Extra or twisted limbs, skin webbings: these deformities disable young frogs so they are not very good at escaping predators such as birds, which happen to be the next host in the lifecycle of a parasite that’s spreading into Canada, says Jenny Noble, program co-ordinator for the Scout Island Nature Centre.
Corey Roberts-Reynolds is a masters student in environmental studies at Thompson Rivers University.
Noble says his work has been done over the last two years at Isobel Lake near Kamloops, focusing on the Pacific tree frog and Spotted frog.
His newly-published paper describes the first time this parasite has been found in Canadian amphibians and, more importantly, the first time it has caused high levels of deformities north of the U.S./Canada border.
She invites the public to come and hear about the biology of this phenomenon, and how it threatens the survival of amphibian populations.
The free presentation is Thursday, Nov. 8 at 7:30 p.m. at the Scout Island Nature House and is brought to the public by the Williams Lake Field Naturalists.