Study Finds Deadly Fungus Triggers Alpine Tree Frogs’ Reproductive Surge

(MENAFN) A lethal fungal infection that has devastated Australia's Alpine tree frog populations is triggering an unexpected reproductive surge, according to new findings from the University of Melbourne released Wednesday.

Male Alpine tree frogs infected with chytrid fungus are producing offspring at a rate 31 percent higher than their healthy counterparts, the university’s press release revealed.

Since the 1980s, chytridiomycosis has decimated more than 80 percent of this species, typically killing frogs soon after their initial breeding season. Globally, this fungus has caused declines in over 500 amphibian species, with Australian frogs among the hardest hit.

Now restricted to small, isolated habitats in the Snowy Mountains, these frogs may depend on this newfound understanding of their reproductive adaptations to avoid complete extinction, according to the study published Wednesday in Open Biology.

The research showed that infected males not only breed more frequently but also become more attractive to females by producing more vivid throat patches—a critical visual cue in mate selection.

Additionally, infected frogs exhibited superior sperm quality, with greater volume and fertility compared to uninfected frogs, the study reported.

Lead researcher Laura Brannelly from the University of Melbourne commented on the unexpected results: "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."

Conservationists are hopeful these insights will inform future strategies, including creating new breeding ponds and enhancing habitat connectivity to support this endangered species’ survival.

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