14 Case Study: Amphibian Die Off, Chytrid Fungi
Review this slideshow then answer the questions below.
Questions
- What phylum of fungi is responsible for chytridiomycosis?
- Why is this fungus successful at killing amphibians?
- Why be concerned about the world’s amphibian populations? What role do amphibians play in ecosystems?
- How might Bd be spreading through the environment?
- Propose a hypothesis that would explain why Bd is spreading like a new disease throughout the world.
- Some scientists are attempting to prevent the extinction of amphibians by capturing amphibians in the wild, breeding them in chytrid-free labs, then releasing some of the amphibians into the wild. Discuss how such a strategy could save some species of amphibians.
- How else might we prevent the spread of Bd throughout the world?
Licensing & Attributions
CC licensed content, Original
Amphibian Die Off. Authored by: Lynette Hauser. Provided by: Tidewater Community College. License: CC BY: Attribution