A fungal epidemic blamed for the extinction of dozens of amphibian species has drawn the attention of researchers and conservationist alike. Microbial ecologist linkurl:Reid Harris;http://www.jmu.edu/biology/faculty/harris/harris.shtml and his colleagues at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA, say they have an idea for how to stop the spread of the chytrid fungus. The team recently identified several species of bacteria that occur naturally on the skin of many amphibians, and that inhibit the harmful effects of the fungus. Harris's research has inspired an international collaborative conservation effort, known as the Amphibian Rescue and Conservation
Project, which aims to save thousands of amphibian species at risk of infection by the fungus. Harris talked to The Scientist about his research and its implications for developing management strategies. **__The Scientist__:** The Smithsonian Institution and six other zoos and institutes in Northern and Central America aim to collect $1.5 million...
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Image: linkurl:Brian Gratwicke;http://www.briangratwicke.com/ |
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Image: linkurl:Brian Gratwicke;http://www.briangratwicke.com/ |
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Image: linkurl:Brian Gratwicke;http://www.briangratwicke.com/ |
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