Coming Up...

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Nazia Akram and Clare Goodhill

University of Melbourne

"Chytrid double-header"

2nd July 2025
Elgin Inn Hawthorn

From 6:30 pm - Talk starts 7:30 pm

"Frogs vs Fungus: How slimy skin secrets could save amphibians from extinction"

What if the key to saving frogs from a global killer is hidden in their skin? Nazia's PhD dives into the microscopic battlefield between frogs and Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd)—the chytrid fungus responsible for catastrophic amphibian declines. Armed with skin-derived chemical weapons like antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and toxic alkaloids, some frogs can fight back. Nazia is using a frog cell line model (Xenopus laevis A6 cells) to track how Bd infects cells and how these natural skin secretions—and their synthetic versions—can block, weaken, or kill the fungus. By decoding these defenses, Nazia hopes to uncover new ways to protect vulnerable frog species before it’s too late.

Nazia Akram has a BS (Hons) in Zoology and is currently pursuing a PhD exploring how frog skin chemicals can fight the deadly chytrid fungus. Her research blends her passion for animals, conservation, and uncovering nature’s hidden defenses.

"Assessing the effects of fungal metabolites as a potential prophylaxis to a lethal amphibian fungus"

The novel fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), and the resulting disease chytridiomycosis, have decimated frog populations globally. Recent research has shown that non-infectious substances produced by Bd (termed ‘Bd metabolites’) may enhance the resilience of certain frog species against Bd infections. Clare explored the effectiveness of Bd metabolites and how this effectiveness varied across life stages in two Australian frog species, adult Kroombit Tinker Frogs (Taudactylus pleione) and post-metamorphic and larval Green Tree Frogs (Litoria caerulea). Although all tadpoles failed to develop a Bd infection following exposure to Bd metabolites or the control, metabolite-exposed L. caerulea tadpoles exhibited suppressed growth and lasting stunted development. L. caerulea metamorphs did develop Bd infections, but exposure to Bd metabolites neither affected growth nor increased their resilience to Bd. Unexpectedly, the critically endangered T. pleione did not develop a Bd infection. Overall, there were no clear benefits in exposing amphibians to Bd metabolites. Given the negative impact on tadpoles, Bd metabolites cannot be recommended as a Bd prophylactic. Clare's findings highlight the need for tailored approaches in managing Bd infections.

Clare completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Queensland in Science. In her third year she became fascinated with the chytrid fungus infecting frogs, and conducted her honours on it in the following year. Now she is studying a PhD at the University of Melbourne also in chytrid.

All are welcome in the audience -
no RSVP/registration necessary

Join us upstairs at The Elgin from 6:30 pm for dinner and drinks (available for purchase).

Talk starts at 7:30 pm at The Elgin Inn 75 Burwood Road, Hawthorn VIC 3122

Sincere thanks to our 2024 speakers:

Sam Wallace

Jessica Keem, Kevin Newman and David De Angelis

Jeff Hughes

Matt Clancy, Justine Holmes, Sue Bendel, Dan Guinto

John Gould

Ellen Cottingham and Stephen Frankenberg

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Dr Bhagya Herath, "Multidimensional complexity of communication signals of a model anuran" Sept 2021

Sep 4, 2021

Bhagya is a biologist and behavioural ecologist. She studied the calling behaviour and ecology of frogs in Sri Lanka and recently completed her PhD at La Trobe University where she investigated visual and acoustic communication by the Eastern Dwarf Tree Frog (Litoria fallax) which she presents in:

"Complexity of visual and vocal communication in the Eastern Dwarf Tree Frog (Litoria fallax) among genetic, ecological and social constraints"

Complex communication systems are widespread among animals. To fully understand their functional and evolutionary significance, we must examine each dimension of communication together with possible genetic, environmental and ecological constraints. With the extensive use of acoustic signals, anurans are considered excellent models for studying the evolution of such communication systems. However, there is a lack of detailed knowledge on the communication systems of most Australian anurans. The Eastern Dwarf Tree Frog, Litoria fallax, is a native Australian species with a broad distribution along the east coast, although has been introduced to Victoria. By undertaking extensive field work and playback studies, multiple levels of complexity in the species' communication behaviour (which is comprised of both acoustic and visual signals) were identified, with possible geographic variation. The talk will go further into how L. fallax can be a useful model system to disentangle the multiple factors affecting complex communication systems.

Danielle Wallace "The Unexpected Effects of Wildlife Disease" July 2021

Jul 5, 2021

Danielle Wallace, Wildlife Ecologist and PhD student at the University of Melbourne talks about the influence of chytrid on breeding behaviour and other aspects of reproduction.

Dani includes how she will be exploring the effects of chytrid fungus on the calling characteristics, breeding colouration and male competitive behaviour of frogs.

Matt Clancy "Monsoon, Mud and Mozzies: Modelling the distribution of a range restricted frog"

Jun 3, 2021

Updated: Jul 5, 2021

Matt Clancy, an Ecologist and Wildlife Photographer with a passion for frogs, presenting "Monsoon, Mud and Mozzies: Modelling the distribution of a range restricted frog" about the Howard Springs Toadlet (Uperoleia daviesae) - the first frog to be recognised as threatened in the Northern Territory. Matt is speaking about his Honours research with University of Melbourne and Department of Environment, Parks and Water Security (NT) - how developing models of the distribution and habitat requirements of species is fundamental to conservation planning, especially for species with narrow habitat requirements or restricted distributions.