7 JULY 2006 VOL 313 SCIENCE www.sciencemag.org 48 CREDIT: RON HOLT Ascribedand mphibian declines and extinctions are global rapid: 32.5% of 5743 de- species are threatened, with at least 9, and perhaps 122, becoming extinct since 1980 (1). Species have disappeared across the entire taxonomic group and in nearly all regions of the planet. These figures are probably under- estimates as entire clades of species are threat- ened. For example, of the 113 species of harle- quin toads (genus Atelopus), 30 are possibly extinct, and only 10 have stable populations (2). Nearly a quarter of known amphibian species were deemed ���data-deficient��� with respect to conservation status in the recent global assess- ment (1). Losing biodiversity at this taxonomic scale impacts ecosystem goods and services [e.g. (3, 4)]. As amphibian species disappear, we also lose their untapped potential for advances in biomedicine and biotechnology in general (5). Losses result from familiar threats (land-use change, commercial overexploitation, and exotic species) and from the emerging infectious dis- ease chytridiomycosis, caused by the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). Pre- dictions are that within 4 to 6 months of Bd arrival at a site where it has not previously been present, ~50% of amphibian species and ~80% of individuals may disappear (6). Global climate change may be encouraging local conditions ideal for Bd���s persistence and/or spread (7), com- mercial trade of wildlife may also contribute (8), and pollution may increase susceptibility of species to pathogens (9, 10). Traditional pro- grams and current laws and policies alone are insufficient to address global threats that cross boundaries of reserves and nations. Global leaders in research, conservation, and policy agreed on an Amphibian Conservation Action Plan (ACAP) and Declaration in 2005 (see Supporting Online Material). A new, inter- national body was recommended to coordinate and facilitate conservation programs for amphib- ians and to garner and administer funds. Thus, we call for formation of The Amphibian Survival Alliance (ASA)���led by an international secre- tariat of the Amphibian Specialist Group of the Species Survival Commission of IUCN (World Conservation Union). An initial 5-year budget requires at least U.S.$400 million. Conservation activities should remain in affected countries where possible, with coordi- nation and support through ASA, to engage and employ local scientists. A special initiative would be regional centers for disease research and captive breeding. Centers would exist within government agencies, zoos, or universi- ties and would be staffed by local scientists, wildlife managers, and conservationists. ASA would create and support readily available databases from the global network of centers, as well as research and training in countries with few amphibian experts. Such dedicated research capacity in affected regions is re- quired for this global crisis, as well as to keep amphibian research and conservation at the forefront of policy-making. Chytridiomycosis deserves especial attention because of its massive impacts on amphibian diversity (11, 12). Natural-agent control of Bd or selecting for resistance in amphibians may be possible (13, 14). In the meantime, we must implement coordinated in situ actions (e.g., surveys, monitoring, and habitat protection) and ex situ husbandry programs (e.g., survival- assurance and research colonies) at unprece- dented scales. Amphibian salvage operations are possible at an ecosystem level (15). Ex situ pro- grams may be the only option to avoid extinction for many species [e.g., Kihansi Spray Toad and Panamanian Golden Frog (16, 17)], while research progresses on disease control, treat- ment, and evolution of resistance (18). The ASA model builds on programs such as the Turtle Survival Alliance (19), Global Environment Facility (GEF) Coral Program (20), and an Australian threat abatement plan (21). Success will depend on a paradigm shift in the scale of the coordinated response, with stakeholders from the academic, conservation, zoo, ethics, policy, global change, private sector, and international biodiversity conven- tion communities uniting for one goal. Support from individuals, governments, foundations, and the wider conservation community is essential. References and Notes 1. S. N. Stuart et al., Science 306, 1783 (2004). 2. E. La Marca et al., Biotropica 37, 190 (2005). 3. J. A. Pounds et al.,Nature 398, 611 (1999). 4. M. R. Whiles et al., Front. Ecol. 4, 27 (2006). 5. S. E. VanCompernolle et al., J. Virol. 79, 11598 (2005). 6. K. R. Lips et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 103, 3165 (2006). 7. J. A. Pounds et al., Nature 439, 161 (2006). 8. C. Weldon et al., Emerg. Infect. Dis. 10, 2100 (2004). 9. J. Kiesecker, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 99, 9900 (2002). 10. T. B. Hayes et al., Environ. Health Perspect. 114 (suppl. 1), 40 (2006). 11. L. Berger et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 95, 9031 (1998). 12. P. Daszak et al., Science 287, 443 (2000). 13. R. N. Harris et al., Ecohealth 3, 53 (2006). 14. R.W. R. Retallick et al., PLoS 2, 1 (2004). 15. J. R. Mendelson III, G. B. Rabb, WAZA Proceedings, World Association of Zoos and Aquariums, 60th Annual Meeting, New York, 2 to 6 October 2005, in press. 16. K. Krajick, Science 311, 1230 (2006). 17. K. C. Zippel, Herpetol. Rev. 33, 11 (2002). 18. H. McCallum, Conserv. Biol. 19, 1421 (2005). 19. Turtle Survival Alliance (www.turtlesurvival.org). 20. Coral Reef Targeted Research and Capacity Building for Management (CRTR) (www.gefcoral.org) 21. Threat abatement plans, infection of amphibians with chytrid fungus resulting in chytridiomycosis (www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/tap/ chytrid/) Supporting Online Material www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/313/5783/48/DC1 10.1126/science.1128396 POLICYFORUM Stopping further global losses of amphibian populations and species requires an unprecedented conservation response. Confronting Amphibian Declines and Extinctions BIODIVERSITY The Panamanian Golden Frog, Atelopus zeteki, is nearly extinct in the wild as a combined result of habitat change, illegal collecting, and fungal disease the species is currently secure in several ex situ programs. Joseph R. Mendelson III,* Karen R. Lips, Ronald W. Gagliardo, George B. Rabb, James P. Collins, James E. Diffendorfer, Peter Daszak, Roberto Ib����ez D., Kevin C. Zippel, Dwight P. Lawson, Kevin M. Wright, Simon N. Stuart, Claude Gascon, H��lio R. da Silva, Patricia A. Burrowes, Rafael L. Joglar, Enrique La Marca, Stefan L��tters, Louis H. du Preez, Ch�� Weldon, Alex Hyatt, Jos�� Vicente Rodriguez-Mahecha, Susan Hunt, Helen Robertson, Brad Lock, Christopher J. Raxworthy, Darrel R. Frost, Robert C. Lacy, Ross A. Alford, Jonathan A. Campbell, Gabriela Parra-Olea, Federico Bola��os, Jos�� Joaquin Calvo Domingo, Tim Halliday, James B. Murphy, Marvalee H. Wake, Luis A. Coloma, Sergius L. Kuzmin, Mark Stanley Price, Kim M. Howell, Michael Lau, Rohan Pethiyagoda, Michelle Boone, Michael J. Lannoo, Andrew R. Blaustein, Andy Dobson, Richard A. Griffiths, Martha L. Crump, David B. Wake, Edmund D. Brodie Jr. *To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: jmendelson@zooatlanta.org. All author affiliations can be found in the Supporting Online Material. Published by AAAS