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Jakóbik J, Drohvalenko M, Fernandez Melendez E, Kępa E, Klynova O, Fedorova A, Korshunov O, Marushchak O, Nekrasova O, Suriadna N, Smirnov N, Tkachenko O, Tupikov A, Dufresnes C, Zinenko O, Pabijan M. Countrywide screening supports model-based predictions of the distribution of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in Ukraine. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS 2024; 159:15-27. [PMID: 39087616 DOI: 10.3354/dao03802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
The chytrid Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is a widespread fungus causing amphibian declines across the globe. Although data on Bd occurrence in Eastern Europe are scarce, a recent species distribution model (SDM) for Bd reported that western and north-western parts of Ukraine are highly suitable to the pathogen. We verified the SDM-predicted range of Bd in Ukraine by sampling amphibians across the country and screening for Bd using qPCR. A total of 446 amphibian samples (tissue and skin swabs) from 11 species were collected from 36 localities. We obtained qPCR-positive results for 33 samples including waterfrogs (Pelophylax esculentus complex) and fire- and yellow-bellied toads (Bombina spp.) from 8 localities. We found that Bd-positive localities had significantly higher predicted Bd habitat suitability than sites that were pathogen-free. Amplification and sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of samples with the highest Bd load revealed matches with ITS haplotypes of the globally distributed BdGPL strain, and a single case of the BdASIA-2/BdBRAZIL haplotype. We found that Bd was non-randomly distributed across Ukraine, with infections present in the western and north-central forested peripheries of the country with a relatively cool, moist climate. On the other hand, our results suggest that Bd is absent or present in low abundance in the more continental central, southern and eastern regions of Ukraine, corroborating the model-predicted distribution of chytrid fungus. These areas could potentially serve as climatic refugia for Bd-susceptible amphibian hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Jakóbik
- Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
| | - Mykola Drohvalenko
- Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
- Zoology and Animal Ecology Department, School of Biology, V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, 61022 Kharkiv, Ukraine
| | - Eduardo Fernandez Melendez
- Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
- Department of Pathobiology, Pharmacology and Zoological Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Emilia Kępa
- Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
| | - Oleksandra Klynova
- Department of Mycology and Plant Resistance, School of Biology, V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, 61022 Kharkiv, Ukraine
| | - Anna Fedorova
- Zoology and Animal Ecology Department, School of Biology, V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, 61022 Kharkiv, Ukraine
- Laboratory of Fish Genetics, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Czech Academy of Sciences, 277 21 Liběchov, Czech Republic
| | - Oleksii Korshunov
- Zoology and Animal Ecology Department, School of Biology, V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, 61022 Kharkiv, Ukraine
| | - Oleksii Marushchak
- I. I. Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 01054 Kyiv, Ukraine
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, IPHC UMR 7178, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Oksana Nekrasova
- I. I. Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 01054 Kyiv, Ukraine
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, IPHC UMR 7178, 67000 Strasbourg, France
- Department of Ecology, Institute of Life Sciences and Technologies, Daugavpils University, 5401 Daugavpils, Latvia
| | - Natalia Suriadna
- Melitopol Institute of Ecology and Social Technologies of the University Ukraine, 04071 Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Nazar Smirnov
- Chernivtsi Regional Museum of Local Lore, 58002 Chernivtsi, Ukraine
| | - Oksana Tkachenko
- T.H. Shevchenko National University Chernihiv Colehium, 14013 Chernihiv, Ukraine
| | - Andrii Tupikov
- Society for Conservation GIS Ukraine, Svobody sq. 4, 61022 Kharkiv, Ukraine
| | - Christophe Dufresnes
- Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité, Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, EPHE-PSL, Université des Antilles, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Oleksandr Zinenko
- Department of Mycology and Plant Resistance, School of Biology, V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, 61022 Kharkiv, Ukraine
| | - Maciej Pabijan
- Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
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Xie YG, Wang ZY, Xie WQ, Xiang ZY, Cao XD, Hao JJ, Ding GH. Toxicity comparison and risk assessment of two chlorinated organophosphate flame retardants (TCEP and TCPP) on Polypedates megacephalus tadpoles. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2024; 272:106979. [PMID: 38823072 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2024.106979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2024] [Revised: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024]
Abstract
Tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP) and tris(1‑chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TCPP) are widely used as chlorinated organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) due to their fire-resistance capabilities. However, their extensive use has led to their permeation and pollution in aquatic environments. Using amphibians, which are non-model organisms, to test the toxic effects of OPFRs is relatively uncommon. This study examined the acute and chronic toxicity differences between TCEP and TCPP on Polypedates megacephalus tadpoles and evaluated the potential ecological risks to tadpoles in different aquatic environments using the risk quotient (RQ). In acute toxicity assay, the tadpole survival rates decreased with increased exposure time and concentrations, with TCEP exhibiting higher LC50 values than TCPP, at 305.5 mg/L and 70 mg/L, respectively. In the chronic assay, prolonged exposure to 300 μg/L of both substances resulted in similar adverse effects on tadpole growth, metamorphosis, and hepatic antioxidant function. Based on RQ values, most aquatic environments did not pose an ecological risk to tadpoles. However, the analysis showed that wastewater presented higher risks than rivers and drinking water, and TCPP posed a higher potential risk than TCEP in all examined aquatic environments. These findings provide empirical evidence to comprehend the toxicological effects of OPFRs on aquatic organisms and to assess the safety of aquatic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Ge Xie
- Laboratory of Amphibian Diversity Investigation, College of Ecology, Lishui University, Lishui, Zhejiang 323000, China
| | - Zi-Ying Wang
- Laboratory of Amphibian Diversity Investigation, College of Ecology, Lishui University, Lishui, Zhejiang 323000, China
| | - Wen-Qi Xie
- Laboratory of Amphibian Diversity Investigation, College of Ecology, Lishui University, Lishui, Zhejiang 323000, China
| | - Zi-Yong Xiang
- Laboratory of Amphibian Diversity Investigation, College of Ecology, Lishui University, Lishui, Zhejiang 323000, China
| | - Xin-Dan Cao
- Laboratory of Amphibian Diversity Investigation, College of Ecology, Lishui University, Lishui, Zhejiang 323000, China
| | - Jia-Jun Hao
- Laboratory of Amphibian Diversity Investigation, College of Ecology, Lishui University, Lishui, Zhejiang 323000, China
| | - Guo-Hua Ding
- Laboratory of Amphibian Diversity Investigation, College of Ecology, Lishui University, Lishui, Zhejiang 323000, China.
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3
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Borteiro C, Laufer G, Gobel N, Arleo M, Kolenc F, Cortizas S, Barrasso DA, de Sá RO, Soutullo A, Ubilla M, Martínez-Debat C. Widespread occurrence of the amphibian chytrid panzootic lineage in Uruguay is constrained by climate. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS 2024; 158:123-132. [PMID: 38813853 DOI: 10.3354/dao03783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
The amphibian chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) causes chytridiomycosis, a disease among the main causes of amphibian declines worldwide. However, Bd studies on Neotropical amphibians from temperate areas are scarce. We present a comprehensive survey of Bd in Uruguay, in temperate central eastern South America, carried out between 2006 and 2014. Skin swabs of 535 specimens of 21 native and exotic frogs were tested by PCR. We used individual-level data to examine the relationship between infection, climatic variables, and their effects on body condition and the number of prey items found in stomach contents. Infection was widespread in free-ranging anurans with an overall prevalence of 41.9%, detected in 15 native species, wild American bullfrogs Aquarana catesbeiana, and captive specimens of Ceratophrys ornata and Xenopus laevis. Three haplotypes of the Bd ITS region were identified in native amphibians, all belonging to the global panzootic lineage (BdGPL), of which only one was present in exotic hosts. Despite high infection frequencies in different anurans, we found no evidence of morbidity or mortality attributable to chytridiomycosis, and we observed no discernible impact on body condition or consumed prey. Climatic conditions at the time of our surveys suggested that the chance of infection is associated with monthly mean temperature, mean humidity, and total precipitation. Temperatures below 21°C combined with moderate humidity and pronounced rainfall may increase the likelihood of infection. Multiple haplotypes of BdGPL combined with high frequencies of infection suggest an enzootic pattern in native species, underscoring the need for continued monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudio Borteiro
- Sección Herpetología, Museo Nacional de Historia Natural, Montevideo 11800, Uruguay
| | - Gabriel Laufer
- Área Biodiversidad y Conservación, Museo Nacional de Historia Natural, Montevideo 11800, Uruguay
- Vida Silvestre Uruguay, Montevideo 11100, Uruguay
| | - Noelia Gobel
- Área Biodiversidad y Conservación, Museo Nacional de Historia Natural, Montevideo 11800, Uruguay
- Vida Silvestre Uruguay, Montevideo 11100, Uruguay
| | - Mailén Arleo
- Sección Bioquímica, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay
| | - Francisco Kolenc
- Sección Herpetología, Museo Nacional de Historia Natural, Montevideo 11800, Uruguay
| | - Sofía Cortizas
- Grupo de Agroecología, Sustentabilidad y Medio Ambiente, Universidad Tecnológica del Uruguay, Durazno 97000, Uruguay
| | - Diego A Barrasso
- Instituto de Diversidad y Evolución Austral (IDEAus-CONICET), and Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia 'San Juan Bosco' (UNPSJB), Puerto Madryn 9120, Chubut, Argentina
| | - Rafael O de Sá
- Department of Biology, University of Richmond, Richmond, Virginia 23173, USA
| | - Alvaro Soutullo
- Departamento de Ecología y Gestión Ambiental, Centro Universitario Regional del Este, Punta del Este 20100, Universidad de la República, Uruguay
| | - Martin Ubilla
- Departamento de Paleontología-ICG, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay
| | - Claudio Martínez-Debat
- Sección Bioquímica, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay
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Pfenning-Butterworth A, Buckley LB, Drake JM, Farner JE, Farrell MJ, Gehman ALM, Mordecai EA, Stephens PR, Gittleman JL, Davies TJ. Interconnecting global threats: climate change, biodiversity loss, and infectious diseases. Lancet Planet Health 2024; 8:e270-e283. [PMID: 38580428 PMCID: PMC11090248 DOI: 10.1016/s2542-5196(24)00021-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
The concurrent pressures of rising global temperatures, rates and incidence of species decline, and emergence of infectious diseases represent an unprecedented planetary crisis. Intergovernmental reports have drawn focus to the escalating climate and biodiversity crises and the connections between them, but interactions among all three pressures have been largely overlooked. Non-linearities and dampening and reinforcing interactions among pressures make considering interconnections essential to anticipating planetary challenges. In this Review, we define and exemplify the causal pathways that link the three global pressures of climate change, biodiversity loss, and infectious disease. A literature assessment and case studies show that the mechanisms between certain pairs of pressures are better understood than others and that the full triad of interactions is rarely considered. Although challenges to evaluating these interactions-including a mismatch in scales, data availability, and methods-are substantial, current approaches would benefit from expanding scientific cultures to embrace interdisciplinarity and from integrating animal, human, and environmental perspectives. Considering the full suite of connections would be transformative for planetary health by identifying potential for co-benefits and mutually beneficial scenarios, and highlighting where a narrow focus on solutions to one pressure might aggravate another.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lauren B Buckley
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - John M Drake
- School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA; Center for the Ecology of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | | | - Maxwell J Farrell
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Alyssa-Lois M Gehman
- Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Hakai Institute, Calvert, BC, Canada
| | - Erin A Mordecai
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Patrick R Stephens
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA
| | - John L Gittleman
- School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA; Nicholas School for the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - T Jonathan Davies
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
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5
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Riascos-Flores LR, Bonilla J, Naranjo-Briceño L, Apunte-Ramos K, Reyes-Ortega GC, Cabrera M, Cáceres-Andrade JF, Carrera-Gonzalez A, Yánez-Galarza JK, Siavichay Pesántez F, Oyagata-Cachimuel LA, Goethals P, Celi J, Van der Heyden C, Ortega-Andrade HM. Field-based molecular detection of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in critically endangered Atelopus toads and aquatic habitats in Ecuador. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0299246. [PMID: 38484016 PMCID: PMC10939218 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0299246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is a lethal fungal species that parasitizes vertebrates and is associated with the worldwide decline of amphibian populations. The development of sensitive, rapid detection methods, particularly DNA-based techniques, is critical for effective management strategies. This study evaluates the efficacy of DNA extraction and a portable PCR device in a mountable field laboratory setup for detecting Bd near the habitats of three critically endangered Atelopus toad species in Ecuador. We collected skin swabs from Atelopus balios, A. nanay, and A. bomolochos, and environmental DNA (eDNA) samples from streams in Andean and coastal regions of Ecuador. For eDNA, a comparison was made with duplicates of the samples that were processed in the field and in a standard university laboratory. Our findings revealed Bd detection in eDNA and swabs from 6 of 12 water samples and 10 of 12 amphibian swab samples. The eDNA results obtained in the field laboratory were concordant with those obtained under campus laboratory conditions. These findings highlight the potential of field DNA-based monitoring techniques for detecting Bd in amphibian populations and their aquatic habitats, particularly in remote areas. Furthermore, this research aligns with the National Action Plan for the Conservation of Ecuadorian Amphibians and contributes to the global effort to control this invasive and deadly fungus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lenin R. Riascos-Flores
- Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Gent University, Gent, Belgium
- Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, ESPOL/Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Centro de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas del Ecuador, Campus Gustavo Galindo Guayaquil, Guayaquil, Ecuador
| | - Julio Bonilla
- Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, ESPOL/Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Centro de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas del Ecuador, Campus Gustavo Galindo Guayaquil, Guayaquil, Ecuador
| | - Leopoldo Naranjo-Briceño
- Applied Microbiology Research Group, Life Sciences Faculty, Universidad Regional Amazónica IKIAM, Tena, Ecuador
- Fungal Biotech Lab, Spora Biotech, Huechuraba, Santiago, Región Metropolitana, Chile
| | - Katherine Apunte-Ramos
- Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Lab, Universidad Regional Amazónica IKIAM, Tena, Ecuador
| | - Grace C. Reyes-Ortega
- Biogeography and Spatial Ecology Research Group, Life Sciences Faculty, Universidad Regional Amazónica IKIAM, Tena, Ecuador
| | - Marcela Cabrera
- Laboratorio Nacional de Referencia del Agua, Universidad Regional Amazónica Ikiam, Tena, Ecuador
- University of Valencia, Paterna, Spain
| | | | | | - Jomira K. Yánez-Galarza
- Applied Microbiology Research Group, Life Sciences Faculty, Universidad Regional Amazónica IKIAM, Tena, Ecuador
- Biogeography and Spatial Ecology Research Group, Life Sciences Faculty, Universidad Regional Amazónica IKIAM, Tena, Ecuador
| | | | | | - Peter Goethals
- Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Gent University, Gent, Belgium
| | - Jorge Celi
- Water and Aquatic Resources Research Group, School of Earth and Water Sciences, Universidad Regional Amazónica Ikiam, Tena, Ecuador
| | - Christine Van der Heyden
- Department of Biosciences and Industrial Technology, Health and Water Technology Research Centre, HOGENT—University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Gent, Belgium
| | - H. Mauricio Ortega-Andrade
- Biogeography and Spatial Ecology Research Group, Life Sciences Faculty, Universidad Regional Amazónica IKIAM, Tena, Ecuador
- Herpetology Division, Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad, Quito, Pichincha, Ecuador
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Thumsová B, González-Miras E, Rubio Á, Granados I, Bates KA, Bosch J. Chemical disinfection as a simple and reliable method to control the amphibian chytrid fungus at breeding points of endangered amphibians. Sci Rep 2024; 14:5151. [PMID: 38431740 PMCID: PMC10908824 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-55946-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Chytridiomycosis caused by the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is pushing amphibians towards extinction. Whilst mitigation methods were suggested a decade ago, we lack field trials testing their efficacy. We used the agrochemical fungicide, tebuconazole, to treat Bd infected breeding waterbodies of an endangered species that is highly susceptible to the fungus. Just two applications of tebuconazole led to a significant reduction in infection loads in the vast majority of sites, and at six sites the disinfection remained one/two-years post-application. Tebuconazole values drastically decreased in the waterbodies within a week after application, with no significant effects on their hydrochemical and hydrobiological characteristics. Although the use of chemicals in natural populations is undesirable, the growing existential threat to amphibians all over the world indicates that effective interventions in selected populations of endangered species are urgently needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbora Thumsová
- Asociación Herpetológica Española (AHE), Madrid, Spain
- Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales-CSIC, 28006, Madrid, Spain
- IMIB-Research Unit of Biodiversity (University of Oviedo, CSIC, Principality of Asturias), 33600, Mieres, Spain
| | - Emilio González-Miras
- Agencia de Medio Ambiente y Agua de Andalucía, Consejería de Sostenibilidad, Medio Ambiente y Economía Azul, Junta de Andalucía, Seville, Spain
| | - Ángel Rubio
- Centro de Investigación, Seguimiento y Evaluación, Parque Nacional Sierra de Guadarrama, 28740, Rascafría, Spain
| | - Ignacio Granados
- Centro de Investigación, Seguimiento y Evaluación, Parque Nacional Sierra de Guadarrama, 28740, Rascafría, Spain
| | - Kieran A Bates
- Centre for Immunobiology, The Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 2AT, UK
| | - Jaime Bosch
- IMIB-Research Unit of Biodiversity (University of Oviedo, CSIC, Principality of Asturias), 33600, Mieres, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación, Seguimiento y Evaluación, Parque Nacional Sierra de Guadarrama, 28740, Rascafría, Spain.
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Ma Q, Wan L, Shi S, Wang Z. Impact of Climate Change on the Distribution of Three Rare Salamanders ( Liua shihi, Pseudohynobius jinfo, and Tylototriton wenxianensis) in Chongqing, China, and Their Conservation Implications. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:672. [PMID: 38473057 DOI: 10.3390/ani14050672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
The Wushan Salamander (Liua shihi), Jinfo Salamander (Pseudohynobius jinfo), and Wenxian Knobby Salamander (Tylototriton wenxianensis) are rare national Class II protected wild animals in China. We performed MaxEnt modeling to predict and analyze the potential distribution and trends of these species in Chongqing under current and future climate conditions. Species distribution data were primarily obtained from field surveys, supplemented by museum collections and the existing literature. These efforts yielded 636 records, including 43 for P. jinfo, 23 for T. wenxianensis, and 570 for L. shihi. Duplicate records within the same 100 m × 100 m grid cell were removed using ENMTools, resulting in 10, 12, and 58 valid distribution points for P. jinfo, T. wenxianensis, and L. shihi, respectively. The optimization of feature class parameters (FC) and the regularization multiplier (RM) were applied using R package "ENMeval 2.0" to establish the optimal model with MaxEnt. The refined models were applied to simulate the suitable distribution areas for the three species. The results indicate that the current suitable habitat area for L. shihi accounted for 9.72% of the whole region of the Chongqing municipality. It is projected that, by 2050, the proportion of suitable habitat will increase to 12.54% but will decrease to 11.98% by 2070 and further decline to 8.80% by 2090. The current suitable habitat area for P. jinfo accounted for 1.08% of the whole region of the Chongqing municipality, which is expected to decrease to 0.31%% by 2050, 0.20% by 2070, and 0.07% by 2090. The current suitable habitat area for T. wenxianensis accounted for 0.81% of the whole region of the Chongqing municipality, which is anticipated to decrease to 0.37% by 2050, 0.21% by 2070, and 0.06% by 2090. Human disturbance, climate variables, and habitat characteristics are the primary factors influencing the distribution of three salamander species in Chongqing. The proximity to roads significantly impacts L. shihi, while climate conditions mainly affect P. jinfo, and the distance to water sources is crucial for T. wenxianensis. The following suggestions were made based on key variables identified for each species: (1) For L. shihi, it is imperative to minimize human disturbances and preserve areas without roads and the existing vegetation within nature reserves to ensure their continued existence. (2) For P. jinfo, the conservation of high-altitude habitats is of utmost importance, along with the reduction in disturbances caused by roads to maintain the species' ecological niche. (3) For T. wenxianensis, the protection of aquatic habitats is crucial. Additionally, efforts to mitigate the impacts of road construction and enhance public awareness are essential for the preservation of this species and the connectivity of its habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Ma
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Eco-Environment and Bio-Resource of the Three Gorges Area, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400700, China
- Chongqing Natural History Museum, Chongqing 400700, China
| | - Lipeng Wan
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Eco-Environment and Bio-Resource of the Three Gorges Area, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400700, China
| | - Shengchao Shi
- Hubei Engineering Research Center for Protection and Utilization of Special Biological Resources in the Hanjiang River Basin, School of Life Science, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Zhijian Wang
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Eco-Environment and Bio-Resource of the Three Gorges Area, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400700, China
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8
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Brereton JE. What is the role of the studbook in zoo and aquarium research? Zoo Biol 2024; 43:22-31. [PMID: 37548418 DOI: 10.1002/zoo.21797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
In zoos and aquariums globally, studbooks provide a format by which threatened or important species populations can be carefully managed. These documents can be used to answer complex questions about animal population demographics, animal husbandry, breeding success and mortality. Given the time-intensive nature of studbook collation, only a subset of all animal species held in zoological facilities are managed using these programs. The purpose of this project was to identify how studbooks are being used by researchers, the topics being investigated, and the taxa being covered. To achieve this, data were collected on the types of research paper being produced using studbook information. A literature search, covering several zoo and aquarium journals, was utilized. Data on the types of studbook available were additionally collected for three international zoo organizations. A Poisson regression was run to determine the predictive power of taxonomic class, animal threat status and studbook type on a studbook featuring in published research. Overall, the study identified that taxonomic class and threat status were significant predictors of the number of published studbook papers, with threatened species being more likely to appear in papers. Additionally, population demography was the most common use of studbook data, followed by genetics and reproduction. Not all taxonomic groups were featured in the literature, with mammals featuring much more frequently than would be expected based on the types of studbook available.
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9
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Meurling S, Siljestam M, Cortazar-Chinarro M, Åhlen D, Rödin-Mörch P, Ågren E, Höglund J, Laurila A. Body size mediates latitudinal population differences in the response to chytrid fungus infection in two amphibians. Oecologia 2024; 204:71-81. [PMID: 38097779 PMCID: PMC10830819 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-023-05489-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
Factors behind intraspecific variation in sensitivity to pathogens remain poorly understood. We investigated how geographical origin in two North European amphibians affects tolerance to infection by the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), a generalist pathogen which has caused amphibian population declines worldwide. We exposed newly metamorphosed individuals of moor frog Rana arvalis and common toad Bufo bufo from two latitudinal regions to two different BdGPL strains. We measured survival and growth as infections may cause sub-lethal effects in fitness components even in the absence of mortality. Infection loads were higher in B. bufo than in R. arvalis, and smaller individuals had generally higher infection loads. B. bufo had high mortality in response to Bd infection, whereas there was little mortality in R. arvalis. Bd-mediated mortality was size-dependent and high-latitude individuals were smaller leading to high mortality in the northern B. bufo. Bd exposure led to sub-lethal effects in terms of reduced growth suggesting that individuals surviving the infection may have reduced fitness mediated by smaller body size. In both host species, the Swedish Bd strain caused stronger sublethal effects than the British strain. We suggest that high-latitude populations can be more vulnerable to chytrids than those from lower latitudes and discuss the possible mechanisms how body size and host geographical origin contribute to the present results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Meurling
- Animal Ecology/ Department of Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mattias Siljestam
- Animal Ecology/ Department of Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Maria Cortazar-Chinarro
- Animal Ecology/ Department of Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- MEMEG/Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - David Åhlen
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, Stockholm University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Patrik Rödin-Mörch
- Animal Ecology/ Department of Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Erik Ågren
- Department of Pathology and Wildlife Diseases, National Veterinary Institute, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jacob Höglund
- Animal Ecology/ Department of Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anssi Laurila
- Animal Ecology/ Department of Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
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10
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Haskins DL, Brown MK, Meichner K, Coleman AL, Allender MC, Tuberville TD. Factors Predicting Apparent Ophidiomycosis in Wild Brown Watersnakes (Nerodia taxispilota). J Wildl Dis 2024; 60:64-76. [PMID: 37823517 DOI: 10.7589/jwd-d-23-00003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Ophidiomycosis, also known as snake fungal disease, is caused by Ophidiomyces ophidiicola and is a threat to snake conservation worldwide. Ophidiomycosis has been reported throughout much of the eastern US, and outbreaks have been associated with local population declines of already strained populations. Previous studies report significant variability in ophidiomycosis among species sampled, with higher prevalence typically observed in Nerodia spp. Although ophidiomycosis can lead to morbidity and mortality in affected individuals, little is known about disease dynamics in free-ranging populations. Herein, we examine how individual-specific factors (e.g., life stage [immature, mature], contaminant status, sex, hemograms) may be associated with ophidiomycosis status in the brown watersnake (Nerodia taxispilota). During 2018-19, we sampled 97 N. taxispilota from five locations along the Savannah River in South Carolina and Georgia, US. Ophidiomyces ophidiicola DNA was detected in 66 snakes for a prevalence of 68% (95% confidence interval, 59-77). Mature snakes had a significantly higher risk of apparent ophidiomycosis (skin lesions present and quantitative PCR [qPCR], positive) relative to immature snakes. Snakes classified as having possible (skin lesions present, but qPCR negative) or apparent ophidiomycosis exhibited a relative azurophilia and heterophilia compared with individuals classified as negative (P≤0.037). Nerodia taxispilota in this region appear to have a high prevalence of apparent ophidiomycosis (22%; 95% CI, 14-31), similar to previous reports from the southeastern US. Additional epidemiologic investigations are warranted to further elucidate other individual-specific and environmental factors that may dictate disease risk and outcomes in affected populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- David L Haskins
- University of Georgia's Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Aiken, South Carolina 29802, USA
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
| | - M Kyle Brown
- University of Georgia's Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Aiken, South Carolina 29802, USA
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
| | - Kristina Meichner
- Department of Pathology, University of Georgia's College of Veterinary Medicine, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
| | - Austin L Coleman
- University of Georgia's Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Aiken, South Carolina 29802, USA
| | - Matthew C Allender
- Wildlife Epidemiology Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61802, USA
- Brookfield Zoo, Chicago Zoological Society, Brookfield, Illinois 60513, USA
| | - Tracey D Tuberville
- University of Georgia's Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Aiken, South Carolina 29802, USA
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11
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Hawley L, Smalling KL, Glaberman S. Critical review of the phytohemagglutinin assay for assessing amphibian immunity. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 11:coad090. [PMID: 38090122 PMCID: PMC10714196 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coad090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Infectious diseases are a major driver of the global amphibian decline. In addition, many factors, including genetics, stress, pollution, and climate change can influence the response to pathogens. Therefore, it is important to be able to evaluate amphibian immunity in the laboratory and in the field. The phytohemagglutinin (PHA) assay is an inexpensive and relatively non-invasive tool that has been used extensively to assess immunocompetence, especially in birds, and more recently in amphibians. However, there is substantial variation in experimental methodology among amphibian PHA studies in terms of species and life stages, PHA doses and injection sites, and use of experimental controls. Here, we compile and compare all known PHA studies in amphibians to identify knowledge gaps and develop best practices for future work. We found that research has only been conducted on a limited number of species, which may not reflect the diversity of amphibians. There is also a lack of validation studies in most species, so that doses and timing of PHA injection and subsequent swelling measurements may not effectively evaluate immunocompetence. Based on these and other findings, we put forward a set of recommendations to make future PHA studies more consistent and improve the ability to utilize this assay in wild populations, where immune surveillance is greatly needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Hawley
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
| | - Kelly L Smalling
- New Jersey Water Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Lawrenceville, NJ, USA
| | - Scott Glaberman
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
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12
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Luedtke JA, Chanson J, Neam K, Hobin L, Maciel AO, Catenazzi A, Borzée A, Hamidy A, Aowphol A, Jean A, Sosa-Bartuano Á, Fong G A, de Silva A, Fouquet A, Angulo A, Kidov AA, Muñoz Saravia A, Diesmos AC, Tominaga A, Shrestha B, Gratwicke B, Tjaturadi B, Martínez Rivera CC, Vásquez Almazán CR, Señaris C, Chandramouli SR, Strüssmann C, Cortez Fernández CF, Azat C, Hoskin CJ, Hilton-Taylor C, Whyte DL, Gower DJ, Olson DH, Cisneros-Heredia DF, Santana DJ, Nagombi E, Najafi-Majd E, Quah ESH, Bolaños F, Xie F, Brusquetti F, Álvarez FS, Andreone F, Glaw F, Castañeda FE, Kraus F, Parra-Olea G, Chaves G, Medina-Rangel GF, González-Durán G, Ortega-Andrade HM, Machado IF, Das I, Dias IR, Urbina-Cardona JN, Crnobrnja-Isailović J, Yang JH, Jianping J, Wangyal JT, Rowley JJL, Measey J, Vasudevan K, Chan KO, Gururaja KV, Ovaska K, Warr LC, Canseco-Márquez L, Toledo LF, Díaz LM, Khan MMH, Meegaskumbura M, Acevedo ME, Napoli MF, Ponce MA, Vaira M, Lampo M, Yánez-Muñoz MH, Scherz MD, Rödel MO, Matsui M, Fildor M, Kusrini MD, Ahmed MF, Rais M, Kouamé NG, García N, Gonwouo NL, Burrowes PA, Imbun PY, Wagner P, Kok PJR, Joglar RL, Auguste RJ, Brandão RA, Ibáñez R, von May R, Hedges SB, Biju SD, Ganesh SR, Wren S, Das S, Flechas SV, Ashpole SL, Robleto-Hernández SJ, Loader SP, Incháustegui SJ, Garg S, Phimmachak S, Richards SJ, Slimani T, Osborne-Naikatini T, Abreu-Jardim TPF, Condez TH, De Carvalho TR, Cutajar TP, Pierson TW, Nguyen TQ, Kaya U, Yuan Z, Long B, Langhammer P, Stuart SN. Ongoing declines for the world's amphibians in the face of emerging threats. Nature 2023; 622:308-314. [PMID: 37794184 PMCID: PMC10567568 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06578-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
Systematic assessments of species extinction risk at regular intervals are necessary for informing conservation action1,2. Ongoing developments in taxonomy, threatening processes and research further underscore the need for reassessment3,4. Here we report the findings of the second Global Amphibian Assessment, evaluating 8,011 species for the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species. We find that amphibians are the most threatened vertebrate class (40.7% of species are globally threatened). The updated Red List Index shows that the status of amphibians is deteriorating globally, particularly for salamanders and in the Neotropics. Disease and habitat loss drove 91% of status deteriorations between 1980 and 2004. Ongoing and projected climate change effects are now of increasing concern, driving 39% of status deteriorations since 2004, followed by habitat loss (37%). Although signs of species recoveries incentivize immediate conservation action, scaled-up investment is urgently needed to reverse the current trends.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer A Luedtke
- Re:wild, Austin, TX, USA.
- IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Janice Chanson
- Re:wild, Austin, TX, USA
- IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kelsey Neam
- Re:wild, Austin, TX, USA
- IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Louise Hobin
- IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Alessandro Catenazzi
- Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
- Centro de Ornitologia y Biodiversidad (CORBIDI), Lima, Peru
| | - Amaël Borzée
- IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Laboratory of Animal Behaviour and Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Amir Hamidy
- Laboratory of Herpetology, Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense, Research Center for Biosystematics and Evolution, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Cibinong, Indonesia
| | - Anchalee Aowphol
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Anderson Jean
- Action Pour la Sauvegarde de l'Ecologie en Haïti (ACSEH), Les Cayes, Haiti
- Environmental Protection In the Caribbean (EPIC), Maho, Sint Maarten
| | | | - Ansel Fong G
- Centro Oriental de Ecosistemas y Biodiversidad (BIOECO), Museo de Historia Natural "Tomás Romay", Santiago de Cuba, Cuba
| | - Anslem de Silva
- IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group, Sri Lanka, Gampola, Sri Lanka
| | - Antoine Fouquet
- Laboratoire Évolution & Diversité Biologique, UMR 5174, Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Ariadne Angulo
- IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Artem A Kidov
- Russian State Agrarian University-MTAA, Moscow, Russia
| | - Arturo Muñoz Saravia
- IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group Bolivia, La Paz, Bolivia
- Animal Nutrition Unit, Department of Veterinary and Biosciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Arvin C Diesmos
- ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines
- HerpWatch Pilipinas, Manila, Philippines
| | - Atsushi Tominaga
- Faculty of Education, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan
- Graduate School of Engineering and Science, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Biraj Shrestha
- SAVE THE FROGS!, Laguna Beach, CA, USA
- The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, USA
| | - Brian Gratwicke
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, VA, USA
| | - Burhan Tjaturadi
- Center for Environmental Studies, Sanata Dharma University (CESSDU), Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| | - Carlos C Martínez Rivera
- Pinelands Preservation Alliance, Southampton Township, NJ, USA
- Centro de Conservación de Anfibios, Amaru Bioparque, Cuenca, Ecuador
| | - Carlos R Vásquez Almazán
- Museo de Historia Natural, Escuela de Biologia, Universidad de San Carlos, Guatemala City, Guatemala
- FUNDAECO, Guatemala City, Guatemala
| | - Celsa Señaris
- Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Seville, Spain
| | - S R Chandramouli
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Pondicherry University, Puducherry, India
| | | | | | - Claudio Azat
- Sustainability Research Center & PhD Program in Conservation Medicine, Faculty of Life Sciences, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Conrad J Hoskin
- College of Science & Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | | | - Damion L Whyte
- Department of Life Sciences, University of the West Indies Mona, Kingston, Jamaica
| | | | - Deanna H Olson
- Pacific Northwest Research Station, United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Diego F Cisneros-Heredia
- Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ, Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales, Instituto de Biodiversidad Tropical IBIOTROP, Quito, Ecuador
- Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad INABIO, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Diego José Santana
- Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, Brazil
| | - Elizah Nagombi
- The New Guinea Binatang Research Center, Madang, Papua New Guinea
| | - Elnaz Najafi-Majd
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Ege University, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Evan S H Quah
- Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
- Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Federico Bolaños
- Escuela de Biología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
- CIBET (Museo de Zoología), Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Feng Xie
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, People's Republic of China
| | | | | | | | - Frank Glaw
- Zoologische Staatssammlung München (ZSM-SNSB), Munich, Germany
| | | | - Fred Kraus
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Gabriela Parra-Olea
- Instituto de Biologia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Gerardo Chaves
- CIBET (Museo de Zoología), Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Guido F Medina-Rangel
- Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá D.C., Colombia
| | | | - H Mauricio Ortega-Andrade
- Biogeography and Spatial Ecology Research Group, Life Sciences Faculty, Universidad Regional Amazónica IKIAM, Tena, Ecuador
- Herpetology Division, Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Iberê F Machado
- Instituto Boitatá de Etnobiologia e Conservação da Fauna, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Indraneil Das
- Institute of Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kota Samarahan, Malaysia
| | - Iuri Ribeiro Dias
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Ilhéus, Brazil
| | - J Nicolas Urbina-Cardona
- Departamento de Ecología y Territorio, Facultad de Estudios Ambientales y Rurales, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Jelka Crnobrnja-Isailović
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics, University of Niš, Niš, Serbia
| | - Jian-Huan Yang
- Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiang Jianping
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, People's Republic of China
| | - Jigme Tshelthrim Wangyal
- University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia
- Bhutan Ecological Society, Thimphu, Bhutan
| | - Jodi J L Rowley
- Australian Museum Research Institute, Australian Museum, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences (BEES), University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - John Measey
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany & Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Institute of Biodiversity, School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming, People's Republic of China
| | - Karthikeyan Vasudevan
- Laboratory for the Conservation of Endangered Species, CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, India
| | - Kin Onn Chan
- Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Kotambylu Vasudeva Gururaja
- Srishti Manipal Institute of Art, Design and Technology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India
| | - Kristiina Ovaska
- Biolinx Environmental Research, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
- Royal British Columbia Museum, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | | | - Luis Canseco-Márquez
- Laboratorio de Herpetología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Luís Felipe Toledo
- Laboratório de História Natural de Anfíbios Brasileiros (LaHNAB), Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Luis M Díaz
- Museo Nacional de Historia Natural de Cuba, La Habana, Cuba
| | - M Monirul H Khan
- Department of Zoology, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Madhava Meegaskumbura
- Key Laboratory in Forest Ecology and Conservation, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Nanning, People's Republic of China
| | - Manuel E Acevedo
- Museo Nacional de Historia Natural "Jorge A. Ibarra", Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala
| | - Marcelo Felgueiras Napoli
- Instituto de Biologia, Campus Universitário de Ondina, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
| | | | - Marcos Vaira
- Instituto de Ecorregiones Andinas (INECOA, UNJu-Conicet), San Salvador de Jujuy, Argentina
| | - Margarita Lampo
- Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas (IVIC), Miranda, Venezuela
- Fundación para el Desarrollo de las Ciencias Físicas, Matemáticas y Naturales (FUDECI), Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Mario H Yánez-Muñoz
- Unidad de Investigación, Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad (INABIO), Quito, Ecuador
| | - Mark D Scherz
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mark-Oliver Rödel
- Museum für Naturkunde-Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Maxon Fildor
- Action Pour la Sauvegarde de l'Ecologie en Haïti (ACSEH), Les Cayes, Haiti
| | - Mirza D Kusrini
- Faculty of Forestry & Environment, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia
| | | | - Muhammad Rais
- Herpetology Lab, Department of Zoology, Wildlife and Fisheries, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
| | - N'Goran G Kouamé
- Laboratoire de Biodiversité et Ecologie Tropicale, UFR Environnement, Université Jean Lorougnon Guédé, Daloa, Côte d'Ivoire
| | - Nieves García
- IUCN Species Survival Commission, Gland, Switzerland
| | - Nono Legrand Gonwouo
- Laboratory of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | | | - Paul Y Imbun
- Zoology Unit, Research and Education Section, Sabah Parks, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
| | - Philipp Wagner
- Allwetterzoo, Münster, Germany
- Center for Biodiversity and Ecosystem, Villanova University, Villanova, PA, USA
| | - Philippe J R Kok
- Department of Ecology and Vertebrate Zoology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Łódź, Łódź, Poland
- Department of Life Sciences, The Natural History Museum, London, UK
| | - Rafael L Joglar
- Rio Piedras Campus, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Proyecto Coqui, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Renoir J Auguste
- Department of Life Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
| | | | - Roberto Ibáñez
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama, República de Panamá
| | - Rudolf von May
- California State University Channel Islands, Camarillo, CA, USA
| | - S Blair Hedges
- Center for Biodiversity, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - S D Biju
- Systematics Lab, Department of Environmental Studies, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | | | - Sally Wren
- IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Sandeep Das
- Centre for Research in Emerging Tropical Diseases, Department of Zoology, University of Calicut, Kerala, India
- EDGE of Existence programme, Conservation and Policy, Zoological Society of London, London, UK
| | | | - Sara L Ashpole
- Environmental Studies, St Lawrence University, Canton, NY, USA
- , Prescott, Ontario, Canada
| | | | | | | | - Sonali Garg
- Systematics Lab, Department of Environmental Studies, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology and Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Somphouthone Phimmachak
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, National University of Laos, Vientiane, Laos
| | - Stephen J Richards
- Herpetology Department, South Australian Museum, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Tahar Slimani
- Faculty of Sciences Sremlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco
| | - Tamara Osborne-Naikatini
- School of Agriculture, Geography, Environment, Ocean and Natural Sciences, The University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji
| | | | - Thais H Condez
- Department of Earth Sciences, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Timothy P Cutajar
- Australian Museum Research Institute, Australian Museum, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences (BEES), University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Todd W Pierson
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA, USA
| | - Truong Q Nguyen
- Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Ha Noi, Viet Nam
| | - Uğur Kaya
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Ege University, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Zhiyong Yuan
- School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | | | - Penny Langhammer
- Re:wild, Austin, TX, USA
- Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Simon N Stuart
- IUCN Species Survival Commission, Gland, Switzerland
- A Rocha International, London, UK
- Synchronicity Earth, London, UK
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13
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Fusco-Almeida AM, de Matos Silva S, dos Santos KS, de Lima Gualque MW, Vaso CO, Carvalho AR, Medina-Alarcón KP, Pires ACMDS, Belizario JA, de Souza Fernandes L, Moroz A, Martinez LR, Ruiz OH, González Á, Mendes-Giannini MJS. Alternative Non-Mammalian Animal and Cellular Methods for the Study of Host-Fungal Interactions. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:943. [PMID: 37755051 PMCID: PMC10533014 DOI: 10.3390/jof9090943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
In the study of fungal pathogenesis, alternative methods have gained prominence due to recent global legislation restricting the use of mammalian animals in research. The principle of the 3 Rs (replacement, reduction, and refinement) is integrated into regulations and guidelines governing animal experimentation in nearly all countries. This principle advocates substituting vertebrate animals with other invertebrate organisms, embryos, microorganisms, or cell cultures. This review addresses host-fungus interactions by employing three-dimensional (3D) cultures, which offer more faithful replication of the in vivo environment, and by utilizing alternative animal models to replace traditional mammals. Among these alternative models, species like Caenorhabditis elegans and Danio rerio share approximately 75% of their genes with humans. Furthermore, models such as Galleria mellonella and Tenebrio molitor demonstrate similarities in their innate immune systems as well as anatomical and physiological barriers, resembling those found in mammalian organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Marisa Fusco-Almeida
- Department of Clinical Analysis, School of Pharmaceutical Science, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Araraquara 14800-903, SP, Brazil; (A.M.F.-A.); (S.d.M.S.); (K.S.d.S.); (M.W.d.L.G.); (C.O.V.); (A.R.C.); (K.P.M.-A.); (A.C.M.d.S.P.); (J.A.B.); (L.d.S.F.); (A.M.)
| | - Samanta de Matos Silva
- Department of Clinical Analysis, School of Pharmaceutical Science, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Araraquara 14800-903, SP, Brazil; (A.M.F.-A.); (S.d.M.S.); (K.S.d.S.); (M.W.d.L.G.); (C.O.V.); (A.R.C.); (K.P.M.-A.); (A.C.M.d.S.P.); (J.A.B.); (L.d.S.F.); (A.M.)
- Basic and Applied Microbiology Group (MICROBA), School of Microbiology, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellin 050010, Colombia; (O.H.R.); (Á.G.)
| | - Kelvin Sousa dos Santos
- Department of Clinical Analysis, School of Pharmaceutical Science, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Araraquara 14800-903, SP, Brazil; (A.M.F.-A.); (S.d.M.S.); (K.S.d.S.); (M.W.d.L.G.); (C.O.V.); (A.R.C.); (K.P.M.-A.); (A.C.M.d.S.P.); (J.A.B.); (L.d.S.F.); (A.M.)
| | - Marcos William de Lima Gualque
- Department of Clinical Analysis, School of Pharmaceutical Science, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Araraquara 14800-903, SP, Brazil; (A.M.F.-A.); (S.d.M.S.); (K.S.d.S.); (M.W.d.L.G.); (C.O.V.); (A.R.C.); (K.P.M.-A.); (A.C.M.d.S.P.); (J.A.B.); (L.d.S.F.); (A.M.)
| | - Carolina Orlando Vaso
- Department of Clinical Analysis, School of Pharmaceutical Science, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Araraquara 14800-903, SP, Brazil; (A.M.F.-A.); (S.d.M.S.); (K.S.d.S.); (M.W.d.L.G.); (C.O.V.); (A.R.C.); (K.P.M.-A.); (A.C.M.d.S.P.); (J.A.B.); (L.d.S.F.); (A.M.)
| | - Angélica Romão Carvalho
- Department of Clinical Analysis, School of Pharmaceutical Science, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Araraquara 14800-903, SP, Brazil; (A.M.F.-A.); (S.d.M.S.); (K.S.d.S.); (M.W.d.L.G.); (C.O.V.); (A.R.C.); (K.P.M.-A.); (A.C.M.d.S.P.); (J.A.B.); (L.d.S.F.); (A.M.)
| | - Kaila Petrolina Medina-Alarcón
- Department of Clinical Analysis, School of Pharmaceutical Science, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Araraquara 14800-903, SP, Brazil; (A.M.F.-A.); (S.d.M.S.); (K.S.d.S.); (M.W.d.L.G.); (C.O.V.); (A.R.C.); (K.P.M.-A.); (A.C.M.d.S.P.); (J.A.B.); (L.d.S.F.); (A.M.)
| | - Ana Carolina Moreira da Silva Pires
- Department of Clinical Analysis, School of Pharmaceutical Science, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Araraquara 14800-903, SP, Brazil; (A.M.F.-A.); (S.d.M.S.); (K.S.d.S.); (M.W.d.L.G.); (C.O.V.); (A.R.C.); (K.P.M.-A.); (A.C.M.d.S.P.); (J.A.B.); (L.d.S.F.); (A.M.)
| | - Jenyffie Araújo Belizario
- Department of Clinical Analysis, School of Pharmaceutical Science, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Araraquara 14800-903, SP, Brazil; (A.M.F.-A.); (S.d.M.S.); (K.S.d.S.); (M.W.d.L.G.); (C.O.V.); (A.R.C.); (K.P.M.-A.); (A.C.M.d.S.P.); (J.A.B.); (L.d.S.F.); (A.M.)
| | - Lígia de Souza Fernandes
- Department of Clinical Analysis, School of Pharmaceutical Science, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Araraquara 14800-903, SP, Brazil; (A.M.F.-A.); (S.d.M.S.); (K.S.d.S.); (M.W.d.L.G.); (C.O.V.); (A.R.C.); (K.P.M.-A.); (A.C.M.d.S.P.); (J.A.B.); (L.d.S.F.); (A.M.)
| | - Andrei Moroz
- Department of Clinical Analysis, School of Pharmaceutical Science, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Araraquara 14800-903, SP, Brazil; (A.M.F.-A.); (S.d.M.S.); (K.S.d.S.); (M.W.d.L.G.); (C.O.V.); (A.R.C.); (K.P.M.-A.); (A.C.M.d.S.P.); (J.A.B.); (L.d.S.F.); (A.M.)
| | - Luis R. Martinez
- Department of Oral Biology, College of Dentistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA;
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
- Center for Immunology and Transplantation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Orville Hernandez Ruiz
- Basic and Applied Microbiology Group (MICROBA), School of Microbiology, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellin 050010, Colombia; (O.H.R.); (Á.G.)
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Group University of Antioquia, Corporation for Biological Research, Medellin 050010, Colombia
| | - Ángel González
- Basic and Applied Microbiology Group (MICROBA), School of Microbiology, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellin 050010, Colombia; (O.H.R.); (Á.G.)
| | - Maria José Soares Mendes-Giannini
- Department of Clinical Analysis, School of Pharmaceutical Science, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Araraquara 14800-903, SP, Brazil; (A.M.F.-A.); (S.d.M.S.); (K.S.d.S.); (M.W.d.L.G.); (C.O.V.); (A.R.C.); (K.P.M.-A.); (A.C.M.d.S.P.); (J.A.B.); (L.d.S.F.); (A.M.)
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14
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Richard JC, Blevins E, Dunn CD, Leis EM, Goldberg TL. Viruses of Freshwater Mussels during Mass Mortality Events in Oregon and Washington, USA. Viruses 2023; 15:1719. [PMID: 37632061 PMCID: PMC10458741 DOI: 10.3390/v15081719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Freshwater mussels (Unionida) are globally imperiled, in part due to largely unexplained mass mortality events (MMEs). While recent studies have begun to investigate the possibility that mussel MMEs in the Eastern USA may be caused by infectious diseases, mussels in the Western USA have received relatively little attention in this regard. We conducted a two-year epidemiologic investigation of the role of viruses in ongoing MMEs of the Western pearlshell (Margaritifera falcata) and the Western ridged mussel (Gonidea angulata) in the Chehalis River and Columbia River watersheds in the Western USA. We characterized viromes of mussel hemolymph from 5 locations in 2018 and 2020 using metagenomic methods and identified 557 viruses based on assembled contiguous sequences, most of which are novel. We also characterized the distribution and diversity of a previously identified mussel Gammarhabdovirus related to pathogenic finfish viruses. Overall, we found few consistent associations between viruses and mussel health status. Variation in mussel viromes was most strongly driven by location, with little influence from date, species, or health status, though these variables together only explained ~1/3 of variation in virome composition. Our results demonstrate that Western freshwater mussels host remarkably diverse viromes, but no single virus or combination of viruses appears to be associated with morbidity or mortality during MMEs. Our findings have implications for the conservation of imperiled freshwater mussels, including efforts to enhance natural populations through captive propagation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan C. Richard
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences and Freshwater & Marine Sciences Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA;
- Southwestern Virginia Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Abingdon, VA 24210, USA
| | - Emilie Blevins
- Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, Portland, OR 97232, USA;
| | - Christopher D. Dunn
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences and Freshwater & Marine Sciences Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA;
| | - Eric M. Leis
- La Crosse Fish Health Center, Midwest Fisheries Center, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Onalaska, WI 54650, USA;
| | - Tony L. Goldberg
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences and Freshwater & Marine Sciences Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA;
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15
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Woodhams DC, McCartney J, Walke JB, Whetstone R. The adaptive microbiome hypothesis and immune interactions in amphibian mucus. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2023; 145:104690. [PMID: 37001710 PMCID: PMC10249470 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2023.104690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
The microbiome is known to provide benefits to hosts, including extension of immune function. Amphibians are a powerful immunological model for examining mucosal defenses because of an accessible epithelial mucosome throughout their developmental trajectory, their responsiveness to experimental treatments, and direct interactions with emerging infectious pathogens. We review amphibian skin mucus components and describe the adaptive microbiome as a novel process of disease resilience where competitive microbial interactions couple with host immune responses to select for functions beneficial to the host. We demonstrate microbiome diversity, specificity of function, and mechanisms for memory characteristic of an adaptive immune response. At a time when industrialization has been linked to losses in microbiota important for host health, applications of microbial therapies such as probiotics may contribute to immunotherapeutics and to conservation efforts for species currently threatened by emerging diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas C Woodhams
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, 02125, USA.
| | - Julia McCartney
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, 02125, USA
| | - Jenifer B Walke
- Department of Biology, Eastern Washington University, Cheney, WA, 99004-2440, USA
| | - Ross Whetstone
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, 02125, USA
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16
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Hughey MC, Warne R, Dulmage A, Reeve RE, Curtis GH, Whitfield K, Schock DM, Crespi E. Diet- and salinity-induced modifications of the gut microbiota are associated with differential physiological responses to ranavirus infection in Rana sylvatica. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2023; 378:20220121. [PMID: 37305908 PMCID: PMC10258663 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Greater knowledge of how host-microbiome interactions vary with anthropogenic environmental change and influence pathogenic infections is needed to better understand stress-mediated disease outcomes. We investigated how increasing salinization in freshwaters (e.g. due to road de-icing salt runoff) and associated increases in growth of nutritional algae influenced gut bacterial assembly, host physiology and responses to ranavirus exposure in larval wood frogs (Rana sylvatica). Elevating salinity and supplementing a basic larval diet with algae increased larval growth and also increased ranavirus loads. However, larvae given algae did not exhibit elevated kidney corticosterone levels, accelerated development or weight loss post-infection, whereas larvae fed a basic diet did. Thus, algal supplementation reversed a potentially maladaptive stress response to infection observed in prior studies in this system. Algae supplementation also reduced gut bacterial diversity. Notably, we observed higher relative abundances of Firmicutes in treatments with algae-a pattern consistent with increased growth and fat deposition in mammals-that may contribute to the diminished stress responses to infection via regulation of host metabolism and endocrine function. Our study informs mechanistic hypotheses about the role of microbiome mediation of host responses to infection that can be tested in future experiments in this host-pathogen system. This article is part of the theme issue 'Amphibian immunity: stress, disease and ecoimmunology'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myra C. Hughey
- Department of Biology, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY 12604, USA
| | - Robin Warne
- School of Biological Sciences, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901, USA
| | - Alexa Dulmage
- School of Biological Sciences, Center for Reproductive Biology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - Robyn E. Reeve
- School of Biological Sciences, Center for Reproductive Biology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - Grace H. Curtis
- School of Biological Sciences, Center for Reproductive Biology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - Kourtnie Whitfield
- School of Biological Sciences, Center for Reproductive Biology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | | | - Erica Crespi
- School of Biological Sciences, Center for Reproductive Biology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
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17
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Tytar V, Nekrasova O, Pupins M, Skute A, Kirjušina M, Gravele E, Mezaraupe L, Marushchak O, Čeirāns A, Kozynenko I, Kulikova AA. Modeling the Distribution of the Chytrid Fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis with Special Reference to Ukraine. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:607. [PMID: 37367543 DOI: 10.3390/jof9060607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 05/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Amphibians are the most threatened group of vertebrates. While habitat loss poses the greatest threat to amphibians, a spreading fungal disease caused by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis Longcore, Pessier & D.K. Nichols 1999 (Bd) is seriously affecting an increasing number of species. Although Bd is widely prevalent, there are identifiable heterogeneities in the pathogen's distribution that are linked to environmental parameters. Our objective was to identify conditions that affect the geographic distribution of this pathogen using species distribution models (SDMs) with a special focus on Eastern Europe. SDMs can help identify hotspots for future outbreaks of Bd but perhaps more importantly identify locations that may be environmental refuges ("coldspots") from infection. In general, climate is considered a major factor driving amphibian disease dynamics, but temperature in particular has received increased attention. Here, 42 environmental raster layers containing data on climate, soil, and human impact were used. The mean annual temperature range (or 'continentality') was found to have the strongest constraint on the geographic distribution of this pathogen. The modeling allowed to distinguish presumable locations that may be environmental refuges from infection and set up a framework to guide future search (sampling) of chytridiomycosis in Eastern Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Volodymyr Tytar
- I.I. Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 01030 Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Oksana Nekrasova
- I.I. Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 01030 Kyiv, Ukraine
- Department of Ecology, Institute of Life Sciences and Technologies, Daugavpils University, LV5400 Daugavpils, Latvia
| | - Mihails Pupins
- Department of Ecology, Institute of Life Sciences and Technologies, Daugavpils University, LV5400 Daugavpils, Latvia
| | - Arturs Skute
- Department of Ecology, Institute of Life Sciences and Technologies, Daugavpils University, LV5400 Daugavpils, Latvia
| | - Muza Kirjušina
- Department of Ecology, Institute of Life Sciences and Technologies, Daugavpils University, LV5400 Daugavpils, Latvia
| | - Evita Gravele
- Department of Ecology, Institute of Life Sciences and Technologies, Daugavpils University, LV5400 Daugavpils, Latvia
| | - Ligita Mezaraupe
- Department of Ecology, Institute of Life Sciences and Technologies, Daugavpils University, LV5400 Daugavpils, Latvia
| | - Oleksii Marushchak
- I.I. Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 01030 Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Andris Čeirāns
- Department of Ecology, Institute of Life Sciences and Technologies, Daugavpils University, LV5400 Daugavpils, Latvia
| | - Iryna Kozynenko
- I.I. Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 01030 Kyiv, Ukraine
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Auliya M, Altherr S, Nithart C, Hughes A, Bickford D. Numerous uncertainties in the multifaceted global trade in frogs’ legs with the EU as the major consumer. NATURE CONSERVATION 2023. [DOI: 10.3897/natureconservation.51.93868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
The commercial trade in frogs and their body parts is global, dynamic and occurs in extremely large volumes (in the thousands of tonnes/yr or billions of frogs/yr). The European Union (EU) remains the single largest importer of frogs’ legs, with most frogs still caught from the wild. Amongst the many drivers of species extinction or population decline (e.g. due to habitat loss, climate change, disease etc.), overexploitation is becoming increasingly more prominent. Due to global declines and extinctions, new attention is being focused on these markets, in part to try to ensure sustainability. While the trade is plagued by daunting realities of data deficiency and uncertainty and the conflicts of commercial interests associated with these data, it is clear is that EU countries are most responsible for the largest portion of the international trade in frogs’ legs of wild species. Over decades of exploitation, the EU imports have contributed to a decline in wild frog populations in an increasing number of supplying countries, such as India and Bangladesh, as well as Indonesia, Turkey and Albania more recently. However, there have been no concerted attempts by the EU and present export countries to ensure sustainability of this trade. Further work is needed to validate species identities, secure data on wild frog populations, establish reasonable monitored harvest/export quotas and disease surveillance and ensure data integrity, quality and security standards for frog farms. Herein, we call upon those countries and their representative governments to assume responsibility for the sustainability of the trade. The EU should take immediate action to channel all imports through a single centralised database and list sensitive species in the Annexes of the EU Wildlife Trade Regulation. Further, listing in CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) can enforce international trade restrictions. More joint efforts are needed to improve regional monitoring schemes before the commercial trade causes irreversible extinctions of populations and species of frogs.
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Kásler A, Holly D, Herczeg D, Ujszegi J, Hettyey A. Chytridiomycosis and climate change: exposure to
Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis
and mild winter conditions do not increase mortality in juvenile agile frogs during hibernation. Anim Conserv 2023. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- A. Kásler
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology Centre for Agricultural Research, Plant Protection Institute, Eötvös Loránd Research Network Budapest Hungary
- Doctoral School of Biology Institute of Biology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University Budapest Hungary
| | - D. Holly
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology Centre for Agricultural Research, Plant Protection Institute, Eötvös Loránd Research Network Budapest Hungary
- Doctoral School of Biology Institute of Biology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University Budapest Hungary
| | - D. Herczeg
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology Centre for Agricultural Research, Plant Protection Institute, Eötvös Loránd Research Network Budapest Hungary
- ELKH‐ELTE‐MTM Integrative Ecology Research Group Budapest Hungary
| | - J. Ujszegi
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology Centre for Agricultural Research, Plant Protection Institute, Eötvös Loránd Research Network Budapest Hungary
- Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology ELTE Eötvös Loránd University Budapest Hungary
| | - A. Hettyey
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology Centre for Agricultural Research, Plant Protection Institute, Eötvös Loránd Research Network Budapest Hungary
- Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology ELTE Eötvös Loránd University Budapest Hungary
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20
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Greenspan SE, Roznik EA, Edwards L, Duffy R, Berger L, Bower DS, Pike DA, Schwarzkopf L, Alford RA. Constant-temperature predictions underestimate growth of a fungal amphibian pathogen under individual host thermal profiles. J Therm Biol 2023; 111:103394. [PMID: 36585075 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2022.103394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 10/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Ectotherm body temperatures fluctuate with environmental variability and host behavior, which may influence host-pathogen interactions. Fungal pathogens are a major threat to ectotherms and may be highly responsive to the fluctuating thermal profiles of individual hosts, especially cool-loving fungi exposed to high host temperatures. However, most studies estimate pathogen thermal performance based on averages of host or surrogate environmental temperatures, potentially missing effects of short-term host temperature shifts such as daily or hourly heat spikes. We recorded individual thermal profiles of Australian rainforest frogs using temperature-sensitive radio-transmitters. We then reproduced a subset of individual thermal profiles in growth chambers containing cultures of the near-global amphibian pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) to investigate how realistic host temperature profiles affect Bd growth. We focused on thermal profiles that exceed the thermal optimum of Bd because the effects of realistic heat spikes on Bd growth are unresolved. Our laboratory incubation experiment revealed that Bd growth varied in response to relatively small differences in heat spike characteristics of individual frog thermal profiles, such as a single degree or a few hours, highlighting the importance of individual host behaviors in predicting population-level disease dynamics. The fungus also grew better than predicted under the most extreme and unpredictable frog temperature profile, recovering from two days of extreme (nearly 32 °C) heat spikes without negative effects on overall growth, suggesting we are underestimating the growth potential of the pathogen in nature. Combined with the previous finding that Bd reduces host heat tolerance, our study suggests that this pathogen may carry a competitive edge over hosts in the face of anthropogenic climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sasha E Greenspan
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35487, USA.
| | | | - Lexie Edwards
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
| | - Richard Duffy
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
| | - Lee Berger
- One Health Research Group, Melbourne Veterinary School, University of Melbourne, Werribee, Victoria, 3030, Australia
| | - Deborah S Bower
- Zoology Discipline, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, 2350, Australia
| | - David A Pike
- Department of Biology, Rhodes College, Memphis, TN, 38112, USA
| | - Lin Schwarzkopf
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
| | - Ross A Alford
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
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21
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Lambertini C, Ernetti JR, Missassi AFR, Jorge RF, da Silva Leite D, Lima AP, Toledo LF. Chytrid fungus in amphibians from the lowland Brazilian Amazon. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS 2022; 152:115-125. [PMID: 36519683 DOI: 10.3354/dao03709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Infectious diseases are one of the main threats to biodiversity. The fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is associated with several amphibian losses around the globe, and environmental conditions may dictate the success of pathogen spread. The Brazilian Amazon has been considered climatically unsuitable for chytrid fungus, but additional information on Bd dynamics in this ecoregion is still lacking. We sampled 462 amphibians (449 anurans, 4 caudatans and 9 caecilians), representing 57 species from the Brazilian Amazon, and quantified Bd infections using qPCR. We tested whether abiotic variables predicted the risk of Bd infections, and tested for relationships between biotic variables and Bd. Finally, we experimentally tested the effects of Bd strains CLFT 156 and CLFT 102 (from the southern and northern Atlantic Forest, respectively) on Atelopus manauensis. We detected higher Bd prevalence than those previously reported for the Brazilian Amazon, and positive individuals in all 3 orders of amphibians sampled. Both biotic and abiotic predictors were related to prevalence, and no variable explained infection load. Moreover, we detected higher Bd prevalence in forested than open areas, while the host's reproductive biology was not a factor. We detected higher mortality in the experimental group infected with CLFT 156, probably because this strain was isolated from a region characterized by discrepant climatic conditions (latitudinally more distant) when compared with the host's sampling site in Amazon. The lowland Brazilian Amazon is still underexplored and future studies targeting all amphibian orders are essential to better understand Bd infection dynamics in this region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Lambertini
- Laboratório de História Natural de Anfíbios Brasileiros (LaHNAB), Departamento de Biologia Animal, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo 13083-862, Brazil
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22
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Moskowitz NA, D’Agui R, Alvarez-Buylla A, Fiocca K, O’Connell LA. Poison frog dietary preference depends on prey type and alkaloid load. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0276331. [PMID: 36454945 PMCID: PMC9714857 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0276331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability to acquire chemical defenses through the diet has evolved across several major taxa. Chemically defended organisms may need to balance chemical defense acquisition and nutritional quality of prey items. However, these dietary preferences and potential trade-offs are rarely considered in the framework of diet-derived defenses. Poison frogs (Family Dendrobatidae) acquire defensive alkaloids from their arthropod diet of ants and mites, although their dietary preferences have never been investigated. We conducted prey preference assays with the Dyeing Poison frog (Dendrobates tinctorius) to test the hypothesis that alkaloid load and prey traits influence frog dietary preferences. We tested size preferences (big versus small) within each of four prey groups (ants, beetles, flies, and fly larvae) and found that frogs preferred interacting with smaller prey items of the fly and beetle groups. Frog taxonomic prey preferences were also tested as we experimentally increased their chemical defense load by feeding frogs decahydroquinoline, an alkaloid compound similar to those naturally found in their diet. Contrary to our expectations, overall preferences did not change during alkaloid consumption, as frogs across groups preferred fly larvae over other prey. Finally, we assessed the protein and lipid content of prey items and found that small ants have the highest lipid content while large fly larvae have the highest protein content. Our results suggest that consideration of toxicity and prey nutritional value are important factors in understanding the evolution of acquired chemical defenses and niche partitioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nora A. Moskowitz
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| | - Rachel D’Agui
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| | | | - Katherine Fiocca
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| | - Lauren A. O’Connell
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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23
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Andrade P, Lyra ML, Zina J, Bastos DFO, Brunetti AE, Baêta D, Afonso S, Brunes TO, Taucce PPG, Carneiro M, Haddad CFB, Sequeira F. Draft genome and multi-tissue transcriptome assemblies of the Neotropical leaf-frog Phyllomedusa bahiana. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2022; 12:jkac270. [PMID: 36205610 PMCID: PMC9713437 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkac270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Amphibians are increasingly threatened worldwide, but the availability of genomic resources that could be crucial for implementing informed conservation practices lags well behind that for other vertebrate groups. Here, we describe draft de novo genome, mitogenome, and transcriptome assemblies for the Neotropical leaf-frog Phyllomedusa bahiana native to the Brazilian Atlantic Forest and Caatinga. We used a combination of PacBio long reads and Illumina sequencing to produce a 4.74-Gbp contig-level genome assembly, which has a contiguity comparable to other recent nonchromosome level assemblies. The assembled mitogenome comprises 16,239 bp and the gene content and arrangement are similar to other Neobratrachia. RNA-sequencing from 8 tissues resulted in a highly complete (86.3%) reference transcriptome. We further use whole-genome resequencing data from P. bahiana and from its sister species Phyllomedusa burmeisteri, to demonstrate how our assembly can be used as a backbone for population genomics studies within the P. burmeisteri species group. Our assemblies thus represent important additions to the catalog of genomic resources available from amphibians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Andrade
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, Vairão 4485-661, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, Vairão 4485-661, Portugal
| | - Mariana L Lyra
- Departamento de Biodiversidade and Centro de Aquicultura, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Rio Claro 13506-900, Brazil
| | - Juliana Zina
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia, Jequié 45206-190, Brazil
| | - Deivson F O Bastos
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia, Jequié 45206-190, Brazil
| | - Andrés E Brunetti
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics, Institute of Subtropical Biology, National University of Misiones (UNaM-CONICET) Posadas N3300LQH, Misiones, Argentina
| | - Délio Baêta
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, Vairão 4485-661, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, Vairão 4485-661, Portugal
- Departamento de Biodiversidade and Centro de Aquicultura, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Rio Claro 13506-900, Brazil
| | - Sandra Afonso
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, Vairão 4485-661, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, Vairão 4485-661, Portugal
| | - Tuliana O Brunes
- Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-090, Brazil
| | - Pedro P G Taucce
- Departamento de Biodiversidade and Centro de Aquicultura, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Rio Claro 13506-900, Brazil
| | - Miguel Carneiro
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, Vairão 4485-661, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, Vairão 4485-661, Portugal
| | - Célio F B Haddad
- Departamento de Biodiversidade and Centro de Aquicultura, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Rio Claro 13506-900, Brazil
| | - Fernando Sequeira
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, Vairão 4485-661, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, Vairão 4485-661, Portugal
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24
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Alonso A, Monroy S, Bosch J, Pérez J, Boyero L. Amphibian loss alters periphyton structure and invertebrate growth in montane streams. J Anim Ecol 2022; 91:2329-2337. [PMID: 36177539 PMCID: PMC9828351 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Amphibians are declining worldwide due to a combination of stressors such as climate change, invasive species, habitat loss, pollution and emergent diseases. Although their losses are likely to have important ecological consequences on the structure and functioning of freshwater ecosystems, this issue has been scarcely explored. We conducted an experiment in three montane streams-where primary production is the main source of energy and carbon-to assess the effects of amphibian disappearance (i.e. presence or absence of the common midwife toad Alytes obstetricans, a common species found in pools of these streams) on several aspects of ecosystem functioning and structure: periphyton biomass and chlorophyll a concentration, algal assemblage structure, and growth of macroinvertebrate grazers. We compared four types of experimental enclosures: (i) without macroinvertebrates or amphibians; (ii) with larvae of the caddisfly Allogamus laureatus; (iii) with A. obstetricans tadpoles; and (iv) with both A. laureatus larvae and A. obstetricans tadpoles. The absence of tadpoles increased periphyton biomass, but did not cause differences on inorganic sediment accrual. The algal assemblage had a higher diversity in the absence of tadpoles, and their characteristic taxa differed from the assemblages in presence of tadpoles. A. laureatus presented higher mass in presence of tadpoles; however, tadpole length was not affected by presence of macroinvertebrates. Our results suggest that presence of tadpoles is a driver of periphyton accrual and assemblage structure, acting as top-down control and with key potential consequences on the functioning of montane stream ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Alonso
- Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science and TechnologyUniversity of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU)LeioaSpain
| | - Silvia Monroy
- Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science and TechnologyUniversity of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU)LeioaSpain
| | - Jaime Bosch
- IMIB‐Research Unit of Biodiversity (CSIC, UO, PA)Oviedo University‐Campus MieresMieresSpain,Centro de Investigación, Seguimiento y Evaluación, Parque Nacional de la Sierra de GuadarramaRascafríaSpain
| | - Javier Pérez
- Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science and TechnologyUniversity of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU)LeioaSpain
| | - Luz Boyero
- Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science and TechnologyUniversity of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU)LeioaSpain,IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for ScienceBilbaoSpain
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25
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Næsborg-Nielsen C, Eisenhofer R, Fraser TA, Wilkinson V, Burridge CP, Carver S. Sarcoptic mange changes bacterial and fungal microbiota of bare-nosed wombats (Vombatus ursinus). Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:323. [PMID: 36100860 PMCID: PMC9472346 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05452-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Sarcoptes scabiei is globally distributed and one of the most impactful mammalian ectoparasites. Sarcoptic mange, caused by infection with S. scabiei, causes disruption of the epidermis and its bacterial microbiota, but its effects on host fungal microbiota and on the microbiota of marsupials in general have not been studied. Here, we (i) examine bacterial and fungal microbiota changes associated with mange in wild bare-nosed wombats (BNWs) and (ii) evaluate whether opportunistic pathogens are potentiated by S. scabiei infection in this species. Methods Using Amplicon Sequencing of the 16S rRNA and ITS2 rDNA genes, we detected skin microbiota changes of the bare-nosed wombat (Vombatus ursinus). We compared the alpha and beta diversity among healthy, moderate, and severe disease states using ANOVA and PERMANOVA with nesting. Lastly, we identified taxa that differed between disease states using analysis of composition of microbes (ANCOM) testing. Results We detected significant changes in the microbial communities and diversity with mange in BNWs. Severely affected BNWs had lower amplicon sequence variant (ASV) richness compared to that of healthy individuals, and the microbial communities were significantly different between disease states with higher relative abundance of potentially pathogenic microbial taxa in mange-affected BNWs including Staphylococcus sciuri, Corynebacterium spp., Brevibacterium spp., Brachybacterium spp., and Pseudogymnascus spp. and Debaryomyces spp. Conclusion This study represents the first investigation of microbial changes in association with sarcoptic mange in a marsupial host, as well as the first investigation of fungal microbial changes on the skin of any host suffering from sarcoptic mange. Our results are broadly consistent with bacterial microbiota changes observed in humans, pigs, canids, and Iberian ibex, suggesting the epidermal microbial impacts of mange may be generalisable across host species. We recommend that future studies investigating skin microbiota changes include both bacterial and fungal data to gain a more complete picture of the effects of sarcoptic mange. Graphical Abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-022-05452-y.
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26
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Wells K, Flynn R. Managing host-parasite interactions in humans and wildlife in times of global change. Parasitol Res 2022; 121:3063-3071. [PMID: 36066742 PMCID: PMC9446624 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-022-07649-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Global change in the Anthropocene has modified the environment of almost any species on earth, be it through climate change, habitat modifications, pollution, human intervention in the form of mass drug administration (MDA), or vaccination. This can have far-reaching consequences on all organisational levels of life, including eco-physiological stress at the cell and organism level, individual fitness and behaviour, population viability, species interactions and biodiversity. Host-parasite interactions often require highly adapted strategies by the parasite to survive and reproduce within the host environment and ensure efficient transmission among hosts. Yet, our understanding of the system-level outcomes of the intricate interplay of within host survival and among host parasite spread is in its infancy. We shed light on how global change affects host-parasite interactions at different organisational levels and address challenges and opportunities to work towards better-informed management of parasite control. We argue that global change affects host-parasite interactions in wildlife inhabiting natural environments rather differently than in humans and invasive species that benefit from anthropogenic environments as habitat and more deliberate rather than erratic exposure to therapeutic drugs and other control efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstans Wells
- Department of Biosciences, Swansea University, Swansea, SA28PP, UK.
| | - Robin Flynn
- Graduate Studies Office, South East Technological University, Cork Road Campus, Waterford, X91 K0EK, Ireland
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27
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Penaud B, Laurent B, Milhes M, Noüs C, Ehrenmann F, Dutech C. SNP4OrphanSpecies: A bioinformatics pipeline to isolate molecular markers for studying genetic diversity of orphan species. Biodivers Data J 2022; 10:e85587. [PMID: 36761595 PMCID: PMC9848450 DOI: 10.3897/bdj.10.e85587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background For several decades, an increase in disease or pest emergences due to anthropogenic introduction or environmental changes has been recorded. This increase leads to serious threats to the genetic and species diversity of numerous ecosystems. Many of these events involve species with poor or no genomic resources (called here "orphan species"). This lack of resources is a serious limitation to our understanding of the origin of emergent populations, their ability to adapt to new environments and to predict future consequences to biodiversity. Analyses of genetic diversity are an efficient method to obtain this information rapidly, but require available polymorphic genetic markers. New information We developed a generic bioinformatics pipeline to rapidly isolate such markers with the goal for the pipeline to be applied in studies of invasive taxa from different taxonomic groups, with a special focus on forest fungal pathogens and insect pests. This pipeline is based on: 1) an automated de novo genome assembly obtained from shotgun whole genome sequencing using paired-end Illumina technology; 2) the isolation of single-copy genes conserved in species related to the studied emergent organisms; 3) primer development for multiplexed short sequences obtained from these conserved genes. Previous studies have shown that intronic regions of these conserved genes generally contain several single nucleotide polymorphisms within species. The pipeline's functionality was evaluated with sequenced genomes of five invasive or expanding pathogen and pest species in Europe (Armillariaostoyae (Romagn.) Herink 1973, Bursaphelenchusxylophilus Steiner & Buhrer 1934, Sphaeropsissapinea (fr.) Dicko & B. Sutton 1980, Erysiphealphitoides (Griffon & Maubl.) U. Braun & S. Takam. 2000, Thaumetopoeapityocampa Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775). We successfully isolated several pools of one hundred short gene regions for each assembled genome, which can be amplified in multiplex. The bioinformatics pipeline is user-friendly and requires little computational resources. This easy-to-set-up and run method for genetic marker identification will be useful for numerous laboratories studying biological invasions, but with limited resources and expertise in bioinformatics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Penaud
- BIOGECO, INRAE, Univ. Bordeaux, 33610 Cestas, FranceBIOGECO, INRAE, Univ. Bordeaux33610 CestasFrance
| | - Benoit Laurent
- BIOGECO, INRAE, Univ. Bordeaux, 33610 Cestas, FranceBIOGECO, INRAE, Univ. Bordeaux33610 CestasFrance
| | - Marine Milhes
- INRAE, US 1426, GeT-PlaGe, Genotoul, Castanet-Tolosan, FranceINRAE, US 1426, GeT-PlaGe, GenotoulCastanet-TolosanFrance
| | - Camille Noüs
- Laboratoire Cogitamus, Bordeaux, FranceLaboratoire CogitamusBordeauxFrance
| | - François Ehrenmann
- BIOGECO, INRAE, Univ. Bordeaux, 33610 Cestas, FranceBIOGECO, INRAE, Univ. Bordeaux33610 CestasFrance
| | - Cyril Dutech
- BIOGECO, INRAE, Univ. Bordeaux, 33610 Cestas, FranceBIOGECO, INRAE, Univ. Bordeaux33610 CestasFrance
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28
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Ujszegi J, Bertalan R, Ujhegyi N, Verebélyi V, Nemesházi E, Mikó Z, Kásler A, Herczeg D, Szederkényi M, Vili N, Gál Z, Hoffmann OI, Bókony V, Hettyey A. "Heat waves" experienced during larval life have species-specific consequences on life-history traits and sexual development in anuran amphibians. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 835:155297. [PMID: 35439501 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Extreme temperatures during heat waves can induce mass-mortality events, but can also exert sublethal negative effects by compromising life-history traits and derailing sexual development. Ectothermic animals may, however, also benefit from increased temperatures via enhanced physiological performance and the suppression of cold-adapted pathogens. Therefore, it is crucial to address how the intensity and timing of naturally occurring or human-induced heat waves affect life-history traits and sexual development in amphibians, to predict future effects of climate change and to minimize risks arising from the application of elevated temperature in disease mitigation. We raised agile frog (Rana dalmatina) and common toad (Bufo bufo) tadpoles at 19 °C and exposed them to a simulated heat wave of 28 or 30 °C for six days during one of three ontogenetic periods (early, mid or late larval development). In agile frogs, exposure to 30 °C during early larval development increased mortality. Regardless of timing, all heat-treatments delayed metamorphosis, and exposure to 30 °C decreased body mass at metamorphosis. Furthermore, exposure to 30 °C during any period and to 28 °C late in development caused female-to-male sex reversal, skewing sex ratios strongly towards males. In common toads, high temperature only slightly decreased survival and did not influence phenotypic sex ratio, while it reduced metamorph mass and length of larval development. Juvenile body mass measured 2 months after metamorphosis was not adversely affected by temperature treatments in either species. Our results indicate that heat waves may have devastating effects on amphibian populations, and the severity of these negative consequences, and sensitivity can vary greatly between species and with the timing and intensity of heat. Finally, thermal treatments against cold-adapted pathogens have to be executed with caution, taking into account the thermo-sensitivity of the species and the life stage of animals to be treated.
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Affiliation(s)
- János Ujszegi
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Budapest, Hungary; Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Réka Bertalan
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Nikolett Ujhegyi
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Viktória Verebélyi
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Edina Nemesházi
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Budapest, Hungary; Department of Ecology, Institute for Biology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary; Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Zsanett Mikó
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Andrea Kásler
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Budapest, Hungary; Doctoral School of Biology, Institute of Biology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Dávid Herczeg
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Márk Szederkényi
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Nóra Vili
- Department of Ecology, Institute for Biology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zoltán Gál
- Animal Biotechnology Department, Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Science, Gödöllő, Hungary
| | - Orsolya I Hoffmann
- Animal Biotechnology Department, Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Science, Gödöllő, Hungary
| | - Veronika Bókony
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Budapest, Hungary; Department of Ecology, Institute for Biology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Attila Hettyey
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Budapest, Hungary; Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary; Department of Ecology, Institute for Biology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
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29
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Comparative host-pathogen associations of Snake Fungal Disease in sympatric species of water snakes (Nerodia). Sci Rep 2022; 12:12303. [PMID: 35853982 PMCID: PMC9295108 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-16664-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The ascomycete fungus Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola (Oo) is the causative agent of ophidiomycosis (Snake Fungal Disease), which has been detected globally. However, surveillance efforts in the central U.S., specifically Texas, have been minimal. The threatened and rare Brazos water snake (Nerodia harteri harteri) is one of the most range restricted snakes in the U.S. and is sympatric with two wide-ranging congeners, Nerodia erythrogaster transversa and Nerodia rhombifer, in north central Texas; thus, providing an opportunity to test comparative host-pathogen associations in this system. To accomplish this, we surveyed a portion of the Brazos river drainage (~ 400 river km) over 29 months and tested 150 Nerodia individuals for the presence of Oo via quantitative PCR and recorded any potential signs of Oo infection. We found Oo was distributed across the entire range of N. h. harteri, Oo prevalence was 46% overall, and there was a significant association between Oo occurrence and signs of infection in our sample. Models indicated adults had a higher probability of Oo infection than juveniles and subadults, and adult N. h. harteri had a higher probability of infection than adult N. rhombifer but not higher than adult N. e. transversa. High Oo prevalence estimates (94.4%) in adult N. h. harteri has implications for their conservation and management owing to their patchy distribution, comparatively low genetic diversity, and threats from anthropogenic habitat modification.
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Estrada A, Medina D, Gratwicke B, Ibáñez R, Belden LK. Body condition, skin bacterial communities and disease status: insights from the first release trial of the limosa harlequin frog,
Atelopus limosus. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20220586. [PMID: 35858072 PMCID: PMC9277274 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.0586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Many endangered amphibian species survive in captive breeding facilities, but there have been few attempts to reintroduce captive-born individuals to rebuild wild populations. We conducted a soft-release trial of limosa harlequin frogs,
Atelopus limosus,
which are highly susceptible to the amphibian chytrid fungus
Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis
(Bd), to understand changes associated with the transition from captivity to the wild. Specifically, we assessed changes in body condition, skin-associated bacterial communities and disease status after release. Frogs were housed individually in field mesocosms and monitored for 27 days. Body condition did not significantly change in the mesocosms, and was similar to, or higher than, that of wild conspecifics at day 27. The skin bacteria of captive-born frogs, based on 16S rRNA gene amplicons, became similar to that of wild conspecifics after 27 days in mesocosms. Prevalence of Bd in wild conspecifics was 13–27%, and 15% of the
A. limosus
in mesocosms became infected with Bd, but no mortality of infected frogs was observed. We conclude that mesocosms are suitable for systematically and repeatedly monitoring amphibians during release trials, and that body condition, the skin microbiome, and Bd status can all change within one month of placement of captive-born individuals back into the wild.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angie Estrada
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061-0131, USA
| | - Daniel Medina
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061-0131, USA
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City, Panama
- Sistema Nacional de Investigación, SENACYT, Panama
| | - Brian Gratwicke
- Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, VA 22630, USA
| | - Roberto Ibáñez
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City, Panama
- Sistema Nacional de Investigación, SENACYT, Panama
| | - Lisa K. Belden
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061-0131, USA
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City, Panama
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Cortazar-Chinarro M, Meurling S, Schroyens L, Siljestam M, Richter-Boix A, Laurila A, Höglund J. Major Histocompatibility Complex Variation and Haplotype Associated Survival in Response to Experimental Infection of Two Bd-GPL Strains Along a Latitudinal Gradient. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.915271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
While both innate and adaptive immune system mechanisms have been implicated in resistance against the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), studies on the role of specific MHC haplotypes on Bd infection are rare. Here, we studied variation in MHC Class IIB loci in the common toad Bufo bufo along a latitudinal gradient across Sweden. In general, Swedish toad populations had few MHC Class IIB haplotypes and MHC diversity declined from south (13 haplotypes) to the north (four haplotypes). The low diversity may compromise the ability of northern populations to fight emerging disease, such as Bd. In a laboratory experiment, we infected newly metamorphosed toads with two strains of the Global Pandemic Lineage of the fungus (Bd-GPL) and compared survival with sham controls. Bd-infected toads had lower survival compared to controls. Moreover, survival was dependent on the Bd-strain and northern toads had lower Bd-mediated survival than southern individuals. MHC diversity was lower in northern toads. All northern experimental animals were monomorphic for a single MHC haplotype, whereas we found seven different haplotypes in southern experimental animals. In southern toads, survival was dependent on both Bd-strain and MHC haplotype suggesting differential infection dynamics depending on both Bd-strain and host immune system characteristics.
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32
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Kásler A, Ujszegi J, Holly D, Jaloveczki B, Gál Z, Hettyey A. In vitro thermal tolerance of a hypervirulent lineage of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis: Growth arrestment by elevated temperature and recovery following thermal treatment. Mycologia 2022; 114:661-669. [PMID: 35666647 DOI: 10.1080/00275514.2022.2065443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Chytridiomycosis, an emerging infectious disease caused by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), poses a serious threat to amphibians. The thermal optimum of Bd is lower than that of most amphibians, providing an opportunity to cure infected individuals with elevated temperature. However, this approach presupposes detailed knowledge about the thermal tolerance of the fungus. To determine the temperature that may effectively reduce infection burdens in vivo, detailed in vitro studies are needed to characterize thermal tolerance of the fungus without complexities introduced by the species-specific characteristics of hosts' immune systems. The aim of our study was to evaluate the thermal tolerance of a hypervirulent isolate of Bd, considering the limits of its thermal tolerance and its capacity to rebound following heat treatment. We incubated Bd cell cultures at five different temperatures (21, 25.5, 27, 29, or 30.5 C) for one of six exposure durations (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 days) and subsequently counted the number of zoospores to assess the temperature dependence of Bd growth. We observed intensive Bd growth at 21 C. At 25.5 C, the number of zoospores also increased over time, but the curve plateaued at about half of the maximum values observed in the lower temperature treatment. At temperatures of 27 C and above, the fungus showed no measurable growth. However, when we moved the cultures back to 21 C after the elevated temperature treatments, we observed recovery of Bd growth in all cultures previously treated at 27 C. At 29 C, a treatment duration of 8 days was necessary to prevent recovery of Bd growth, and at 30.5 C a treatment duration of 5 days was needed to achieve the same result, revealing that these moderately elevated temperatures applied for only a few days have merely a fungistatic rather than a fungicidal effect under in vitro conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Kásler
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Centre for Agricultural Research, Plant Protection Institute, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Nagykovácsi str. 26-30., Budapest 1029, Hungary.,Doctoral School of Biology, Institute of Biology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest 1117, Hungary
| | - János Ujszegi
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Centre for Agricultural Research, Plant Protection Institute, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Nagykovácsi str. 26-30., Budapest 1029, Hungary.,Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest 1117, Hungary
| | - Dóra Holly
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Centre for Agricultural Research, Plant Protection Institute, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Nagykovácsi str. 26-30., Budapest 1029, Hungary.,Doctoral School of Biology, Institute of Biology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest 1117, Hungary
| | - Boglárka Jaloveczki
- Department of Zoology, Centre for Agricultural Research, Plant Protection Institute, Budapest 1029, Hungary
| | - Zoltán Gál
- Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology, Animal Biotechnology Department, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Gödöllő 2100, Hungary
| | - Attila Hettyey
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Centre for Agricultural Research, Plant Protection Institute, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Nagykovácsi str. 26-30., Budapest 1029, Hungary.,Department of Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest 1078, Hungary
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33
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Kásler A, Ujszegi J, Holly D, Üveges B, Móricz ÁM, Herczeg D, Hettyey A. Metamorphic common toads keep chytrid infection under control, but at a cost. J Zool (1987) 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- A. Kásler
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group Centre for Agricultural Research Plant Protection Institute Eötvös Loránd Research Network Budapest Hungary
- Doctoral School of Biology Institute of Biology ELTE Eötvös Loránd University Budapest Hungary
| | - J. Ujszegi
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group Centre for Agricultural Research Plant Protection Institute Eötvös Loránd Research Network Budapest Hungary
- Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology Institute of Biology ELTE Eötvös Loránd University Budapest Hungary
| | - D. Holly
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group Centre for Agricultural Research Plant Protection Institute Eötvös Loránd Research Network Budapest Hungary
- Doctoral School of Biology Institute of Biology ELTE Eötvös Loránd University Budapest Hungary
| | - B. Üveges
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group Centre for Agricultural Research Plant Protection Institute Eötvös Loránd Research Network Budapest Hungary
- Molecular Ecology and Evolution at Bangor School of Natural Sciences Bangor University Bangor UK
| | - Á. M. Móricz
- Department of Pathophysiology Centre for Agricultural Research Plant Protection Institute Eötvös Loránd Research Network Budapest Hungary
| | - D. Herczeg
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group Centre for Agricultural Research Plant Protection Institute Eötvös Loránd Research Network Budapest Hungary
| | - A. Hettyey
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group Centre for Agricultural Research Plant Protection Institute Eötvös Loránd Research Network Budapest Hungary
- Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology Institute of Biology ELTE Eötvös Loránd University Budapest Hungary
- Department of Ecology University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest Hungary
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34
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Carlson KB, Wcisel DJ, Ackerman HD, Romanet J, Christiansen EF, Niemuth JN, Williams C, Breen M, Stoskopf MK, Dornburg A, Yoder JA. Transcriptome annotation reveals minimal immunogenetic diversity among Wyoming toads, Anaxyrus baxteri. CONSERV GENET 2022; 23:669-681. [PMID: 37090205 PMCID: PMC10118071 DOI: 10.1007/s10592-022-01444-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Briefly considered extinct in the wild, the future of the Wyoming toad (Anaxyrus baxteri) continues to rely on captive breeding to supplement the wild population. Given its small natural geographic range and history of rapid population decline at least partly due to fungal disease, investigation of the diversity of key receptor families involved in the host immune response represents an important conservation need. Population decline may have reduced immunogenetic diversity sufficiently to increase the vulnerability of the species to infectious diseases. Here we use comparative transcriptomics to examine the diversity of toll-like receptors and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) sequences across three individual Wyoming toads. We find reduced diversity at MHC genes compared to bufonid species with a similar history of bottleneck events. Our data provide a foundation for future studies that seek to evaluate the genetic diversity of Wyoming toads, identify biomarkers for infectious disease outcomes, and guide breeding strategies to increase genomic variability and wild release successes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kara B. Carlson
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Dustin J. Wcisel
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Hayley D. Ackerman
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Jessica Romanet
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Emily F. Christiansen
- Environmental Medicine Consortium, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
- Department of Clinical Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
- North Carolina Aquariums, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Jennifer N. Niemuth
- Environmental Medicine Consortium, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Christina Williams
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Matthew Breen
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
- Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
- Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Michael K. Stoskopf
- Environmental Medicine Consortium, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
- Department of Clinical Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Alex Dornburg
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genomics, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC USA
| | - Jeffrey A. Yoder
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
- Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
- Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
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35
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Hughey MC, Rebollar EA, Harris RN, Ibáñez R, Loftus SC, House LL, Minbiole KPC, Bletz MC, Medina D, Shoemaker WR, Swartwout MC, Belden LK. An experimental test of disease resistance function in the skin-associated bacterial communities of three tropical amphibian species. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2022; 98:6536914. [PMID: 35212765 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiac023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Revised: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Variation in the structure of host-associated microbial communities has been correlated with the occurrence and severity of disease in diverse host taxa, suggesting a key role of the microbiome in pathogen defense. However, whether these correlations are typically a cause or consequence of pathogen exposure remains an open question, and requires experimental approaches to disentangle. In amphibians, infection by the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) alters the skin microbial community in some host species, whereas in other species, the skin microbial community appears to mediate infection dynamics. In this study, we completed experimental Bd exposures in three species of tropical frogs (Agalychnis callidryas, Dendropsophus ebraccatus, Craugastor fitzingeri) that were sympatric with Bd at the time of the study. For all three species, we identified key taxa within the skin bacterial communities that were linked to Bd infection dynamics. We also measured higher Bd infection intensities in D. ebraccatus and C. fitzingeri that were associated with higher mortality in C. fitzingeri. Our findings indicate that microbially-mediated pathogen resistance is a complex trait that can vary within and across host species, and suggest that symbiont communities that have experienced prior selection for defensive microbes may be less likely to be disturbed by pathogen exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myra C Hughey
- Biology Department; Vassar College; 124 Raymond Avenue; Poughkeepsie, NY 12604; USA
| | - Eria A Rebollar
- Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México
| | - Reid N Harris
- Department of Biology, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA, USA
| | - Roberto Ibáñez
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panamá, Republic of Panama. Sistema Nacional de Investigación, SENACYT, Panamá, Republic of Panama
| | | | | | | | - Molly C Bletz
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA
| | | | - William R Shoemaker
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - Lisa K Belden
- Department of Biological Sciences, VA Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
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36
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Bienentreu JF, Schock DM, Greer AL, Lesbarrères D. Ranavirus Amplification in Low-Diversity Amphibian Communities. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:755426. [PMID: 35224079 PMCID: PMC8863596 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.755426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In an era where emerging infectious diseases are a serious threat to biodiversity, epidemiological patterns need to be identified, particularly the complex mechanisms driving the dynamics of multi-host pathogens in natural communities. Many amphibian species have faced unprecedented population declines associated with diseases. Yet, specific processes shaping host-pathogen relationships within and among communities for amphibian pathogens such as ranaviruses (RV) remain poorly understood. To address this gap, we conducted a comprehensive study of RV in low-diversity amphibian communities in north-western Canada to assess the effects of biotic factors (species identity, species richness, abundance) and abiotic factors (conductivity, pH) on the pathogen prevalence and viral loads. Across 2 years and 18 sites, with communities of up to three hosts (wood frog, Rana sylvatica; boreal chorus frog, Pseudacris maculata; Canadian toad, Anaxyrus hemiophrys), we observed that RV prevalence nearly doubled with each additional species in a community, suggesting an amplification effect in aquatic, as well as terrestrial life-history stages. Infection intensity among infected wood frogs and boreal chorus frogs also significantly increased with an increase in species richness. Interestingly, we did not observe any effects of host abundance or abiotic factors, highlighting the importance of including host identity and species richness when investigating multi-host pathogens. Ultimately, only such a comprehensive approach can improve our understanding of complex and often highly context-dependent host-pathogen interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joe-Felix Bienentreu
- Department of Biology, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON, Canada
- *Correspondence: Joe-Felix Bienentreu
| | - Danna M. Schock
- Sciences and Environmental Technology, Keyano College, Fort McMurray, AB, Canada
| | - Amy L. Greer
- Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
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37
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Li Z, Wang Q, Sun K, Feng J. Prevalence of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in Amphibians From 2000 to 2021: A Global Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Front Vet Sci 2022; 8:791237. [PMID: 34977222 PMCID: PMC8718539 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.791237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Chytridiomycosis is an amphibian fungal disease caused by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), which has caused large-scale death and population declines on several continents around the world. To determine the current status of Bd infection in amphibians, we conducted a global meta-analysis. Using PubMed, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Wanfang database searches, we retrieved a total of 111 articles from 2000 to 2021. Based on these, we estimated the Bd prevalence to be 18.54% (95% CI: 13.76–20.52) in current extent amphibians. Among these populations, the prevalence of Bd in Asia was the lowest at 7.88% (95% CI: 1.92–8.71). Further, no Bd infection was found in Vietnam. However, the prevalence of Bd in Oceania was the highest at 36.34% (95% CI: 11.31–46.52). The Bd prevalence in Venezuela was as high as 49.77% (95% CI: 45.92–53.62). After 2009, the global Bd prevalence decreased to 18.91% (95% CI: 13.23–21.56). The prevalence of Bd in epizootic populations was significantly higher than enzootic populations. The highest prevalence of Bd was detected with real-time PCR at 20.11% (95% CI: 13.12–21.38). The prevalence of Bd in frogs was the highest at 20.04% (95% CI: 13.52–21.71), and this different host was statistically significant (P < 0.05). At the same time, we analyzed the geographic factors (longitude, latitude, elevation, rainfall and temperature) that impacted the fungal prevalence in amphibians. Our meta-analysis revealed that factors including region, disease dynamic, detection method, host and climate may be sources of the observed heterogeneity. These results indicate that chytridiomycosis was a consistent threat to amphibians from 2000 to 2021. Based on different habitat types and geographical conditions, we recommend formulating corresponding control plans and adopting reasonable and efficient biological or chemical methods to reduce the severity of such diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongle Li
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China.,College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
| | - Qi Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
| | - Keping Sun
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China.,Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology, Ministry of Education, Changchun, China
| | - Jiang Feng
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China.,College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
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38
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Haddad CF, Lopes CM, Becker CG, da Silva FR, Lyra ML. From genes to ecosystems: a synthesis of amphibian biodiversity research in Brazil. BIOTA NEOTROPICA 2022. [DOI: 10.1590/1676-0611-bn-2022-1375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Abstract Here, we summarize examples of significant advances in amphibian research supported by the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP), focusing on recent discoveries in the fields of community ecology, habitat change, infection diseases, and multipurpose DNA sequencing. We demonstrated that FAPESP has been fundamental not only by directly funding research projects and scholarships, but also through its science training policy, fostering international collaborations with world-class research institutions, improving and consolidating new lines of research that often depended on a synergetic combination of different knowledge and complex tools. We emphasized that future studies will continue to focus on basic questions, such as description of new species, as well as taxonomic and systematic corrections. Furthermore, we also expect that there will be a strong integration among different disciplines using novel bioinformatics tools and modeling approaches, such as machine learning. These new approaches will be critical to further develop our understanding of foundational questions of amphibian life-history trait variation, disease transmission, community assembly, biogeography, and population forecasts under different global change scenarios such as agricultural expansion, agrochemical use, habitat loss, and climate change.
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39
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Adams AJ, Peralta-García A, Flores-López CA, Valdez-Villavicencio JH, Briggs CJ. High fungal pathogen loads and prevalence in Baja California amphibian communities: The importance of species, elevation, and historical context. Glob Ecol Conserv 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
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40
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Lobos G, Rebolledo N, Charrier A, Correa C, Rabanal F, Vidal M. Natural History of the Mocha Island Ground Frog Eupsophus insularis, a Critically Endangered Species. SOUTH AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HERPETOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.2994/sajh-d-19-00102.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Lobos
- Centro de Gestión Ambiental y Biodiversidad, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile, Chile
| | | | - Andrés Charrier
- Center of Applied Ecology and Sustainability, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Chile
| | - Claudio Correa
- Departamento de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de Concepción, Chile
| | - Felipe Rabanal
- Instituto de Ciencias Ambientales y Evolutivas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Chile
| | - Marcela Vidal
- Departamento de Ciencias Básicas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad del Bío-Bío, Chillán, Chile
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41
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McGrath-Blaser S, Steffen M, Grafe TU, Torres-Sánchez M, McLeod DS, Muletz-Wolz CR. Early life skin microbial trajectory as a function of vertical and environmental transmission in Bornean foam-nesting frogs. Anim Microbiome 2021; 3:83. [PMID: 34930504 PMCID: PMC8686334 DOI: 10.1186/s42523-021-00147-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The amphibian skin microbiome is an important mediator of host health and serves as a potential source of undiscovered scientifically significant compounds. However, the underlying modalities of how amphibian hosts obtain their initial skin-associated microbiome remains unclear. Here, we explore microbial transmission patterns in foam-nest breeding tree frogs from Southeast Asia (Genus: Polypedates) whose specialized breeding strategy allows for better delineation between vertically and environmentally derived microbes. To facilitate this, we analyzed samples associated with adult frog pairs taken after mating-including adults of each sex, their foam nests, environments, and tadpoles before and after environmental interaction-for the bacterial communities using DNA metabarcoding data (16S rRNA). Samples were collected from frogs in-situ in Brunei, Borneo, a previously unsampled region for amphibian-related microbial diversity. RESULTS Adult frogs differed in skin bacterial communities among species, but tadpoles did not differ among species. Foam nests had varying bacterial community composition, most notably in the nests' moist interior. Nest interior bacterial communities were discrete for each nest and overall displayed a narrower diversity compared to the nest exteriors. Tadpoles sampled directly from the foam nest displayed a bacterial composition less like the nest interior and more similar to that of the adults and nest exterior. After one week of pond water interaction the tadpole skin microbiome shifted towards the tadpole skin and pond water microbial communities being more tightly coupled than between tadpoles and the internal nest environment, but not to the extent that the skin microbiome mirrored the pond bacterial community. CONCLUSIONS Both vertical influence and environmental interaction play a role in shaping the tadpole cutaneous microbiome. Interestingly, the interior of the foam nest had a distinct bacterial community from the tadpoles suggesting a limited environmental effect on tadpole cutaneous bacterial selection at initial stages of life. The shift in the tadpole microbiome after environmental interaction indicates an interplay between underlying host and ecological mechanisms that drive community formation. This survey serves as a baseline for further research into the ecology of microbial transmission in aquatic animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah McGrath-Blaser
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, 421 Carr Hall, Gainesville, FL 32611 USA
| | - Morgan Steffen
- Department of Biology, James Madison University, 951 Carrier Dr, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 USA
| | - T. Ulmar Grafe
- Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Tungku Link, Gadong, BE 1410 Brunei
| | - María Torres-Sánchez
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, 421 Carr Hall, Gainesville, FL 32611 USA
| | - David S. McLeod
- Department of Biology, James Madison University, 951 Carrier Dr, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 USA
- North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, 11 West Jones Street, Raleigh, NC 27601 USA
| | - Carly R. Muletz-Wolz
- Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Center for Conservation Genomics, 3001 Connecticut Ave., Washington, DC 20008 USA
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42
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Urgiles VL, Ramírez ER, Villalta CI, Siddons DC, Savage AE. Three Pathogens Impact Terrestrial Frogs from a High-Elevation Tropical Hotspot. ECOHEALTH 2021; 18:451-464. [PMID: 34894333 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-021-01570-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Revised: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Three infectious pathogens Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), Ranavirus (Rv) and Perkinsea (Pr) are associated with widespread and ongoing amphibian population declines. Although their geographic and host ranges vary widely, recent studies have suggested that the occurrence of these pathogens could be more common than previously thought, even in direct-developing terrestrial species traditionally considered less likely to harbor these largely aquatic pathogens. Here, we characterize Bd, Rv, and Pr infections in direct-developing terrestrial amphibians of the Pristimantis genus from the highland Ecuadorean Andes. We confirm the first detection of Pr in terrestrial-breeding amphibians and in the Andean region, present the first report of Rv in Ecuador, and we add to the handful of studies finding Bd infecting Pristimantis. Infection prevalence did not differ significantly among pathogens, but infection intensity was significantly higher for Bd compared to Pr. Neither prevalence nor intensity differed significantly across locality and elevation for Bd and Rv, although low prevalence in our dataset and lack of seasonal sampling could have prevented important epidemiological patterns from emerging. Our study highlights the importance of incorporating pathogen surveillance in biodiversity monitoring in the Andean region and serves as starting point to understand pathogen dynamics, transmission, and impacts in terrestrial-breeding frogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica L Urgiles
- Department of Biology, University of Central Florida, 4110 Libra Dr, Orlando, FL, 32816, USA.
- Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad del Ecuador, Pasaje Rumipamba 341 y Avenida de los Shirys, Quito, Ecuador.
| | - Ervin R Ramírez
- Escuela de Biología, Ecología y Gestión, Universidad del Azuay, Ave 24 de Mayo 7-77, Cuenca, Ecuador
| | - Cristian I Villalta
- Escuela de Biología, Ecología y Gestión, Universidad del Azuay, Ave 24 de Mayo 7-77, Cuenca, Ecuador
| | - David C Siddons
- Escuela de Biología, Ecología y Gestión, Universidad del Azuay, Ave 24 de Mayo 7-77, Cuenca, Ecuador
| | - Anna E Savage
- Department of Biology, University of Central Florida, 4110 Libra Dr, Orlando, FL, 32816, USA
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43
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García‐Rodríguez A, Basanta MD, García‐Castillo MG, Zumbado‐Ulate H, Neam K, Rovito S, Searle CL, Parra‐Olea G. Anticipating the potential impacts of
Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans
on Neotropical salamander diversity. Biotropica 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.13042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Adrián García‐Rodríguez
- Departamento de Zoología Instituto de Biología Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Ciudad de México México
- BioInvasions, Global Change, Macroecology‐Group Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research University of Vienna Vienna Austria
| | - M. Delia Basanta
- Departamento de Zoología Instituto de Biología Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Ciudad de México México
- Centro de Ciencias Genómicas Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Cuernavaca Morelos México
| | - Mirna G. García‐Castillo
- Universidad Politécnica de Huatusco Huatusco Veracruz México
- Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias Región: Orizaba–Córdoba Universidad Veracruzana Amatlán de los Reyes Veracruz México
| | | | - Kelsey Neam
- Global Wildlife Conservation Austin Texas USA
- Amphibian Specialist Group IUCN Species Survival Commission USA
| | - Sean Rovito
- Unidad de Genómica Avanzada (Langebio) CINVESTAV Irapuato México
| | - Catherine L. Searle
- Department of Biological Sciences Purdue University West Lafayette Indiana USA
| | - Gabriela Parra‐Olea
- Departamento de Zoología Instituto de Biología Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Ciudad de México México
- Amphibian Specialist Group IUCN Species Survival Commission USA
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44
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Bosch J, Thumsová B, López-Rojo N, Pérez J, Alonso A, Fisher MC, Boyero L. Microplastics increase susceptibility of amphibian larvae to the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. Sci Rep 2021; 11:22438. [PMID: 34789869 PMCID: PMC8599647 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-01973-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs), a new class of pollutants that pose a threat to aquatic biodiversity, are of increasing global concern. In tandem, the amphibian chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) causing the disease chytridiomycosis is emerging worldwide as a major stressor to amphibians. We here assess whether synergies exist between this infectious disease and MP pollution by mimicking natural contact of a highly susceptible species (midwife toads, Alytes obstetricans) with a Bd-infected reservoir species (fire salamanders, Salamandra salamandra) in the presence and absence of MPs. We found that MP ingestion increases the burden of infection by Bd in a dose-dependent manner. However, MPs accumulated to a greater extent in amphibians that were not exposed to Bd, likely due to Bd-damaged tadpole mouthparts interfering with MP ingestion. Our experimental approach showed compelling interactions between two emergent processes, chytridiomycosis and MP pollution, necessitating further research into potential synergies between these biotic and abiotic threats to amphibians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaime Bosch
- Biodiversity Research Institute, University of Oviedo-Principality of Asturias-CSIC, Mieres, Spain. .,Centro de Investigación, Seguimiento y Evaluación, Parque Nacional Sierra de Guadarrama, Rascafría, Spain. .,Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales-CSIC, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Barbora Thumsová
- Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales-CSIC, Madrid, Spain.,Asociación Herpetológica Española, Madrid, Spain
| | - Naiara López-Rojo
- Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Spain.,Laboratoire d'Ecologie Alpine (LECA), Université Grenoble Alpes, UMR CNRS-UGA-USMB, Grenoble, France
| | - Javier Pérez
- Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Spain
| | - Alberto Alonso
- Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Spain
| | - Matthew C Fisher
- MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial School of Public Health, London, UK
| | - Luz Boyero
- Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Spain.,IKERBASQUE, Bilbao, Spain
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Rais M, Ahmed W, Sajjad A, Akram A, Saeed M, Hamid HN, Abid A. Amphibian fauna of Pakistan with notes on future prospects of research and conservation. Zookeys 2021; 1062:157-175. [PMID: 34720620 PMCID: PMC8536617 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1062.66913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Research on amphibians and their conservation have gained worldwide attention, as the group includes the highest number of threatened and Data Deficient species when compared to other vertebrates. However, amphibians have long been neglected in wildlife conservation, management decisions, policy making, and research agendas in Pakistan. In this paper, an annotated checklist of the 21 amphibian species of Pakistan, a key to their identification, and detailed discussions on variation in species, including the genera Minervarya and Sphaerotheca, are provided. We found a statistically significant difference in the morphometric measurements of males but non-significant difference in the females of the two forms (rusty dorsum and dotted dorsum) of S.maskeyi. Some genera, such as Microhyla, Uperodon, Minervarya, Allopaa, Chrysopaa, Euphlyctis, Nanorana, and Sphaerotheca, in Pakistan are in need of additional data for molecular and morphological comparisons with taxa in other South Asian countries. The predicaments of amphibian research in Pakistan are discussed, gaps identified, and suggestions are made. Although the occurrence of chytrid fungus in Pakistan is predicted of low likelihood, a lack of data merits studying the prevalence of the fungus, particularly in the northern regions of the country which exhibit complex and dynamic ecosystems. It is recommended that systematic and coordinated surveys are conducted throughout the country to build a database of species occurrences and distributions. Additionally, the monitoring of wild populations and threat mitigation, as well as appropriate legislation, are suggested as long-term measures. By adopting an inclusive wildlife conservation approach in Pakistan, amphibians could be integrated into wildlife conservation and management efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Rais
- Herpetology Lab, Department of Wildlife Management, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Rawalpindi, 46300, PakistanPir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture UniversityRawalpindiPakistan
| | - Waseem Ahmed
- Herpetology Lab, Department of Wildlife Management, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Rawalpindi, 46300, PakistanPir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture UniversityRawalpindiPakistan
| | - Anum Sajjad
- Department of Environmental Sciences, International Islamic University, Islamabad, PakistanInternational Islamic UniversityIslamabadPakistan
| | - Ayesha Akram
- Herpetology Lab, Department of Wildlife Management, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Rawalpindi, 46300, PakistanPir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture UniversityRawalpindiPakistan
| | - Muhammad Saeed
- Herpetology Lab, Department of Wildlife Management, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Rawalpindi, 46300, PakistanPir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture UniversityRawalpindiPakistan
| | - Hannan Nasib Hamid
- Herpetology Lab, Department of Wildlife Management, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Rawalpindi, 46300, PakistanPir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture UniversityRawalpindiPakistan
| | - Aamina Abid
- Herpetology Lab, Department of Wildlife Management, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Rawalpindi, 46300, PakistanPir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture UniversityRawalpindiPakistan
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Names GR, Schultz EM, Hahn TP, Hunt KE, Angelier F, Ribout C, Klasing KC. Variation in immunity and health in response to introduced avian malaria in an endemic Hawaiian songbird. Anim Conserv 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- G. R. Names
- Animal Behavior Graduate Group University of California Davis Davis CA USA
- Department of Neurobiology Physiology and Behavior University of California Davis Davis CA USA
| | - E. M. Schultz
- Department of Biology Wittenberg University Springfield OH USA
| | - T. P. Hahn
- Department of Neurobiology Physiology and Behavior University of California Davis Davis CA USA
| | - K. E. Hunt
- Smithsonian‐Mason School of Conservation & Department of Biology George Mason University Front Royal VA USA
| | - F. Angelier
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, CNRS‐La Rochelle Université, UMR7372 Villiers en Bois France
| | - C. Ribout
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, CNRS‐La Rochelle Université, UMR7372 Villiers en Bois France
| | - K. C. Klasing
- Department of Animal Science University of California Davis Davis CA USA
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Vadeboncoeur Y, Moore MV, Stewart SD, Chandra S, Atkins KS, Baron JS, Bouma-Gregson K, Brothers S, Francoeur SN, Genzoli L, Higgins SN, Hilt S, Katona LR, Kelly D, Oleksy IA, Ozersky T, Power ME, Roberts D, Smits AP, Timoshkin O, Tromboni F, Zanden MJV, Volkova EA, Waters S, Wood SA, Yamamuro M. Blue Waters, Green Bottoms: Benthic Filamentous Algal Blooms Are an Emerging Threat to Clear Lakes Worldwide. Bioscience 2021; 71:1011-1027. [PMID: 34616235 PMCID: PMC8490932 DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biab049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Nearshore (littoral) habitats of clear lakes with high water quality are increasingly experiencing unexplained proliferations of filamentous algae that grow on submerged surfaces. These filamentous algal blooms (FABs) are sometimes associated with nutrient pollution in groundwater, but complex changes in climate, nutrient transport, lake hydrodynamics, and food web structure may also facilitate this emerging threat to clear lakes. A coordinated effort among members of the public, managers, and scientists is needed to document the occurrence of FABs, to standardize methods for measuring their severity, to adapt existing data collection networks to include nearshore habitats, and to mitigate and reverse this profound structural change in lake ecosystems. Current models of lake eutrophication do not explain this littoral greening. However, a cohesive response to it is essential for protecting some of the world's most valued lakes and the flora, fauna, and ecosystem services they sustain.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Sudeep Chandra
- Biology Department and the Global Water Center, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada, United States
| | - Karen S Atkins
- University of California, Davis, Davis, California, United States
| | - Jill S Baron
- US Geological Survey, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States
| | - Keith Bouma-Gregson
- California State Water Resources Control Board, Sacramento, California, United States
| | | | | | - Laurel Genzoli
- Flathead Lake Biological Station and the University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, United States
| | - Scott N Higgins
- International Institute for Sustainable Development, Experimental Lakes Area, with its head office in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Sabine Hilt
- Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Berlin, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Ted Ozersky
- Large Lakes Observatory, University of Minnesota, Duluth, Minnesota, United States
| | - Mary E Power
- University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States
| | - Derek Roberts
- San Francisco Estuary Institute, Richmond, California, United States
| | - Adrianne P Smits
- University of California, Davis, Davis, California, United States
| | - Oleg Timoshkin
- Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Limnological Institute, Irkutsk, Russian Federation
| | - Flavia Tromboni
- Biology Department and the Global Water Center, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada, United States
| | - M Jake Vander Zanden
- Center for Limnology, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States
| | - Ekaterina A Volkova
- Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Limnological Institute, Irkutsk, Russian Federation
| | | | | | - Masumi Yamamuro
- Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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Button S, Borzée A. An integrative synthesis to global amphibian conservation priorities. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2021; 27:4516-4529. [PMID: 34091973 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Revised: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Human activities are driving many species to the brink of extinction, and the current distribution of protected areas only weakly alleviates pressure on threatened species. This discrepancy reflects the presence of protected areas on lands available instead of the ecological, evolutionary, or conservation values of species present. Habitat loss consequently continues to impact threatened species, as illustrated by geographic patterns of biodiversity loss for amphibians. Given the need to better align the boundaries of protected areas with at-risk biodiversity, we assessed the importance of various factors for identifying global and biome-level conservation priority areas, specifically for amphibians. We identified, mapped, and ranked areas of critical conservation importance for all amphibian species on earth using a new integrative tool that scores the urgency of conserving each species and location based on a combination of species characteristics and ecoregion-level human impacts. Our integrative approach is novel in that it accounts for likely threats to Data Deficient species, considers the irreplaceability of unique species that are phylogenetically isolated, and addresses the localized conservation implications of species endemicity and projected future human impacts to an ecoregion. For comparison, we also mapped and ranked amphibian biodiversity using species richness and an Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered (EDGE) score proxy. Our integrative approach predicted key regions for amphibian conservation that were not apparent when using a simple species richness or EDGE score proxy-based approach. Furthermore, by scaling conservation priority scores relative to biome, we identified several temperate and xeric regions of crucial yet overlooked conservation importance for amphibians. Until global amphibian diversity is thoroughly catalogued, we recommend using our integrative scoring approach to set geographic priorities for amphibian habitat protection, while acknowledging that this approach may be complemented by others (e.g., EDGE scores). Our study provides an avenue for avoiding common pitfalls of more simplistic species richness-based approaches for conservation planning, and can be used to improve the future design of protected areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sky Button
- Department of Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Vancouver, WA, USA
| | - Amaël Borzée
- Laboratory of Animal Behaviour and Conservation, College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
- IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Deknock A, Pasmans F, van Leeuwenberg R, Van Praet S, Bruneel S, Lens L, Croubels S, Martel A, Goethals P. Alternative food sources interfere with removal of a fungal amphibian pathogen by zooplankton. J Appl Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.14018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Arne Deknock
- Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology Faculty of Bioscience Engineering Ghent University Ghent Belgium
| | - Frank Pasmans
- Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Poultry Diseases Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Ghent University Merelbeke Belgium
| | - Robby van Leeuwenberg
- Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Poultry Diseases Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Ghent University Merelbeke Belgium
| | - Sarah Van Praet
- Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Poultry Diseases Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Ghent University Merelbeke Belgium
| | - Stijn Bruneel
- Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology Faculty of Bioscience Engineering Ghent University Ghent Belgium
| | - Luc Lens
- Department of Biology Faculty of Sciences Ghent University Ghent Belgium
| | - Siska Croubels
- Department of Pharmacology Toxicology and Biochemistry Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Ghent University Merelbeke Belgium
| | - An Martel
- Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Poultry Diseases Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Ghent University Merelbeke Belgium
| | - Peter Goethals
- Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology Faculty of Bioscience Engineering Ghent University Ghent Belgium
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Mussel Mass Mortality and the Microbiome: Evidence for Shifts in the Bacterial Microbiome of a Declining Freshwater Bivalve. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9091976. [PMID: 34576872 PMCID: PMC8471132 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9091976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Revised: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Freshwater mussels (Unionida) are suffering mass mortality events worldwide, but the causes remain enigmatic. Here, we describe an analysis of bacterial loads, community structure, and inferred metabolic pathways in the hemolymph of pheasantshells (Actinonaias pectorosa) from the Clinch River, USA, during a multi-year mass mortality event. Bacterial loads were approximately 2 logs higher in moribund mussels (cases) than in apparently healthy mussels (controls). Bacterial communities also differed between cases and controls, with fewer sequence variants (SVs) and higher relative abundances of the proteobacteria Yokenella regensburgei and Aeromonas salmonicida in cases than in controls. Inferred bacterial metabolic pathways demonstrated a predominance of degradation, utilization, and assimilation pathways in cases and a predominance of biosynthesis pathways in controls. Only two SVs correlated with Clinch densovirus 1, a virus previously shown to be strongly associated with mortality in this system: Deinococcota and Actinobacteriota, which were associated with densovirus-positive and densovirus-negative mussels, respectively. Overall, our results suggest that bacterial invasion and shifts in the bacterial microbiome during unionid mass mortality events may result from primary insults such as viral infection or environmental stressors. If so, bacterial communities in mussel hemolymph may be sensitive, if generalized, indicators of declining mussel health.
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