Disappearing Frogs

Disease, pollution, and loss of habitat are killing off hundreds of species of amphibians. One of the biggest threats right now is an aquatic fungus called chytrid that infects the skin of these historically tough, resilient creatures. While a few species seem to be resistant to the fungus (marine toads, American bullfrogs and African clawed frogs), chytrid is usually fatal to most others. With funding from the National Science Foundation, Biologist Vance Vredenburg studies the disease and shares his research with scientists who are dealing with this crisis on every continent where amphibians live.