25/02/2013
ECOLOGY
THE GASTRIC BROODING FROG
This story begins in the Australian sub-tropical rainforests
of the Sunshine Coast Hinterland. In an area scientists consider to be one of
the most pristine in the country.
It’s an area that’s characterised by rolling hills and clear
running rivers. Great cattle country where the land is cleared and amazing deep
green gullies full of ferns and waterfalls.
Large sections have been reserved as National Parks and
tourists come from all over the world to marvel at the rugged beauty of the Australian
bush.
The area is a hotspot of biodiversity and a breeding ground
of amazing wildlife. Especially interesting is a type of Frog, called the Gastric-Brooding
Frog. This imaginatively named amphibian is unique in the way in which is rears
its young. After spawning, the female would eat the eggs!
The eggs themselves (with a large yoke for food supply and a
covering of a special lipid protein that switches off the digestion process),
would remain in the stomach of the mother frog until not only the tadpoles had
hatched, but also until the point that the frogs were fully developed and they
were ‘given birth’ out of the mouth.
This amazing biological wonder in such a beautiful part of
Australia was last witnessed in the early 1980’s.
The species in now extinct and this wonder will never again
be seen in this world.
The cause of extinction is unknown. Possibly to blame would
be the introduction of weeds and feral pigs, the logging of the upper estuaries
where the frog was common, perhaps the spread of deadly and exotic fungus
species…
The truth is these are guesses and we will never know.
Australia, a nation proud of its amazing wildlife, has a
terrible history of extinction.
We have the worst
rate of mammal extinction in the world and over 20% of our remaining mammals
are considered threatened. Australia also has the highest rate of threatened
reptile species in the world and over 15% of our birdlife are in danger. With
more than 500 plants listed as endangered or vulnerable, it’s a problem of huge
magnitude.
When a species as amazing and beautiful as the Gastric
Brooding Frog can vanish with no explanation, we know that we need to change
our paradigm.
Half the battle to save these species is understanding what
is causing the decline and as young scientists we are the holders of the keys
to unlock the knowledge that can save them. We must be inspired!!
As Campbell Biology’s (9th Edition, Australian
Version), Mr Noel Meyers writes
“There are two ways to consider the
challenges to the biosphere: as a depressing indictment of human activity about
which we can do little except watch as passive observers, or; as an unprecedented
challenge and opportunity worthy of the investment of your energy, passion and
commitment. We ask you not to believe us, not in our ability to affect change.
We ask you to believe in yours…”(Reece, Meyers, Urry, Cain,
Wasserman, Minorsky, Jackson, Cooke, 2013)
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