Study Finds Coquí Frogs Hatch Under 1 Centimeter and Shift Energy to Immunity Against Deadly Fungus
Updated
Updated · The Conversation · Jun 24
Study Finds Coquí Frogs Hatch Under 1 Centimeter and Shift Energy to Immunity Against Deadly Fungus
3 articles · Updated · The Conversation · Jun 24
Summary
University of Florida researchers found young coquí frogs survive best by growing quickly when infection risk is low, then diverting energy to immune defense once fungal threat becomes severe.
Modeling and field data showed that trade-off carries hidden costs: infected frogs grow more slowly, reach maturity later and end up smaller—patterns that match observations in Puerto Rico.
May-born frogs had the strongest outlook because warmer months bring more food, helping them grow faster and survive better despite higher exposure; cooler-season hatchlings face fewer infected frogs but heavier fungal loads.
The work suggests pathogen damage extends beyond immediate deaths to lifetime reproduction, offering guidance for conservation releases and, in invasive ranges such as Florida and Hawaii, timing of control efforts.