Jeff Davis of the blog Frog Matters informed me about a conference on the deadly chytrid fungus taking place in Tempe, Arizona. More information on the conference can be found here. Jeff’s blog Frog Matters has other relevant information on the conference too. From Jeff’s blog:
Why “Frog Matters”? Because frogs matter. In a chance meeting with the president of the St. Louis Zoo, I learned about a not-so-well-known ecological crisis — the very real possibility that at least one-third of all 6,000 amphibian species on earth will become extinct in our lifetime.
More information and the latest NEWS on the chytrid fungus as of 6 November 2007:
On the Net: Deadly frog disease can be cured by eyedrops
On the Net: Pinkeye Medicine Prevents Frog Apocalypse
On the Net: The Amphibian Ark
On the Net: Association of Zoos and Aquariums
On the Net: People can unknowingly spread the chytrid fungus with contaminated shoes and equipment
Great news on the Amphibian Ark front: The association of biology teachers is lining up with Amphibian Ark to take on the fight to save hundreds of endangered species of frogs and other amphibians. Jeff Corwin’s video thanking them, and a link to the news release, are posted on my frog blog:
http://frogmatters.wordpress.com/2007/11/29/jeff-corwin-video-thanks-biology-teachers-for-hopping-on-board/
This is really important. Consider the sheer, numerical power of the partnership:
•There are 6,000 biology teachers that are in the association…
•And let’s say each of them has 100 students…
•And each of those students has a sibling, and 1.5 parents, and 2 grandparents, and 2 close friends — and tells them all about the crisis
•That’s 6,000 teachers, 600,000 students, another 600,000 sisters and brothers, 900,000 parents, 1.2 million grandparents, and another 1.2 million friends — all informed, spreading the word, demanding and taking action
Like a frog jumping into a pond, the ripple effect of biology teachers rallying behind Amphibian Ark can be transformational for this cause. So I salute the teachers, and Jeff Corwin for doing all he can to raise awareness. You’re making a huge difference.