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An Amphibian Fungus Has Become 'The Most Deadly Pathogen Known To Science'
"On Thursday, 41 scientists published the first worldwide analysis of a fungal outbreak that's been wiping out frogs for decades," The New York Times reports. The outbreak has caused more than 500 species of amphibians to decline significantly (Warning: source may be paywalled; alternative source), making it "the most deadly pathogen known to science." From the report: Scientists first noticed in the 1970s that some frog populations were declining quickly; by the 1980s, some species appeared to be extinct. The losses were puzzling, because the frogs were living in pristine habitats, unharmed by pollution or deforestation. In the late 1990s, researchers discovered that frogs in both Australia and Panama were infected with a deadly fungus, which they named Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis -- Bd, for short. The fungus turned up in other countries, but studies of its DNA suggest that Bd originated on the Korean Peninsula. In Asia, amphibians seem impervious to Bd, but when it got to other parts of the world â" probably via the international trade in pet amphibians -- the pathogen reached hundreds of vulnerable species.
Amphibians are infected with Bd by contact with other animals or by spores floating in the water. The fungus invades skin cells and multiplies. An infected frog's skin will start to peel away as the animal grows sluggish. Before it dies, a frog may manage to hop its way to a new stream or pond, spreading the fungus further. The fungus thrives in cool, moist conditions. As a result, frogs that live in cloud forests on mountainsides have been hit particularly hard. Big frogs are at a greater risk, too, possibly because they don't multiply as quickly as small ones. [The lead author of the new study and his colleagues] identified 501 species in decline, far greater than the previous estimate of 200. Certain factors once thought to account for the decimation of frog populations -- like climate change and deforestation -- are not the greatest threats, the scientists found. The study has been published in the journal Science.
Amphibians are infected with Bd by contact with other animals or by spores floating in the water. The fungus invades skin cells and multiplies. An infected frog's skin will start to peel away as the animal grows sluggish. Before it dies, a frog may manage to hop its way to a new stream or pond, spreading the fungus further. The fungus thrives in cool, moist conditions. As a result, frogs that live in cloud forests on mountainsides have been hit particularly hard. Big frogs are at a greater risk, too, possibly because they don't multiply as quickly as small ones. [The lead author of the new study and his colleagues] identified 501 species in decline, far greater than the previous estimate of 200. Certain factors once thought to account for the decimation of frog populations -- like climate change and deforestation -- are not the greatest threats, the scientists found. The study has been published in the journal Science.
Editors, just stuff it with the paywalls and go find some non-paywalled links, eh.
Here is finally something you could introduce to get rid of those pesky cane toads! I foresee no problems whatsoever. :-)
But internet memes never die. https://imgflip.com/memetempla...
This I find hard to believe
A pathogen that affects entire class of animals, wow, just wow. That's an equivalent of a disease that affected all mammals indiscriminately, I didn't think such a thing was possible.
From the blurb: "...but when it got to other parts of the world â" probably via the international trade in pet amphibians..."
I'm thinking it's the research scientists walking around the "pristine habitats" shortly after they were walking around the not-so pristine habitats of the Korean peninsula. Do you think they changed their shoes between locations? I don't think so.
Seems like you are triggered already.
... perhaps this pathogen can be engineered to infect only politicians.
"Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of the human race." - H. G. Wells
https://www.youtube.com/watch?... Megabrutal Fungus viral strategy. Maybe related ;-)
how could this be? Maybe at least Putin's fault or white male supremacy? C'mon give us something to be outraged about.
They already told you
Bd originated on the Korean Peninsula
So it's one to drop at Kim's feet.
Wanna buy a shirt?
https://www.redbubble.com/people/stealthfinger/shop?asc=u
The spawning of this fungus has been toadaly out of control. We should always remember just how bad a pathogen can be to a species. Never froget about it.
"That's the way to do it" - Punch
It's part of a group of infectious parasites to he avoided.
Actually it's the cooler moist climates that the fungus is well suited. It's why frogs in the mountainous regions are hit the most. If anything, global warming would help in this regard.
I'm old enough to recall discussions of the frog populations dwindling back in the 70's and 80's and it was being attributed to the increase in acid rain caused by - you guessed it - human generated pollution. The people making the claims are the ones the went from a coming ice age to global warming to climate change and are the progenitors of idiots claiming we're all going to die in 12 years (AOC this year) or 10 years (as Ted Danson stated in 1988).
Looks like the hate humanity and capitalism crowd was wrong again.
>the frogs were living in pristine habitats, unharmed by pollution or deforestation
And what's the point, then? If they cannot blame Western society, racism, the patriarchy or at least Donald Trump, the finding is worse than useless but in itself racist, misogynist and islamophobe.
I suggest the responsible scientists should be fired and sentenced to 10 years of compulsory gender sensibility and diversity training.
Go somewhere and ask your imaginary friend to heal you, you need it.
Nice story. Did you make it up yourself?
I thought the elites were responsible. That's what Trump told me.
As you very well know, climate change is causing greater extremes throughout the world. Warm places are getting warmer, and cool places are getting cooler. Weather patters are also getting more volatile.
It's one thing when natural climate changes and it's slow enough for species to adapt to emerging threats created by a changing environment, which mind you are always faster at emerging than the species are to adapt.
So when climate changes quickly due to human activity, new threats emerge even faster but species cannot speed up their adaptation. Places that were not cool enough for this fungus 5 years ago are suddenly cool enough. It's not like this fungus just crept in slowly over 1000 generations of amphibian reproduction. It just showed up one day and caught these species entirely off guard.
It's completely foolish and bordering on criminal - nay - it is absolutely criminal - to think that this is not the result of rapid, man-made climate change, and while the GP may have been incorrect about the mechanism, the result is the same.
Racists and sexist in one sentence... there is a special place in hell for you!
god damn you are a fucking idiot
go to hell you piece of shit
That's an insult to idiots ;)
Thats funny because its truly what Trump has said in serious statements on multiple occasions.
The fungus spread is due to it being an invasive species being spread by human global trade. So it is still our fault.
Global Climate change may also have an effect on this as well. As many amphibian are already stressed from changes in their climate, meaning they are less likely to handle the Fungus and other stresses as well.
The biggest problem is that with our exponential advancements in science and engineering over the last 150 years, we have created changes in our environment at an unprecedented rate where the earths natural balances cannot keep up. The problems are far more complex then Stop Driving Cars, and put up solar cells, also just feeling guilty on what is happening isn't helpful either. However denying the problems exist isn't helpful as well, because the problem is from mankind and we need to work out a balanced solution that will moderate the amount of long term damage we do for short term benefit.
If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
Seems like you are triggered already.
Either your sarcasm didn't convey, or you're fucking lame.
GP poster is MOCKING the utter idiocy of "intersectional" and "progressive" triggering.
The fact that mocking that shit is so fucking easy should tell you something...
Oh, yes, and the "ozone layer" was another scare tactic they used. Global cooling. Global warming. Acid rain. You name it, they have a scare tactic ready and waitin'. Anything to get their hand in your wallet to pay for their "fellowships" and cushy "pensions".
You know global warming and climate change are the same thing. And is real.
Nice story. Did you make it up yourself?
Nah, the New York Times and The Washington Post and CNN and PMSNBC and the rest of the fake news media did.
Kinda obvious that they've been LYING for years.
What's a "progressive" to do?!?!? No point in watching CNN or MSNBC if their lies can't bring Trump down.
DId you see their ratings in the past week? Down what? 50%? Rachel MadCow is flailing for more fake news to spew.
That's what happens when your entire business model is to use fake news to troll "progressives" and rile them up and your lies get exposed.
Now the lies that are obvious to normal people means the "progressive" media have pretty much ensure a Trump reelection in 2020.
I'm gonna be laughing my ass off at "progressives" when Ruth Bader Ginsberg and Stephen Breyer and Clarence Thomas and maybe 2-3 other Supreme Court justices are replaced by 40-year-old judges approved by the Federalist Society.
You "progtards" with your overreaching craziness have lost the Supreme Court to conservatives for 30 or 40 years.
Karma's a CAST IRON BITCH
I'm laughing my fucking ass off at your craziness. We have what? 6 more years of Trump trolling Ilhan Omar and AOC into even greater heights of obviously divisive and corrosive leftist identity-politics jackassery?
BWAAAA HAAAAA HAAAAA!!!!!
"probably via the international trade in pet amphibians"
Who knows how many other diseases & invasive species gained access to whole (Western) World (& still do) because of international pet trade!!!
& not to mention, how much of those pets get horrible treatment/suffering of all kinds!!!
How about banning ALL INTERNATIONAL PET TRADE globally/completely/absolutely???
I would recommend that you get your education in science from more reputable sources then Cable TV
The problem with these sources is that they are trying to stay interesting all the time. So when they actually report on Science it is often on the far off Hypothesis of the week. The Hypothesis process of the scientific method can be wrong, and usually incomplete. But it is the question that is asked, that requires further research to say yes this is a good idea, or no this is a stupid idea.
In terms of the new Ice Age 40 years ago, this was based on smog blocking out the sun, We had improvements in many parts of the world to reduce smog, so this was reduced... However during the recent Olympics in China. They found that the weather had gotten noticeably warmer when the Chinese Government Stopped Smog for the days during the Olympics.
If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
Isn't there some indication that the bees, bats, and frogs are all dying because of pesticides? The actual agent of destruction, in this case a fungus, taking advantage of a weakened immune system?
Many frogs can change genders. This fungus is killing transgender creatures! This is a transphobic fungus! There you go.
Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
Wow, just wow. Feeling better now? LMAO
I guess you missed the part that this is an invasive species.
If you're scared of your govt then you need to further restrict its powers
Vote 3rd Party in 2016 and beyond
Not as simple as that now is it?
Politicians, such as AOC, Nancy Pelosi, John McCain, are on the record thinking that their office gives them the power to rule. No. They are employees hired to legislate. We are citizens. Not subjects.
Now, those who want the government to be all-powerful do not see the populace as citizens. They are a herd to be led, if they're docile, or whipped, if they're not.
If you're scared of your govt then you need to further restrict its powers
Vote 3rd Party in 2016 and beyond
dammit trump!
Which raises a question. Why doesn't Kim have it, with his close resemblance to a frog?
Aah, change is good. -- Rafiki
Yeah, but it ain't easy. -- Simba
I thought they found a cure 4 years ago!
https://phys.org/news/2015-11-chytrid-scientists-method-killer-fungus.html
Nah, Alex Jones was almost right. He thought the frogs were turning gay, but they're just shedding their skins and dying nekkid due to this fungus. To someone coming along later, it looks like an orgy that was smited.
Oh, yes, and the "ozone layer" was another scare tactic they used. Global cooling. Global warming. Acid rain. You name it, they have a scare tactic ready and waitin'. Anything to get their hand in your wallet to pay for their "fellowships" and cushy "pensions".
The next one will be the magnetosphere changing or magnetic poles swapping.
To be clear, this is not to suggest that in similar circumstances, a person who engaged in this activity would face no consequences. To the contrary, those individuals are often subject to security or administrative sanctions. But that is not what we are deciding now.
I mean, other than the idiot teenagers and the anti-science supporters of the GOP, everyone knows that frogs and toads are the canary in the coal mine... and this means we are in seriously deep sh*t.
Interesting question: any chance that this is someone's test gene editing gone horribly wrong?
But we've been repeatedly told for two decades that global warming was responsible for the decline in frog populations
"Global Warming is Wiping out Frogs" http://www.wwf.mg/?56660/Global-Warming-is-Wiping-out-Frogs
"Frog Extinctions Clearly Linked To Global Warming" http://www.krugerpark.co.za/krugerpark-times-2-20-global-warming-21205.html
"Frogs in high mountainous areas are most affected by global warming" https://www.savethefrogs.com/d/threats/climate/index.html
"Climate change could be a greater threat to tropical frogs than deforestation" https://phys.org/news/2016-10-climate-greater-threat-tropical-frogs.html
(I could continue these citations ad-nauseam)
Even the summary says that its affecting frogs in pristine environment, with no pesticides and long before global warming was a real concern.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
It is only invasive because of human activity. Same root cause as rapid climate change.
New Scientist
New York Times
CS Monitor
Nope.
Nice try, but you'll have to do better next time.
At least not directly (we're probably transporting the fungus around the globe). That contradicts what I've heard said or implied in numerous documentaries and papers for decades - the top suspects were usually pesticides, or climate change, or habitat loss. It's interesting to go back to a 2008 slashdot article on the topic and see how many people jumped on the global warming and habitat loss bandwagon. The correct cause (the fungus) was even mentioned, but only modded up to a +4. Oh well, at least the top-modded main post is warning people not to jump to conclusions.
Are we sure it's not Hillary Clinton's Vagina? I think you guys need to check the study results again.
You hear about people bringing illegal pets with them into another state. I've talked to people in california with ferrets, possums, etc as pets, as well as the more exotic ones.
It doesn't matter if it is a felony if people think they can get away with it. And short of the panopticon society I don't want to live with, we can't do that. The best we can hope for is having it be nominally legal while providing a way for the government to investigate pets and look for petborne diseases, and do limited quarantines/bans for particularly hazardous species. The additional benefit of this is pristine animals kept as pets may allow a method of repopulation if an infected native population is wiped out, or has to be eradicated to keep it from spreading to nearby populations. People keeping them as pets helps cut down the associated care and maintenance costs for government/university/industry until and unless they are needed.
Well, yes. Global trade has spread this fungas around. But again, to the point, AGW has *fuck all* to do with this specific issue. Just so we're all clear here.
Trump is part of the ruling elite, too, and he's a traitor to his country. What's your point, apologist?
What does Comey's opinion have to do with anything I said? He's doesn't get all triggered at the mention of Hillary's name, like all you #MAGAtardnoramouses do.
Nobody claimed that AGW was the cause. However, Accelerated Climate Change has *fucking everything* to do with this issue.
It's the hallmark of the intellectually dishonest to confound AGW with ACC.
You know global warming and climate change are the same thing. And is real.
Real yes.. But probably not man-made.. We certainly didn't cause the mini ice age 250? years ago, and we certainly didn't have anything to do with the climate that existed during the dinosaur times when it was considerably warmer than today.
We are having an impact, to be sure, but it's really starting to look like it's a minor one.
We conservatives may not have drunk the kool-aid, but that doesn't mean we don't support a clean environment.. I remember the smog of the 70's and 80's. It was horrible.. Then we got rid of leaded gas and..... geeze, much cleaner air..
But, there are ways to achieve your goals without bankrupting people. We phased out leaded gas..
What's the difference if a million people die from bad air versus a million people starving to death due to an economic collapse? A million people are gone either way...
Anyhow, as has been pointed out, even the FOUNDER of GREENPEACE says it's all bullshit..So yeah....
Dis you know it was possible to lose half of a set, and then lose another half of the remaining set, again and again?
The trick is to start with a number higher than 8, or even just understand fractions.
The problem with idiots is they don't realize they are idiots, and neither do other idiots.
Okay dickless.. Keep being angry.. It isn't gonna grow you an adult sized penis.. Your anger will simply keep making you impotent.
. . . says the Trump supporter, speaking from experience.