Joshua Daskin

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2009 Fulbright Postgraduate Scholar

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“Most biologists agree that we are currently experiencing the sixth great extinction wave in history. The loss of many dozens of amphibian species worldwide in the last few decades is a well-documented and alarming piece of the continuing global loss of biodiversity.”

Joshua Daskin, who has just completed a degree in Biology at Brandeis University, Massachusetts, has won a Fulbright Postgraduate Scholarship from the Australian-American Fulbright Commission to undertake 12 months research at the James Cook University in Townsville.

Joshua’s research will focus on a disease caused by the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) that has been implicated in killing frogs worldwide.

He will work with Dr. Ross Alford and his students at James Cook University investigating bacteria that may help to protect frogs from the disease. Joshua’s project will look at whether temperature, either altitudinal or seasonal, has any effect on the growth and antifungal activity of the protective bacteria.

“If elevated temperatures decrease antifungal activity and increase frogs’ susceptibility to Bd, past and future temperature increases due to climate change could hasten frog population declines,” Joshua said. “If, on the other hand, cold temperatures inhibit the beneficial bacteria, one factor in the high-elevation Bd epidemics seen worldwide will be explained.”

He says his research will contribute significantly to the understanding of the Bd-frog-bacteria system and how its dynamics could influence future frog extinctions.

“Without effective solutions hundreds of species of frogs and other amphibians are likely to disappear in the near future. A few well-designed frog projects could have a large positive impact on frog survival.”

While in Townsville, he also plans to give lessons at primary and secondary schools about ecology and his research.

Joshua has a B.S. in Biology and Environmental Studies with a minor in Chemistry from Brandeis University. He has also held an Ecology Research Fellowship with Dauphin Island Sea Lab, worked as an assistant naturalist teacher with the Westchester County Department of Parks and as Ecological Restoration Assistant with The Nature Conservancy, Tecumseh, Michigan. When he returns to the U.S. he plans to work towards a PhD in ecology and conservation biology.

Joshua is one of 19 American Fulbright Scholars travelling to Australia in 2009/2010.