Amphibians are the most threatened vertebrates on Earth; 41 percent of species are considered endangered. In the highlands of Central and South America, a deadly fungus has wiped out a large portion of the once diverse amphibian populations. But in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, an isolated mountain range in northern Colombia, amphibians still thrive, including at least 48 species, 25 of which are found nowhere else. New research from the Universities of Ghent and Trier now shows that the threat is dangerously close.
After examining over 2.000 frogs, toads, and salamanders, researchers found no evidence of the deadly fungus in the region. However, they discovered a highly virulent variant of the disease only about 20 kilometers away. Warm, dry lowlands likely act as a natural barrier that has kept the fungus at bay so far. The study shows, however, that some of the region's unique amphibian species are highly susceptible to infection. The appearance of the fungus is therefore likely to lead to a massive decline in their populations, as has been observed elsewhere.
According to Ghent University, the findings offer a rare opportunity to protect a healthy amphibian population from a devastating disease outbreak. The researchers warn that contaminated equipment, materials, or transported amphibians could carry the fungus across the natural barrier. Preventing its introduction must therefore be a top priority in nature conservation. The authors call for strict biosecurity measures, continuous disease monitoring, and the urgent protection of particularly vulnerable species.
