Education

UF study finds young frogs delay immune response to prioritize growth

University of Florida researchers found that juvenile coqui frogs continue investing energy in growth even after contracting the deadly chytrid fungus, only shifting resources toward immune defense when infections become severe. The study, published in the Journal of Animal Ecology, used computer models built from field data to show how seasonal changes in food availability affect frogs’ survival odds. Researchers say the findings could help improve conservation strategies for amphibian species threatened by disease and environmental change.

Sources: UF News