© Georg Haberfellner
Institution: University of Innsbruck, Institute of Zoology
Project lead: Corinna Wallinger
Technikerstraße 25, 6020 Innsbruck
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Frog in a drop of water

State-of-the-art DNA technology and citizen science - "Frog in a drop of water" unleashes new prospects for amphibian research

Detective work for amphibian protection - for the first time, amphibian screening is being carried out throughout Austria by detecting their DNA traces in water - and everyone can take part. Amphibians - including frogs, toads, toads, salamanders and newts - are strictly protected in Austria. Nevertheless, populations are continuously and in some cases dramatically declining, which is mainly due to habitat loss.

Alpine newt (Ichthyosaura alpestris)

Natural, private garden ponds can play an important role. They act as important possible retreats, but are usually not accessible to the public. In addition, there are often small and amphibian-rich waters that are only known to those familiar with the area. This is where citizen scientists come into play: Their efforts make a valuable contribution to species records and data on the distribution of the amphibian fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, or Bd.

Yellow-bellied toads

Interessierte aus ganz Österreich konnten sich bis Ende März bewerben, Ende April wurden 1.120 Beprobungskits versendet. Über eine kinderleichte Probennahme können die kostbaren DNA-Spuren, die von Lebewesen im Wasser hinterlassen werden, herausgefiltert werden. Durch eine einfache Wasserprobe kann also die Artenvielfalt im Teich, sowie das Vorkommen von Bd erfasst werden. Dazu wird der fertige Filter an die Uni gesandt, im High-Tech Labor analysiert und bioinformatisch ausgewertet. Die Ergebnisse werden im Herbst 2024 veröffentlicht.

Green Toad (Epidalea viridis, Bufo viridis)

Videos zum Projekt

 

 

universitaet innsbruck logo 4c mit schutzzone web

Tagged under
  • animals
  • fungi
  • land use
  • water
Read 542 times| Last modified on Friday, 07 June 2024 11:09