SYDNEY, May 28 (Xinhua) -- A deadly fungal disease that has devastated Australia's Alpine tree frog population is triggering a surprising survival response - infected frogs are breeding more, new research by the University of Melbourne said on Wednesday.
Male Alpine tree frogs infected with chytrid fungus are reproducing at significantly higher rates, furthering 31 percent more offspring than uninfected males, said a press release from the university on Wednesday.
The disease, chytridiomycosis, has wiped out over 80 percent of the species since the 1980s and kills most frogs after their first breeding season. Chytrid fungus has caused the decline of over 500 amphibian species globally and is especially lethal to Australian frogs.
Now confined to a few isolated areas in the Snowy Mountains, the Alpine tree frog may rely on these new insights into its breeding behavior as a crucial step toward avoiding total extinction, said the study published in Open Biology on Wednesday.
Researchers found that infected males are not only reproducing more frequently but are also more attractive to females, as they produce brighter throat patch displays, which are key visual signals used to attract mates.
Infected frogs also had higher-quality sperm, with increased volume and fertility compared to healthy frogs, the study said.
Lead author Laura Brannelly from the University of Melbourne said the findings defy expectations, which is an evolutionary strategy that may be helping them persist in the wild.
"We anticipate a sick animal might be unable to reproduce while it saves its energy to fight a deadly infection. Surprisingly, our study has found the opposite to be true, and the frogs are funneling their energy into spawning before they inevitably succumb to infection," Brannelly said.
Researchers hope the findings will guide conservation efforts, including building new breeding ponds and improving habitat connectivity. ■
