Mitigation for conservation
Taking action where doing nothing could have irreversible consequences.
Chytridiomycosis, caused by a fungus introduced from Asia, is pushing many amphibian species towards a critical state. SOSanfibios has tested direct interventions at breeding sites used by the Betic midwife toad, a highly threatened endemic species.
We applied an agricultural fungicide under controlled conditions. Following treatment, the pathogen disappeared from the sites, while fungicide concentrations fell rapidly.
Subsequent monitoring found no significant changes in the ecology of the water bodies. Chemical treatment is not a first-line response, but it can provide an emergency tool for individual populations at severe risk.
When a population is on the brink, conservation sometimes requires testing high-risk solutions.
