Cited research: Integr. Zool. 5, 143–153 (2010)

Wetter conditions but not warmer ones hasten the demise of Panamanian golden frogs infected with a pathogenic fungus.

Cynthia Carey and her team at the University of Colorado in Boulder investigated whether climate change is contributing to declines in amphibian numbers because higher temperatures stimulate the growth of the pathogenic fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis.

On the contrary, the group found that infected golden frogs (Atelopus zeteki) survived around 4 days longer at a higher experimental temperature of 23 °C compared with 17 °C. In addition, frogs lived for up to 25 days longer in dryer conditions. But the authors warn against extrapolating the results to other species, and note that all infected frogs died eventually. N.G.