Mission
AmphibiaGen harnesses genomic tools to help identify amphibian species and populations at risk of extinction, and to design and implement the most effective conservation actions to recover them.
Photo by Rémi PJG Pattyn
The problem
Amphibians (frogs, salamanders, and caecilians) are the most imperiled group of vertebrates globally, with 40% threatened with extinction according to the IUCN Red List. The biggest threats to amphibians are habitat loss and fragmentation, disease, climate change, introduced invasive species, contaminants, loss of genetic variation, and combinations of these stressors.
Who cares if amphibians are going extinct?
Amphibians play important roles as predators and prey, and in the flux of nutrients and energy between aquatic and terrestrial environments. They also have immeasurable economic, health, and cultural value to humans. They eat massive numbers of insects, reducing damage to crops and incidence of disease, such as malaria transmitted by mosquitos. They also feature prominently in stories, art, and traditions of many nations and cultures across the globe.
Our strategy to help conserve amphibians
We apply new advances in genomic technology and genetic analysis to guide amphibian conservation. The genomics revolution provides more power than ever to identify species and populations at risk of extinction, predict responses to climate change and disease, and determine the most effective conservation actions to restore and increase populations. Our goal is to help conservation practitioners decide how best to use limited resources to maximize conservation benefits for amphibians and the ecosystems of which they are an integral part.
AmphibiaGen logo made by Justin Waraniak