Mass Extinction of Frogs in the Land of Muir

 Foothill Yellow-legged Frog (Rana boylii)
 

Summers for many children in the United States consist of days spent in and out of creeks in search of a particular small slimy creatures.  Salamanders, frogs, and other small amphibians provide essential roles in an ecosystem.  Not to mention they can be great creatures to interest small children and can help them find a love for the environment, an important quality to have these days.  However, in the past decade the population of frogs has plummeted significantly.  Most assume that this can be fixed quickly as we see frogs as a relatively abundant creature.  Sadly, the cause of death for many of these frogs is actually a fungus which causes them to develop chytridiomycosis, which means almost certain death for some species of frogs.  What is crazy about this fungus is that it is beginning to actually interfere with biodiversity in areas which are supposed to be preserves.  In particular, one of the most famous preserves,Yosemite National Park,which has offered a secure environment for most native species, is now beginning to feel adverse affects from this debilitating fungus. Researchers at Berkley found in 2008 that, "The Sierra Nevada Yellow-legged Frog and the Southern Yellow-legged Frog, populations over the last few years declined by 95 to 98 percent, even in highly protected areas such as Yosemite National Park. This means that each local frog population has dwindled to 2 to 5 percent of its former size. Originally, frogs living atop the highest, most remote peaks seemed to thrive, but recently, they also succumbed".  These are astronomical percentages, especially when applying them to an animal which is usually so abundant in the area. 

Carcasses of Southern Yellow-legged Frogs in Sixty Lake Basin in Sierra Nevada, California. The frogs died of chytridiomycosis, an amphibian disease caused by a particularly virulent fungus. (Credit: Vance Vredenburg and Science Daily)

I found an interesting passage after reading John Muir's personal journal, My First Summer in the Sierras. Muir spends much of his time investigating the Yosemite Valley getting to know the native fauna and animal species.  In one entry he marvels at frogs in high altitudes, which I would imagine are the species of frogs at risk today.  He writes, "How did the frogs, found in all the bogs and pools and lakes, however high, manage to get up these mountains?"  a few lines later explains the abundance of the frogs when he writes, " Anyhow, they are here and in hearty health and voice.  I like their cheery tronk and crink.  They take the place of songbirds at a pinch"(200).  Obviously when Muir traveled in these parts, which was in 1869, frogs were still very abundant and in good health.  I also think that he would be extremely disheartened if he found out that these frogs, whose ribits he compares to voice of songbirds are suddenly dying off at extremely high rates, never to be seen or heard again.  However, what is scaring some scientists is the fact that this extinction could be a precursor or an example of what may happen to us humans.  If a creature like the frog, who has survived every other mass extinction suddenly is unequipped to survive, does that not make humans feel a little more vulnerable?