Sauna: A lifeline for frogs fighting a deadly fungal disease
Biologists at Macquarie University have built low-cost mini saunas to protect endangered green-yellow bell frogs from the deadly chytrid fungus.
In an effort to save Australia’s endangered blue and yellow bell frogs, biologists have turned to creative solutions: saunas. The frogs, currently sheltering from Sydney’s harsh winters in saunas, are seeking refuge from the deadly chytrid fungus. The saunas are essentially small greenhouses with black-painted tiles heated by the sun, providing life-saving shelter for the frogs.
“Chytrid is the worst pathogen on record,” said Anthony Waddle, a biologist at Macquarie University. This water-borne disease infects the frog’s skin, attacking deep into the frog’s skin and eventually killing it. Globally, chytrid has caused the decline of 500 amphibian species and pushed 90 to the brink of extinction, including six in Australia.
Waddle’s mini sauna can change this grim scenario. In these warm environments, chytrid fungus cannot grow on frogs, helping them fight infection and survive. Frogs play an important role in their ecosystems as bioindicators, meaning they help assess environmental health. Without them, entire ecosystems could collapse.
Globally, 41% of frog species are at risk of extinction, making them one of the most vulnerable groups of invertebrates, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Major threats include habitat loss, climate change and chytrid fungal infections.
These challenges are difficult to solve, but without a comprehensive solution, Waddle hopes his frog sauna will help minimize the damage. “This may be the first evidence that we can reduce frog deaths each year at low cost. For green and yellow bell frogs, that can be the difference between a disappearing population or surviving,” Waddle explains.
The success of these saunas shows the need for creative solutions, from complex strategies such as identifying genes that can help frogs resist chytrid to simpler, immediate actions to protect frog populations. A major advantage of frog saunas is their affordability; each costs just $50 to build. Waddle has helped dozens of amateur scientists set up these saunas in their backyards, providing valuable data on endangered frogs and rescuing several species from the brink of extinction.
Frog saunas highlight how innovative approaches can have practical benefits, said Jodi Rowley, an amphibian biologist at the Australian Museum. “It’s easy to feel helpless in the face of biodiversity loss, but this research gives us a clear solution to help frogs fight this deadly fungal disease,” she said.
