Fifty additional species to the Living Coral Biobank Project, dwarf minke whales, coral surveys and a new species discovery mark inaugural citizen sci

Frogs are dying in large numbers across eastern Australia. Scientists don't know why - Australian Geographic

submited by
Style Pass
2021-07-29 10:00:09

Fifty additional species to the Living Coral Biobank Project, dwarf minke whales, coral surveys and a new species discovery mark inaugural citizen science voyage.

Over the past few weeks, we’ve received a flurry of emails from concerned people who’ve seen sick and dead frogs across eastern Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.

About a month ago, I noticed the Green Tree Frogs living around our home showing signs of lethargy & ill health. I was devastated to find about 7 of them dead.

We previously had a very healthy population of green tree frogs and a couple of months ago I noticed a frog that had turned brown. I then noticed more of them and have found numerous dead frogs around our property.

So what’s going on? The short answer is: we don’t really know. How many frogs have died and why is a mystery, and we’re relying on people across Australia to help us solve it.

Frogs are an integral part of healthy Australian ecosystems. While they are usually small and unseen, they’re an important thread in the food web, and a kind of environmental glue that keeps ecosystems functioning. Healthy frog populations are usually a good indication of a healthy environment.

Leave a Comment