Many people are blissfully unaware the world’s frogs and amphibians are fighting their own deadly pandemic. In fact, this fungal disease – chytridiomycosis, or chytrid for short – is the worst wildlife disease on record.

The chytrid fungus has caused the global extinction of 90 amphibian species and affected nearly 30% of all globally threatened amphibians.

Scientists have responded with ingenious and novel ways to help frogs survive, such as frog saunas – where amphibians can warm up and bake off their infections – and captive breeding programs.

But our new research suggests some of these may come at a cost to a core aspect of frog survival: their ability to reproduce.

Read more: Our ‘frog saunas’ could help save endangered species from the devastating chytrid fungus

Frogs in the front line

Frogs are more robust than we often give them credit for, having survived several previous mass extinctions. But some scientists argue amphibians are now on the front line of a sixth mass extinction.

Under the combined pressures of disease, habitat destruction and rising temperatures, we are now seeing an alarming decline in frog species. If we want frog populations to recover in the long term, we need to ensure not only their survival, but their reproductive health.

Australia is home to roughly 250 frog species, many of which are found nowhere else on Earth. They are also among the worst affected........

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