Download Montserrat Mountain Chicken

The story of the mountain chicken so far...
How does chytrid affect mountain chickens?
The mountain chicken (Leptodactlyus fallax), the
largest native frog in the Caribbean, can now only
be seen in two islands: Montserrat and Dominica.
In 2002 the deadly chytrid fungus hit Dominica
reducing the resident population of mountain
chicken by up to 80% in just 18 months. The
fungus was
detected in Montserrat in 2009.
Montserrat saw similar devastating
effects on
its resident mountain chickens and even now
population size remains low.
Chytrid is a water based fungus that affects the skin
of
frogs. The fungus causes a disease called
Chytridiomycosis. This disease causes the outer layer
of the frog’s skin to become thick, and reddens the
skin on the belly and legs. It also causes shedding of
the skin. The disease stops the frogs from absorbing
essential chemicals from the water and stops the
muscles from functioning properly. The frog’s mobility
is affected impacting its ability to hunt and escape
predators. If the frog does not starve to death first, it
eventually dies of a heart attack. Some species of
amphibians only carry the disease and are not
affected by the fungus. The reason why some frogs
are affected and others are not is unknown and more
research on this is essential.
MAIN THREATS TO MOUNTAIN CHICKEN ARE:
- HABITAT LOSS
- INVASIVE SPECIES
- FUNGAL DISEASE
- HUNTING
Mountain chickens are forest animals that live in
a wide range of habitats during the wet season.
In the dry season they prefer moist and shady
forested conditions near ghauts and pools of
fresh water. They are mostly active after dusk
when they hunt for insects and
molluscs.
Mountain chickens have been known to prey on
centipedes, scorpions and small
vertebrates including mice.
Prime mountain chicken habitat
HOW IS CHYTRID SPREAD?
- TREE FROG SKIN
- WATER
- BIRD FEATHERS
- CANE TOAD SKIN
- SOIL
- REPTILE SKIN
Swabbing a mountain chicken for
evidence of chytrid infection
©Jenny Liman
What is happening to our
frogs?
© Richard Adams
© Sarah-Louise Smith
The Chytrid Crisis
Why is solving the chytrid crisis important?
What can be done to help save the frogs?
What can you do?
Mountain chickens are not the only frog species
affected by Chytridiomycosis. Frogs all over the
world are going extinct because of the disease.
Frogs are very important to ecosystems and to
mankind as they control insects like the
mosquito, while
some
provide
cures
for
diseases. A rapid loss of the species may affect
our ecosystem. Insect populations may rapidly
increase if there are no frogs around to predate
them. Mountain chickens also eat centipedes
whose numbers are likely to
increase if the
mountain chickens are not around.
Research is being conducted to determine why
some frogs in the wild are affected by the fungus
and others are not. This is being done via the
Montserrat Mountain Chicken Project through
intensive surveys of the surviving frogs and a
series of releases of captive bred frogs.
If you see a live or dead mountain chicken call the
Department of Environment on 491-9278 to give
details of the location and time of the sighting.
Continue to support the project on island and help
us save this species.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THERE ARE
NO MORE FROGS?
- MORE ROACHES
- MORE CENTIPEDES
-MORE MOSQUITOES
- MORE CRICKETS
Mountain chickens share habitat with cane toads
and tree frogs which are not affected by chytrid
but are carriers of the fungus. This increases
the risk of mountain chickens being affected by
chytrid.
Golden toads from Costa Rica are now extinct
due to the chytrid fungus
Collaboration between Montserrat and overseas
partners who assist with research, and links
between Montserrat and Dominica are essential.
It is important to share the knowledge and skills
gained on both islands so that we can work
together to ensure the long term survival of the
species.
The Mountain Chicken Project is funded by the
Darwin Initiative, a British governmental scheme
and is run by Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust and
Department of Environment in collaboration with
Zoological Society of London.
An outreach and education programme will
keep the general public informed and will enthuse
and educate school children so more people are
aware of the status of the mountain chicken. This
will generate more support and interest in
protecting the mountain chicken and its habitat
which would improve chances of
saving the
frogs.
www.mountainchicken.org
© Gerardo Garcia
© www.theanimalagenda-blogspot.com
For more information please contact
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT
Ministry of Agriculture, Land,
Housing, & the Environment
P.O. Box 272
Brades
Phone: 664-491-9278
Fax: 664-491-9276
E-mail: [email protected]
Mountain Chicken Leptodactylus fallax
signs of chytrid fungus
The underside of a healthy
mountain chicken should
be a pearly white colour
Unhealthy frogs have a white
line under the eye. Healthy
frogs have bright alert eyes
with no white line.
The legs and toes of sick
frogs may tremble. This is
a sign that the frog cannot hop and hunt properly
and might be starving
Red belly and legs is a strong
indicator of advanced signs of
Chytridiomycosis.
A frog infected with
chytrid displaying
red toe ulcers
A healthy mountain chicken
Dry skin of an infected
frog. Chytrid prevents
water to be taken in by
the skin making it look
dry and milky coloured