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Rare Good News on Chytrid Roland Knapp, University of California, has had success in re-establishing populations of two species of yellow legged mountain frog, Rana muscova and Rana sierriae. The researchers moved frogs from wild populations which appeared to be resistant to areas where all frogs had been lost, a process known as evolutionary rescue where population recover through the spread of beneficial genes. Over 15 years hundreds of frogs were translocated by helicopter or snow-packed back packs. Genetic studies found differences in the immune system genes in the translocated frogs, which suggests this is the reason for their success. Tap Dancing Frog
New Scientist video of this odd tapping behaviour to flush out prey. Link Female Frogs include playing dead in their armoury for avoiding over-amorous males. other strategies include rotating away and mimicking male release calls (Carolin Dietrich, Museum of Natural History, Berlin). Females can be drowned by too much attention multiple males.
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Effects of Pet Flea Products on the Environment
Interesting croak from Froglife Pollution and Biodiversity A recent lab based study looking to see if biodiversity reduces parasite infections finds that the reduction is only seen when there is salt pollution. Link Adder Tracking
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