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The 'frog saunas' helping species to fight off fungus
Image source, Dr Anthony Waddle
The idea of a sauna may make you think of a warm wooden room that you find near a swimming pool, but scientists in Australia have come up with their very own sauna for frogs!
The amphibians are struggling due to a fungal disease called chytridiomycosis that has spread across the world.
Researchers say it's driving at least 90 species to extinction, and significant impact on hundreds of others.
But the good news is that these 'frog saunas' are here to help some species fight off the fungus.
How do 'frog saunas' work?
Image source, Dr Anthony Waddle
Researchers at Macquarie University and the University of Melbourne created the sun-heated shelters using materials such as bricks in a greenhouse.
They found the fungus is less dangerous when the temperature of the frog is higher.
This means the saunas may not work as well for frogs that are adapted to cooler climates, but they should work for species that live in warmer places.
Like humans getting the flu at certain times of the year, chytridiomycosis is seasonal.
It's currently winter for countries on Earth's Southern Hemisphere, including Australia.
The Southern Hemisphere is the area of Earth that is south of the Equator. The Equator is an imaginary line that divides the Earth into two.
Dr Anthony Waddle, who is the lead author of the study, said: "Winter is a particularly vulnerable time for frogs, given there are few opportunities to heat themselves up.
“By making hot spots available to frogs in winter, we empower them to cure their infections, or not even get sick at all.”
Dr Waddle says these simple hot spot shelters are easy to set up, so communities can get involved.
They can also be adapted to help different species.
What has the study shown?
Image source, Yorick Lambreghts
Researchers have been testing the saunas in a laboratory with the endangered green and golden bell frog.
This Australian species has disappeared from more than 90% of its former home patch since the arrival of the fungus.
The study found that the frogs who spent time in the saunas managed to clear the fungus and build up a better resistance to it.
Dr Waddle said it's like a mini "spa for frogs".
He explained: “In these simple little hotspots, frogs can go and heat up their bodies to a temperature that destroys the infections."
That's certainly a leap in the right direction to help our froggy friends.