Fighting an emerging invasive pathogen from Asia

Professor Dirk Schmeller, who heads the AXA Chair on Functional Mountain Ecology at Toulouse INP-ENSAT, sounds the alarm on the near-extinction of entire amphibian populations due to a wild pathogen that originated in Asia and spread worldwide.

In a recent article, he highlights some similarities between this largely unknown pathogen devastating amphibian populations and the covid-19 virus claiming the lives of humans, both in terms of drivers and mitigation strategies. Ultimately, he raises awareness on the fragility of natural ecosystems and the role played by each animal and plant species to keep these ecosystems healthy to allow us to thrive.

For more info, read Prof. Schmeller’s  article [5 minutes read].

April 2020