Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis - The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore

Why do we care?
32%
30%
Amphibians
N > 6,000
12%
Reptiles
N > 8,000
23%
Birds
N > 10,000
Mammals
N > 4,000
History of the Project
Photo: NOAA
Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
AKA Bd or Amphibian Chytrid
Family of saprophytic fungi
Bd only member to attack vertebrates
Transmission
Virulence
“Out of Africa” theory
No cure in the wild
Global Distribution of Chytrid
Fungus
http://www.globalamphibians.org/images/figure3_smaller.jpg
Cooperative Effort:
Anthony Wisnieski MZiB
Kevin Zippel –
Detroit Zoo
Roberto Ibanez – STRI
Erik Lindquist – Lee University
Edgardo Griffith - Panama
Photos: Anthony Wisnieski
Photo: Anthony Wisnieski
La Rana Dorada
http://www.ranadorada.org/species-info.htm
http://www.pa/img/huaca1.jpg
Photo: Anthony Wisnieski
2001 – 2006
~125 frogs collected
Photo: Anthony Wisnieski
The Present
The Numbers
• Today:
~1500 golden frogs
> 50 AZA institutions
41 founders represented
~ 350 at MZiB
Photos:
Meredith Whitney
http://www.ranadorada.org/photography.htm
Photo: Meredith Whitney
EVACC
All photos by Paul Crump
Photo: Paul Crump
Photos: Meredith Whitney
Photos: Paul Crump
Photos: Meredith Whitney
Next Steps…
Mission: Continue to support research and
conservation of harlequin frogs.
PGF/ACT Grant supports conservation
programs that seek to increase our basis
of knowledge or continue to protect the
endangered Panamanian golden frog
and other Atelopus species throughout
their range and in captivity.
There is Good News!
Good News
• More frogs!
• New sites?
• Progress
– Husbandry
– Research
– Education
– Financial Support