Rob HorganA NEW deadly disease with a ‘high kill-rate’ is wiping out amphibians across Spain.
Swarms of frogs, toads and newts have been killed by Ranavirus in northern Spain and the disease is now heading south.
A lower number of amphibians could spark an increase in the numbers of spiders causing Spain to become overrun by eight-legged arachnids.
University College London’s Dr Stephen Price – studying the disease in the Picos de Europa National Park since the first outbreak in 2005 – said all amphibian species are ‘highly susceptible’ to it.
Dr Price said: “Until the outbreaks, we didn’t really know about this lineage of the virus.
“We’ve seen major population collapses in three species: the common midwife toad, the common toad and the alpine newt.
“It is a pretty graphic disease with a high kill-rate. We’ve shown these viruses have caused simultaneous declines in several species of host.”
Dr Price added that a decline in the number of toads and frogs could impact upon Spain’s wider ecosystems with animals such as spiders benefiting from a lower number of natural predators.
The virus has also been discovered in other parts of Europe as well as in China.
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It’s a cute picture – but the photographer used glue to get it.
Apparently it can affect fish as well. Land based fish farms will have to take precautions.