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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