The fungus that threatens the world's amphibians

Amphibians, such as frogs, salamanders and caecilians, are vertebrates essential to the world's ecosystems, playing key roles such as pest control and environmental indicators. However, a fungus is threatening the world's amphibians, causing a drastic decline in their populations over the past decades.

Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is a freshwater chytrid fungus that causes chytridiomycosis, a highly virulent disease. This fungus affects the skin of amphibians, disrupting vital functions and causing the death of infected individuals within a few weeks. Since its discovery in the 1990s, it has impacted more than 500 species worldwide, positioning itself as one of the main causes of the decline and extinction of amphibians.

The range of this fungus has increased mainly due to human activities, such as species trafficking, globalization, and climate change. Recent studies place its origin in Korea, which reinforces the importance of international actions to contain its expansion since its colonizing capacity represents a serious threat to endemic amphibian species, whose populations are usually small and vulnerable.

To combat this disease, it is crucial to promote research, protect natural habitats, and regulate wildlife trade. These measures seek to mitigate its impact on biodiversity and prevent the loss of species essential to the balance of ecosystems.

This infographic is the final project of the subject Scientific Communication, taught by Uxune Martínez Mazaga in the postgraduate course in Scientific Illustration at the UPV/EHU. As part of the work, I wrote a popular article that accompanied the infographic and was published on the website of the course Scientific Culture Notebook.

Year: 2020
Technique: Digital illustration.
Illustration type: Scientific.
Type of project/Client: Course project.