BIO 324 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: African Clawed Frog, Northern Leopard Frog, Gastric-Brooding Frog
Document Summary
Can be used as an indicator species. Led to the extinction of many species such as golden toad and gastric brooding frog. Habitat destruction and climate change are two largest. Others are disease and parasites, pollution, overharvesting, and the introduction of invasive/exotic species. Infection leading to multiple legs in many leopard frog in the midwest. Trematode burrows into the pelvic girdle area of tadpoles. Trematodes are parasites which have 3 hosts (snails, frogs and birds) Fertilizer runoff in midwest causes algae blooms leading to a ton of more snails which increased parasite population leading to frogs having more parasites than it could handle which caused the development of multiple legs. Fungus infected frog skin causing problems with water and electrolyte balances. Frogs were absorbing too much water and not enough ion thus causing their water balance to leave equilibrium causing death. Spread from african clawed frog (xenopus laevis) African clawed frog were originally used in old pregnancy test.
