Kick off og the amphibian project: The frog in the drop of water
Amphibians – frogs, toads, salamanders and newts are living in two different habitat types – at land and in waters. These charismatic organisms are critically endangered with decreasing populations worldwide, although they are highly protected also in Austria.
Detective work for environmental protection
So far, it was impossible to screen small water bodies for the occurrence of amphibians. The project “The frog in the drp of water” in the frame of the des 350-Years-Jubilee of the University of Innsbruck offers now this unique possibility the biomonitoring of amphibians in Tyrol. Everbody can join! If you have a pond, lake you are interested in etc. in your mind – just contact our team at the adress below.
Apart from the identification of the amphibians we want to assess the infection of the water bodies with the pathogenuous fungi (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis – „Bd“) and its distribution across Tyrol. Originally stemming from South America, Bd has caused mass extinctions of amphbians worldwide.
We identify the amphbians via environmental DNA (eDNA) in water samples. This is DNA in cells, which are emitted in the surrounding water body (via faeces, mucus etc..) via DNA-fingerprinting
INTERESTED?! APPLY HERE
Sampling with Deputy Tyrolean State Governor Mag. Ingrid Felipe, Rector of the Univeristy of Innsbruck Univ.-Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Tilmann Märk and major of Innsbruck Georg Willi (v.l.)
Click HERE to find the article in the local newspapers Tiroler Tageszeitung
