trueCollege of Natural Science,Integrative Biology,Kellogg Biological Station11/07/2022Back from the dead: Meet the frogs overcoming extinction

If there’s news about amphibians these days, odds are it’s not going to be good. A pathogenic fungus has been decimating populations around the world for about forty years and counting, pushing many species to extinction. That’s why researchers have been stunned to see one genus — Atelopus or harlequin frogs — defying the odds. Now, new research from ecologists at Michigan State University and collaborators in Ecuador is setting the stage for an unprecedented underdog story — or, if you will, an underfrog story.

Val OsowskiResearchers from MSU and Ecuador have confirmed that many harlequin frogs once believed to be extinct are, in fact, persisting. MSU doctoral student Kyle Jaynes (above) shines a light on a harlequin frog rediscovered in Ecuador. Researchers from MSU and Ecuador have confirmed that many harlequin frogs once believed to be extinct are, in fact, persisting. biodiversity crisisfacultygraduate studentsharlequin frogsresearch