eradicating it from the environment," Jaime Bosch, a researcher at the National Natural Sciences Museum (MNCN-CSIC) in Spain and co-author of the new study, told the source.

He explained that new methods to control infection levels could be enough to prevent outbreaks.