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Chytrid fungus has been found in areas where frog populations are declining (Berger et al. 1998; Bosch et al. 2001; Lips 1999; Muths et al. 2000). Although there have been no reports of amphibian population declines in South Africa, chytridiomycosis has been detected in Xenopus laevis (Speare and Berger 2000). The aim of our study was to further assess the occurrence of chytrid fungus in South African frogs, specifically in the Western Cape and Northern Cape Provinces.
The Cape river frog (Afrana fuscigula) was chosen as the primary study species because it is widespread throughout the Cape, with populations at high and low elevation. Other species were tested for the presence of chytrid fungus, such as Afrana vandijki and Strongylopus grayii, when A. fuscigula could not be found or when other species were found at the same site.
Sites were chosen opportunistically, to be representative of the full area of the Western Cape Province (N = 17 sites) and as an initial sample of the Goegap Nature Reserve in the Northern Cape (N = 2). Western Cape sites varied from rivers to pools. Both sites in the Goegap Nature Reserve were natural, small, isolated pools.
Nocturnal searches were conducted with flashlights and adult frogs were captured. The fourth toe tip of the right foot was taken from each animal using nail clippers. Each toe tip was placed in a separate vial containing 70% ethanol. The nail clippers were cleaned in 100% ethanol after each use. Dead frogs were collected, and...