Spain's Amphibians Succumb to Deadly Virus

Article: http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/41254/title/Virus-Decimating-Spanish-Amphibians/
Author: Bob Grant 
Published: October 20, 2014

Summary
 European amphibians (mostly frogs and toads) are facing a new attack from a type of ranavirus, called common midwife toad. A ranavirus is an infectious disease commonly found in amphibians, reptiles and freshwater fish. This virus has evolved from fish, which then harms other amphibians and reptiles. Ranaviruses enter cells through endocytosis, which bind to the tissue of the plasma membrane outside the cell. Then these specific molecules are ingested by the cell. Most organisms that have fallen victim to this disease are found in Picos de Europa National Park in Spain. There are reports of this virus spreading to areas at a nearby site, called Galicia. The disease has a relativity high kill rate. Never before have amphibians in the European area had to face mass die-offs from virus as deadly as this one. 

Relevance 
 One of the major topics (so far) that we've learned is ecology. We've discussed varying factors that can affect the growth of a population or community. This particular article emphasizes a major density-dependent factor, disease. Density-dependent factors are influenced by population density directly and can drastically change a population. Here, this article displays how frogs and toads are beginning to die off in Spain because of this deadly virus. This can affect communities and eventually the ecosystems which these amphibians live in. We've also discussed how these factors can cause an ecosystem to become unbalanced, and even cause organisms to die off. The discovery of this disease can challenge the survival of other amphibians and reptiles elsewhere in the world.