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Ash LV, Campião KM, Teixeira CP, Gotelli NJ. Ranavirus and helminth parasite co-infection in invasive American bullfrogs in the Atlantic forest, Brazil. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2024; 23:100924. [PMID: 38586581 PMCID: PMC10997893 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.100924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 03/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Emerging infectious diseases threaten amphibian species across the globe. In Brazil, the American bullfrog (Aquarana catesbeiana) is a highly invasive species that can potentially transmit parasites and pathogens to native amphibians. This is the first assessment of co-infection of Ranavirus and helminth macroparasites in invasive populations of bullfrogs in South America. We collected, measured, and euthanized 65 specimens of A. catesbeiana sampled from 9 sites across three states of Brazil in the Atlantic Forest biome. We collected and identified helminth macroparasites and sampled host liver tissue to test for the presence and load of Ranavirus with quantitative PCR. We documented patterns of prevalence, parasite load, and co-infection with generalized linear mixed models, generalized logistic regressions, and randomization tests. Most individual bullfrogs did not exhibit clinical signs of infection, but the overall Ranavirus prevalence was 27% (95% confidence interval, [CI 17-38]). Bullfrogs were infected with helminth macroparasites from 5 taxa. Co-infection of helminth macroparasites and Ranavirus was also common (21% CI [12-31]). Bullfrog size was positively correlated with total macroparasite abundance and richness, and the best-fitting model included a significant interaction between bullfrog size and Ranavirus infection status. We observed a negative correlation between Ranavirus viral load and nematode abundance (slope = -0.22, P = 0.03). Invasive bullfrogs (A. catesbeiana) in Brazil were frequently infected with both Ranavirus and helminth macroparasites, so adult bullfrogs could serve as reservoir hosts for both pathogens and parasites. However, many macroparasites collected were encysted and not developing. Coinfection patterns suggest a potential interaction between Ranavirus and macroparasites because helminth abundance increased with bullfrog size but was lower in Ranavirus infected individuals. Future studies of bullfrogs in the Atlantic Forest should investigate their potential role in pathogen and parasite transmission to native anurans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren V. Ash
- University of Vermont, Department of Biology, 109 Carrigan Drive, Burlington, VT, 05403, USA
| | - Karla Magalhães Campião
- Laboratório de Interações Biológicas, Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, UFPR, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Cauê Pinheiro Teixeira
- Laboratório de Interações Biológicas, Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, UFPR, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Nicholas J. Gotelli
- University of Vermont, Department of Biology, 109 Carrigan Drive, Burlington, VT, 05403, USA
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Du Y, Wang X, Ashraf S, Tu W, Xi Y, Cui R, Chen S, Yu J, Han L, Gu S, Qu Y, Liu X. Climate match is key to predict range expansion of the world's worst invasive terrestrial vertebrates. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2024; 30:e17137. [PMID: 38273500 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.17137] [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: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Understanding the determinants of the range expansion of invasive alien species is crucial for developing effective prevention and control strategies. Nevertheless, we still lack a global picture of the potential factors influencing the invaded range expansion across taxonomic groups, especially for the world's worst invaders with high ecological and economic impacts. Here, by extensively collecting data on 363 distributional ranges of 19 of world's worst invasive terrestrial vertebrates across 135 invaded administrative jurisdictions, we observed remarkable variations in the range expansion across species and taxonomic groups. After controlling for taxonomic and geographic pseudoreplicates, model averaging analyses based on generalized additive mixed-effect models showed that species in invaded regions having climates more similar to those of their native ranges tended to undergo a larger range expansion. In addition, as proxies of propagule pressure and human-assisted transportation, the number of introduction events and the road network density were also important predictors facilitating the range expansion. Further variance partitioning analyses validated the predominant role of climate match in explaining the range expansion. Our study demonstrated that regions with similar climates to their native ranges could still be prioritized to prevent the spread of invasive species under the sustained global change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanbao Du
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xuyu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, China
- Institute of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
| | - Sadia Ashraf
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Weishan Tu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
| | - Yonghong Xi
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ruina Cui
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shengnan Chen
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Jiajie Yu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lixia Han
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Horticulture and Forestry Sciences, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Shimin Gu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yanhua Qu
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xuan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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Andersen D, Jang Y, Borzée A. Influence of landscape and connectivity on anuran conservation: population viability analyses to designate protected areas. Anim Conserv 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- D. Andersen
- Department of Life Science and Division of EcoScience Ewha Womans University Seoul Republic of Korea
| | - Y. Jang
- Department of Life Science and Division of EcoScience Ewha Womans University Seoul Republic of Korea
- Interdisciplinary Program of EcoCreative Ewha Womans University Seoul Republic of Korea
| | - A. Borzée
- Laboratory of Animal Behaviour and Conservation, College of Biology and the Environment Nanjing Forestry University Nanjing Jiangsu People's Republic of China
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Risk assessment for the native anurans from an alien invasive species, American bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeianus), in South Korea. Sci Rep 2022; 12:13143. [PMID: 35908048 PMCID: PMC9338931 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-17226-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The invasive species are of global concern, and the Invasive American Bullfrog (IAB; Lithobates catesbeianus) is one of the worst invasive amphibian species worldwide. Like other countries, South Korea is also facing challenges from IAB. Although many studies indicated impacts of IAB on native anurans in Korea, the actual risk at the specific level is yet to evaluate. Considering the putative invasiveness of IAB, it is hypothesized that any species with the possibility of physical contact or habitat sharing with them, will have a potential risk. Thus, we estimated and observed their home range, preferred habitats, morphology, behavior, and ecology. Then, comparing with existing knowledge, we assessed risks to the native anurans. We found a home range of 3474.2 ± 5872.5 m2 and identified three types of habitats for IAB. The analyses showed at least 84% of native anurans (frogs and toads) were at moderate to extreme risks, which included all frogs but only 33% of toads. Finally, we recommended immediate actions to conserve the native anurans based on our results. As this study is the first initiative to assess the specific risk level from the invasiveness of L. catesbeianus, it will help the managers to set conservation priorities and strategies.
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Andersen D, Maslova I, Purevdorj Z, Li JT, Messenger KR, Ren JL, Jang Y, Borzée A. East palearctic treefrog past and present habitat suitability using ecological niche models. PeerJ 2022; 10:e12999. [PMID: 35261821 PMCID: PMC8898549 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Ecological niche modeling is a tool used to determine current potential species' distribution or habitat suitability models which can then be used to project suitable areas in time. Projections of suitability into past climates can identify locations of climate refugia, or areas with high climatic stability likely to contain the highest levels of genetic diversity and stable populations when climatic conditions are less suitable in other parts of the range. Modeling habitat suitability for closely related species in recent past can also reveal potential periods and regions of contact and possible admixture. In the east palearctic, there are five Dryophytes (Hylid treefrog) clades belonging to two groups: Dryophytes japonicus group: Clades A and B; and Dryophytes immaculatus group: Dryophytes immaculatus, Dryophytes flaviventris, and Dryophytes suweonensis. We used maximum entropy modeling to determine the suitable ranges of these five clades during the present and projected to the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) and Last Interglacial (LIG) periods. We also calculated climatic stability for each clade to identify possible areas of climate refugia. Our models indicated suitable range expansion during the LGM for four clades with the exclusion of D. immaculatus. High climatic stability in our models corresponded to areas with the highest numbers of recorded occurrences in the present. The models produced here can additionally serve as baselines for models of suitability under climate change scenarios and indicate species ecological requirements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Desiree Andersen
- Department of Life Science and Division of EcoScience, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Irina Maslova
- Federal Scientific Center of the East Asia Terrestrial Biodiversity Far Eastern Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostock, Russian Federation
| | - Zoljargal Purevdorj
- Department of Biology, Scholl of Mathematic and Natural Science, Mongolian State University of Education, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia,Department of Forest and Environmental Resources, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jia-Tang Li
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China
| | | | - Jin-Long Ren
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yikweon Jang
- Department of Life Science and Division of EcoScience, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea,Interdisciplinary Program of EcoCreative, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Amaël Borzée
- Laboratory of Animal Behaviour and Conservation, College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China
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Borzée A, Litvinchuk SN, Ri K, Andersen D, Nam TY, Jon GH, Man HS, Choe JS, Kwon S, Othman SN, Messenger K, Bae Y, Shin Y, Kim A, Maslova I, Luedtke J, Hobin L, Moores N, Seliger B, Glenk F, Jang Y. Update on Distribution and Conservation Status of Amphibians in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea: Conclusions Based on Field Surveys, Environmental Modelling, Molecular Analyses and Call Properties. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:2057. [PMID: 34359183 PMCID: PMC8300379 DOI: 10.3390/ani11072057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Determining the range, status, ecology and behaviour of species from areas where surveys and samplings are uncommon or difficult to conduct is a challenge, such as in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPR Korea). Here, we used genetic samples, field surveys, call recordings, photographic identification and a literature review to estimate the presence, range and status of amphibians in the DPR Korea. From our combined results and based on the IUCN Red List categories and criteria, we were able to estimate the national threat levels for most species. Our results demonstrated the presence of 18 native species and the suspected presence of Karsenia koreana and two Onychodactylus species. We reported the first record for Rana uenoi in the vicinity of Pyongyang using molecular tools and similarly confirmed the presence of Dryophytes japonicus at the same location. Based on distribution and modelling, we can expect the contact zone between species within the Rana and Onychodactylus genera to be located along the Changbai Massif, a mountain range that marks a shift in ecoregions and acts as a barrier to dispersion. The species richness was higher in the lowlands and at lower latitudes, with such areas populated by up to 11 species, while more northern regions were characterised by species richness of about half of that value. The combination of ecological models and known threats resulted in the recommendation of ten species as threatened at the national level following the IUCN Red List categories and criteria. This high number of threatened species was anticipated based on the high threat level to amphibians in bordering nations and globally. While the ecology of species in the DPR Korea is still understudied, we argue that species relying on agricultural wetlands such as rice paddies are not under imminent threat due to the enduring presence of extensive agricultural landscapes with low rates of chemical use and mechanisation. The maintenance of such landscapes is a clear benefit to amphibian species, in contrast to more industrialised agricultural landscapes in neighbouring nations. In comparison, the status of species dependent on forested habitats is unclear and threat levels are likely to be higher because of deforestation, as in neighbouring nations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amaël Borzée
- Laboratory of Animal Behaviour and Conservation, College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, 159 Longpan Rd, Nanjing 210037, China; (Y.B.); (Y.S.)
- Amphibian Specialist Group, IUCN Species Survival Commission, Toronto, ON L5A, Canada; (J.L.); (L.H.)
| | - Spartak N. Litvinchuk
- Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Tikhoretsky pr. 4, 194064 St. Petersburg, Russia;
- Department of Zoology and Physiology, Dagestan State University, Gadzhiyev str. 43-a, Makhachkala, 3367000 Dagestan, Russia
| | - Kyongsim Ri
- Department of International Economic Cooperation, Ministry of Land and Environment Protection, Pyongyang, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
| | - Desiree Andersen
- Interdisciplinary Program of Eco Creative, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Korea; (D.A.); (S.K.); (S.N.O.); (A.K.)
| | - Tu Yong Nam
- Institute of Zoology, State Academy of Science, Daesong-dong, Daesong District, Pyongyang, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
| | - Gwang Hyok Jon
- Department of Ecology, State Academy of Science, Daesong-dong, Daesong District, Pyongyang, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
| | - Ho Song Man
- Department of Ecology, Life Science College, Kim Il Sung University, Ryongnam-dong, Daesong-dong, Daesong District, Pyongyang, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
| | - Jong Sik Choe
- Department of Ecology, Life Science College, Kim Il Sung University, Ryongnam-dong, Daesong-dong, Daesong District, Pyongyang, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
| | - Sera Kwon
- Interdisciplinary Program of Eco Creative, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Korea; (D.A.); (S.K.); (S.N.O.); (A.K.)
| | - Siti N. Othman
- Interdisciplinary Program of Eco Creative, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Korea; (D.A.); (S.K.); (S.N.O.); (A.K.)
| | - Kevin Messenger
- Herpetology and Applied Conservation Lab, College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, 159 Longpan Rd, Nanjing 210037, China;
| | - Yoonhyuk Bae
- Laboratory of Animal Behaviour and Conservation, College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, 159 Longpan Rd, Nanjing 210037, China; (Y.B.); (Y.S.)
- Interdisciplinary Program of Eco Creative, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Korea; (D.A.); (S.K.); (S.N.O.); (A.K.)
| | - Yucheol Shin
- Laboratory of Animal Behaviour and Conservation, College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, 159 Longpan Rd, Nanjing 210037, China; (Y.B.); (Y.S.)
| | - Ajoung Kim
- Interdisciplinary Program of Eco Creative, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Korea; (D.A.); (S.K.); (S.N.O.); (A.K.)
| | - Irina Maslova
- Federal Scientific Center of the East Asia Terrestrial Biodiversity, Far Eastern Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, 690022 Vladivostok, Russia;
| | - Jennifer Luedtke
- Amphibian Specialist Group, IUCN Species Survival Commission, Toronto, ON L5A, Canada; (J.L.); (L.H.)
- Re:wild, Austin, TX 78746, USA
| | - Louise Hobin
- Amphibian Specialist Group, IUCN Species Survival Commission, Toronto, ON L5A, Canada; (J.L.); (L.H.)
| | - Nial Moores
- Birds Korea, 101-1902, Hyundai I Park, Busan 48559, Korea;
| | | | - Felix Glenk
- Hanns Seidel Foundation, Seoul 04419, Korea; (B.S.); (F.G.)
| | - Yikweon Jang
- Department of Life Sciences and Division of EcoScience, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Korea;
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Borzée A, Kielgast J, Wren S, Angulo A, Chen S, Magellan K, Messenger KR, Hansen-Hendrikx CM, Baker A, Santos MMD, Kusrini M, Jiang J, Maslova IV, Das I, Park D, Bickford D, Murphy RW, Che J, Van Do T, Nguyen TQ, Chuang MF, Bishop PJ. Using the 2020 global pandemic as a springboard to highlight the need for amphibian conservation in eastern Asia. BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION 2021; 255:108973. [PMID: 35125500 PMCID: PMC8798316 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2021.108973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Revised: 12/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Emerging infectious diseases are on the rise in many different taxa, including, among others, the amphibian batrachochytrids, the snake fungal disease and the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus, responsible for Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in mammals. Following the onset of the pandemic linked to COVID-19, eastern Asia has shown strong leadership, taking actions to regulate the trade of potential vector species in several regions. These actions were taken in response to an increase in public awareness, and the need for a quick reaction to mitigate against further pandemics. However, trade restrictions rarely affect amphibians, despite the risk of pathogen transmission, directly, or indirectly through habitat destruction and the loss of vector consumption. Thus, species that help alleviate the risk of zoonoses or provide biological control are not protected. Hence, in view of the global amphibian decline and the risk of zoonoses, we support the current wildlife trade regulations and support measures to safeguard wildlife from overexploitation. The current period of regulation overhaul should be used as a springboard for amphibian conservation. To mitigate risks, we suggest the following stipulations specifically for amphibians. I) Restrictions to amphibian farming in eastern Asia, in relation to pathogen transmission and the establishment of invasive species. II) Regulation of the amphibian pet trade, with a focus on potential vector species. III) Expansion of the wildlife trade ban, to limit the wildlife-human-pet interface. The resulting actions will benefit both human and wildlife populations, as they will lead to a decrease in the risk of zoonoses and better protection of the environment. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT There is an increasing number of emerging infectious diseases impacting all species, including amphibians, reptiles and mammals. The latest threat to humans is the virus responsible for COVID-19, and the resulting pandemic. Countries in eastern Asia have taken steps to regulate wildlife trade and prevent further zoonoses thereby decreasing the risk of pathogens arising from wild species. However, as amphibians are generally excluded from regulations we support specific trade restrictions: I) Restrictions to amphibian farming; II) regulation of the amphibian pet trade; III) expansion of the wildlife trade ban. These restrictions will benefit both human and wildlife populations by decreasing the risks of zoonoses and better protecting the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- 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, 3701 Lake Shore Blvd W, P.O. Box 48586, Toronto, Ontario M8W 1P5, Canada
| | - Jos Kielgast
- IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group, 3701 Lake Shore Blvd W, P.O. Box 48586, Toronto, Ontario M8W 1P5, Canada
- Section for Freshwater Biology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 4, DK-2100, Denmark
- Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, Natural History Museum of Denmark, Universitetsparken, 15, DK-2100, Denmark
| | - Sally Wren
- IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group, 3701 Lake Shore Blvd W, P.O. Box 48586, Toronto, Ontario M8W 1P5, Canada
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, 340 Great King Street, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
| | - Ariadne Angulo
- IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group, 3701 Lake Shore Blvd W, P.O. Box 48586, Toronto, Ontario M8W 1P5, Canada
| | - Shu Chen
- Zoological Society of London, London NW1 4RY, United Kingdom
| | | | - Kevin R Messenger
- Herpetology and Applied Conservation Laboratory, College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | | | - Anne Baker
- Amphibian Ark, Conservation Planning Specialist Group, Apple Valley, USA
| | - Marcileida M Dos Santos
- IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group, 3701 Lake Shore Blvd W, P.O. Box 48586, Toronto, Ontario M8W 1P5, Canada
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, 340 Great King Street, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
| | - Mirza Kusrini
- Department of Forest Resources Conservation and Ecotourism, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia
| | - Jianping Jiang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Irina V Maslova
- Federal Scientific Center of the East Asia Terrestrial Biodiversity Far Eastern Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok 690022, Russia
| | - Indraneil Das
- Institute of Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kota Samarahan 94300, Malaysia
| | - Daesik Park
- Division of Science Education, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Kangwon 24341, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Robert W Murphy
- Centre for Biodiversity, Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Canada
| | - Jing Che
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, People's Republic of China
- Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, People's Republic of China
| | - Tu Van Do
- Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Viet Nam
- Graduate University of Science and Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Viet Nam
| | - Truong Quang Nguyen
- Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Viet Nam
- Graduate University of Science and Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Viet Nam
| | - Ming-Feng Chuang
- Department of Life Sciences and Research Center for Global Change Biology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Phillip J Bishop
- IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group, 3701 Lake Shore Blvd W, P.O. Box 48586, Toronto, Ontario M8W 1P5, Canada
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, 340 Great King Street, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
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Borzée A, Min MS. Disentangling the Impacts of Speciation, Sympatry and the Island Effect on the Morphology of Seven Hynobius sp. Salamanders. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:187. [PMID: 33466897 PMCID: PMC7830202 DOI: 10.3390/ani11010187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Closely related individuals from different areas can see their morphologies change based on differences between clades, but also ecological variables such as the island effect or sympatry. This is the case of salamanders, which have adapted to a broad range of ecological niches, ranging from underground dwellers in xeric landscape to tropical arboreal habitats. On the Korean Peninsula, salamanders from the Hynobius clade are widespread on the mainland and islands, with several partially sympatric clades and candidate species. Currently, seven lineages have been identified based on mtDNA, four of them matching named species and three others for which the species status remains untested. While the morphology of Korean Hynobius is known to be variable between genetically segregated clades, we hypothesise that (1) the candidate species are morphologically different, and that (2) the island effect and (3) the sympatric status have significant impacts on the morphology of individuals within the genus. Here we measured 329 Hynobius salamanders from all seven clades, in areas of sympatry and allopatry, and on islands and on the mainland (Graphical Abstract A). We determined that the island effect had a significant impact on the morphology of the genus, with mainland individuals generally displaying a broader range of morphology than islandic individuals (Graphical Abstract B). We also determined that sympatry had an impact on morphology, with the sizes of individuals from clades in sympatric areas diverging from each other (Graphical Abstract C). Finally, we demonstrated that all seven clades have significantly different morphologies, and we described the three candidate species that had already been isolated based on mtDNA and microsatellite data: Hynobius notialis sp. nov., Hynobius geojeensis sp. nov. and Hynobius perplicatus sp. nov. We conclude that looking at morphology alone would be misleading about the true diversity of Hynobius species, and species in general, because of the island and patry effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amaël Borzée
- Laboratory of Animal Behaviour and Conservation, College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, Jiangsu, China
| | - Mi-Sook Min
- Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
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9
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Recommendations for IUCN Red List Conservation Status of the “Dryophytes immaculatus Group” in North East Asia. DIVERSITY 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/d12090336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Threat assessment is important to prioritize species conservation projects and planning. The taxonomic resolution regarding the status of the “Dryophytes immaculatus group” and the description of a new species in the Republic of Korea resulted in a shift in ranges and population sizes. Thus, reviewing the IUCN Red List status of the three species from the group: D. immaculatus, D. suweonensis and D. flaviventris and recommending an update is needed. While the three species have similar ecological requirements and are distributed around the Yellow Sea, they are under contrasting anthropological pressure and threats. Here, based on the literature available, I have applied all IUCN Red List criterion and tested the fit of each species in each criteria to recommend listing under the appropriate threat level. This resulted in the recommendation of the following categories: Near Threatened for D. immaculatus, Endangered following the criteria C2a(i)b for D. suweonensis and Critically Endangered following the criteria E for D. flaviventris. All three species are declining, mostly because of landscape changes as a result of human activities, but the differences in range, population dynamics and already extirpated subpopulations result in different threat levels for each species. Dryophytes flaviventris is under the highest threat category mostly because of its limited range segregated into two subpopulations; and several known extirpated subpopulations. Immediate actions for the conservation of this species are required. Dryophytes suweonensis is present in both the Republic of Korea and the Democratic Republic of Korea (DPR Korea) and is under lower ecological pressure in DPR Korea. Dryophytes immaculatus is present in the People’s Republic of China, over a very large range despite a marked decline. I recommend joint efforts for the conservation of these species.
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Borzée A, Messenger KR, Chae S, Andersen D, Groffen J, Kim YI, An J, Othman SN, Ri K, Nam TY, Bae Y, Ren JL, Li JT, Chuang MF, Yi Y, Shin Y, Kwon T, Jang Y, Min MS. Yellow sea mediated segregation between North East Asian Dryophytes species. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0234299. [PMID: 32579561 PMCID: PMC7314424 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0234299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2019] [Accepted: 05/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
While comparatively few amphibian species have been described on the North East Asian mainland in the last decades, several species have been the subject of taxonomical debates in relation to the Yellow sea. Here, we sampled Dryophytes sp. treefrogs from the Republic of Korea, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the People's Republic of China to clarify the status of this clade around the Yellow sea and determine the impact of sea level change on treefrogs' phylogenetic relationships. Based on genetics, call properties, adult morphology, tadpole morphology and niche modelling, we determined the segregated status species of D. suweonensis and D. immaculatus. We then proceeded to describe a new treefrog species, D. flaviventris sp. nov., from the central lowlands of the Republic of Korea. The new species is geographically segregated from D. suweonensis by the Chilgap mountain range and known to occur only in the area of Buyeo, Nonsan and Iksan in the Republic of Korea. While the Yellow sea is the principal element to the current isolation of the three clades, the paleorivers of the Yellow sea basin are likely to have been the major factor for the divergences within this clade. We recommend conducting rapid conservation assessments as these species are present on very narrow and declining ranges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amaël Borzée
- College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Kevin R. Messenger
- College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shinhyeok Chae
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Desiree Andersen
- Department of Life Science and Division of EcoScience, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jordy Groffen
- Department of Life Science and Division of EcoScience, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Ye Inn Kim
- Department of Life Science and Division of EcoScience, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Junghwa An
- National Institute for Biological Resources, Animal Resources Division, Incheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Siti N. Othman
- Department of Life Science and Division of EcoScience, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyongsin Ri
- Department of International Economic Cooperation, Ministry of Land and Environment Protection, Pyongyang, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
| | - Tu Yong Nam
- Institute of Zoology, State Academy of Science, Daesong-dong, Daesong District, Pyongyang, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
| | - Yoonhyuk Bae
- Department of Life Science and Division of EcoScience, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin-Long Ren
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jia-Tang Li
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ming-Feng Chuang
- Department of Life Science and Division of EcoScience, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yoonjung Yi
- Department of Life Science and Division of EcoScience, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yucheol Shin
- College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Taejoon Kwon
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Yikweon Jang
- Department of Life Science and Division of EcoScience, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Mi-Sook Min
- Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Effects of invasive larval bullfrogs (Rana catesbeiana) on disease transmission, growth and survival in the larvae of native amphibians. Biol Invasions 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-020-02218-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
AbstractThe mechanisms by which invasive species negatively affect native species include competition, predation, and the introduction of novel pathogens. Moreover, if an invasive species is a competent disease reservoir, it may facilitate the long-term maintenance and spread of pathogens in ecological assemblages and drive the extinction of less tolerant or less resistant species. Disease-driven loss of biodiversity is exemplified by the amphibian–chytrid fungus system. The disease chytridiomycosis is caused by the aquatic chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) in anurans and is associated with worldwide amphibian population declines and extinctions. For amphibian species that metamorphose and leave infected aquatic habitats, the mechanisms by which Bd persists over winter in these habitats remains a critical open question. A leading hypothesis is that American bullfrogs (Rana catesbeiana), a worldwide invasive species, are tolerant to Bd and serve as a reservoir host for Bd during winter months and subsequently infect native species that return to breed in spring. Using outdoor mesocosms, we experimentally examined if two strains of Bd could overwinter in aquatic systems, in the presence or absence of bullfrog tadpoles, and if overwintered Bd could be transmitted to tadpoles of two spring-breeding species: Pacific treefrogs (Pseudacris regilla) and Cascades frogs (Rana cascadae). We found that only 4 of 448 total animals (one bullfrog and three spring breeders) tested positive for Bd after overwintering. Moreover, two of the three infected spring breeders emerged from tanks that contained overwintered Bd but in the absence of infected bullfrogs. This suggests that Bd can persist over winter without bullfrogs as a reservoir host. We found no effect of Bd strain on bullfrog survival after overwintering. For Pacific treefrogs, Bd exposure did not significantly affect mass at or time to metamorphosis while exposure to bullfrogs reduced survival. For Cascades frogs, we found an interactive effect of Bd strain and bullfrog presence on time to metamorphosis, but no main or interactive effects on their survival or mass at metamorphosis. In short, bullfrog tadpoles rarely retained and transmitted Bd infection in our experiment and we found limited evidence that Bd successfully overwinters in the absence of bullfrog tadpoles and infects spring-breeding amphibians.
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Moon JI, Koo KS, Kang HJ, Park HR, Seong HC, Lee DH. Complete mitochondrial genome of the American bullfrog in Korea, Lithobates catesbeianus (Anura: Ranidae). MITOCHONDRIAL DNA PART B-RESOURCES 2020; 5:750-751. [PMID: 33366733 PMCID: PMC7748749 DOI: 10.1080/23802359.2020.1715306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The complete mitochondrial (mt) genome of Lithobates catesbeianus was sequenced and characterized. The circular mt genome was constituted of of 37 genes (13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNAs, and 2 ribosomal RNAs) and a non-coding region (NCR). Phylogenetic analysis based on the full mt genome sequences confirmed that among the genus Lithobates, L. catesbeianus Korea is included in a monophyletic group with L. catesbeianus China, but not with either L. catesbeianus Japan or L. catesbeianus Canada. This is the first completed mt genome from L. catesbeianus Korea, which provide data for further study of phylogeny in Lithobates spp. that have been introduced into a number of different countries originally from North America.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae-I Moon
- School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology Graduate School, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Korea
| | - Kyo Soung Koo
- Research Center of Ecomimetics, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Korea
| | - Hee-Jin Kang
- School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology Graduate School, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Korea
| | - Hye-Rin Park
- School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology Graduate School, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Korea
| | - Ha-Cheol Seong
- Research Center of Ecomimetics, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Korea.,Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Korea
| | - Dong-Hyun Lee
- Research Center of Ecomimetics, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Korea.,Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Korea
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Groffen J, Oh SY, Kwon S, Jang Y, Borzée A. High mortality in Bufo gargarizans eggs associated with an undescribed Saprolegnia ferax strain in the Republic of Korea. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS 2019; 137:89-99. [PMID: 31854327 DOI: 10.3354/dao03434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Pathogenic water molds have a significant impact on many species, especially amphibians. The genus Saprolegnia is a pathogenic oomycete restricted to aquatic and moist habitats, and its presence is strongly linked to the abundance of amphibians and fishes. We investigated the influence of Saprolegnia presence on egg mortality and egg occurrence under varying environmental conditions in the Asiatic toad Bufo gargarizans at 27 breeding sites in the Republic of Korea. We then assessed the impact of Saprolegnia on the presence of B. gargarizans at the 27 sites surveyed weekly during the B. gargarizans breeding season for 3 consecutive years. We used molecular tools to identify the water molds as belonging to an undescribed S. ferax strain. We demonstrated that the presence of S. ferax was positively associated with higher water conductivity and ponds. In addition, while S. ferax prevalence was associated with a reduction in B. gargarizans breeding activity and breeding success, we could not determine its impact on the subsequent breeding seasons. Our study highlights the potential negative effects of Saprolegnia on amphibian reproduction, although additional research is necessary to determine the relationship between Saprolegnia, its hosts and the impacts of habitat loss on amphibians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordy Groffen
- Department of Life Sciences and Division of EcoScience, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 04096, ROK
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Borzée A, Andersen D, Groffen J, Kim HT, Bae Y, Jang Y. Climate change-based models predict range shifts in the distribution of the only Asian plethodontid salamander: Karsenia koreana. Sci Rep 2019; 9:11838. [PMID: 31413346 PMCID: PMC6694130 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-48310-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2018] [Accepted: 08/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Populations see their range fluctuate in relation to environmental variations, including climate change, and their survival is linked to the maintenance of large enough populations and broad enough distributions during these variations. Most amphibian populations are threatened by numerous ecological and anthropogenic variables acting in synergy with climate change. Accumulating basic ecological data such as range enables the development of population and range dynamics, themselves resulting on adequate conservation plans. Karsenia koreana is the only known Asian plethodontic salamander, occurring in a very restricted area only. Based on presence data, we created an ecological model using six bioclimatic factors with low multicollinearity to define the adequate habitat of the species, and we modelled the predicted suitability of the Korean landscape following four Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) predicting climate change scenarios based on CO2 concentrations in 2050 and 2070. The maximum entropy model for the current distribution produced a landscape suitability considerably wider than the current known distribution. The projected ranges for each RCP indicated marked increases, decreases and shifts in areas with suitable landscapes due to climate change. The lowest RCP prediction resulted in an increase in suitable area, although potentially without connectivity with current populations, while the highest RCP predictions resulted in a decrease. Our results highlight the potential negative impact of climate change, thus requiring updates in conservation plans for K. koreana. The methods used here can be replicated with any land-dwelling species, and our results reflect expected range shifts for most amphibians of the northern hemisphere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amaël Borzée
- Department of Life Science and Division of EcoScience, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760, Republic of Korea
| | - Desiree Andersen
- Department of Life Science and Division of EcoScience, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760, Republic of Korea
- Interdisciplinary Program of EcoCreative, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760, Republic of Korea
| | - Jordy Groffen
- Department of Life Science and Division of EcoScience, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760, Republic of Korea
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, 24061, USA
| | - Hyun-Tae Kim
- Seosan Joongang High School, Seosan, South Chungcheon Province, Republic of Korea
| | - Yoonhyuk Bae
- Department of Life Science and Division of EcoScience, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760, Republic of Korea
- Department of Life Science, College of Natural Science, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Yikweon Jang
- Department of Life Science and Division of EcoScience, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760, Republic of Korea.
- Interdisciplinary Program of EcoCreative, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760, Republic of Korea.
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Borzée A, Choi Y, Kim YE, Jablonski PG, Jang Y. Interspecific Variation in Seasonal Migration and Brumation Behavior in Two Closely Related Species of Treefrogs. Front Ecol Evol 2019. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2019.00055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Borzée A, Andersen D, Jang Y. Population trend inferred from aural surveys for calling anurans in Korea. PeerJ 2018; 6:e5568. [PMID: 30258708 PMCID: PMC6151124 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.5568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2017] [Accepted: 08/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Amphibian populations fluctuate naturally in size and range and large datasets are required to establish trends in species dynamics. To determine population trends for the endangered Suweon Treefrog (Dryophytes suweonensis), we conducted aural surveys in 2015, 2016, and 2017 at each of 122 sites where the species was known to occur in the Republic of Korea. Despite being based on individual counts, the focus of this study was to establish population trends rather than population size estimates, and we found both environmental and landscape variables to be significant factors. Encroachment was also a key factor that influenced both the decreasing number of calling individuals and the negative population dynamics, represented here by the difference in the number of calling individuals between years. Generally, most sites displayed minimal differences in the number of calling males between years, although there was a large fluctuation in the number of individuals at some sites. Finally, when adjusted for the overall population size difference between years, we found the population size to be decreasing between 2015 and 2017, with a significant decrease in the number of calling individuals at specific sites. High rate of encroachment was the principal explanatory factor behind these marked negative peaks in population dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amaël Borzée
- Laboratory of Behavioral Ecology and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
- Division of EcoScience, Ewha Women’s University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Desiree Andersen
- Division of EcoScience, Ewha Women’s University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Yikweon Jang
- Division of EcoScience, Ewha Women’s University, Seoul, South Korea
- Department of Life Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Groffen J, Borzée A, Jang Y. Preference for natural borders in rice paddies by two treefrog species. Anim Cells Syst (Seoul) 2018; 22:205-211. [PMID: 30460099 PMCID: PMC6138334 DOI: 10.1080/19768354.2018.1475301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2017] [Revised: 02/21/2018] [Accepted: 04/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
In the Republic of Korea, one of the biggest threats to amphibians is habitat modification such as urbanisation and land conversion. With the loss of natural habitats, rice paddies play an important role as substitute habitats for amphibians that originally inhabited wetlands. However, since the 70’s, traditional rice agriculture has been modernised, leading to an increase in the number of concrete ditches and roads bordering rice paddies. This modernisation could have affected the distribution and density of amphibians. In this study, we investigated the preferred position, based on the advertisement calls for two treefrog species (Dryophytes japonicus and D. suweonensis), in relation to different types of borders such as natural ditch, concrete ditch, one-lane dirt road and vegetation. The results show that treefrogs seem to avoid rice paddies with concrete ditches, and with no ditch, which provided no resting microhabitat. The sides of the paddies preferred by the two treefrog species were the ones with vegetation of 30 cm wider or higher, while the two species seemed to avoid the side of paddies with roads. Our results are important for the conservation of anuran species in rice paddies in general as it highlights the need for vegetated areas, preferentially along natural ditches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordy Groffen
- Department of Life Sciences and Division of EcoScience, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Amaël Borzée
- Department of Life Sciences and Division of EcoScience, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yikweon Jang
- Department of Life Sciences and Division of EcoScience, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Yap TA, Koo MS, Ambrose RF, Vredenburg VT. Introduced bullfrog facilitates pathogen invasion in the western United States. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0188384. [PMID: 29659568 PMCID: PMC5901863 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0188384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2017] [Accepted: 11/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), a causal agent of the amphibian fungal skin disease chytridiomycosis, has been implicated in the decline and extinction of over 200 species worldwide since the 1970s. Despite almost two decades of research, the history of Bd and its global spread is not well understood. However, the spread of the Global Panzootic Lineage of Bd (Bd-GPL), the lineage associated with amphibian die-offs, has been linked with the American bullfrog (Rana [Aqurana] catesbeiana) and global trade. Interestingly, R. catesbeiana is native to the eastern U.S., where no Bd-related declines have been observed despite Bd’s presence since the late 1800s. In contrast Bd has been found to have emerged in California and Mexico in the 1960s and 1970s, after which epizootics (i.e., epidemics in wildlife) ensued. We hypothesize that Bd-GPL spread from the eastern U.S. with the introduction of R. catesbeiana into the western US, resulting in epizootics and declines of native host species. Using museum records, we investigated the historical relationship between R. catesbeiana and Bd invasion in the western US and found that R. catesbeiana arrived in the same year or prior to Bd in most western watersheds that had data for both species, suggesting that Bd-GPL may have originated in the eastern US and R. catesbeiana may have facilitated Bd invasion in the western US. To predict areas with greatest suitability for Bd, we created a suitability model by integrating habitat suitability and host availability. When we incorporated invasion history with high Bd suitability, we found that watersheds with non-native R. catesbeiana in the mountain ranges of the West Coast have the highest disease risk. These findings shed light on the invasion history and disease dynamics of Bd in North America. Targeted historical surveys using archived specimens in natural history collections and present-day field surveys along with more localized, community-level studies, monitoring, and surveillance are needed to further test this hypothesis and grow our understanding of the disease ecology and host-pathogen dynamics of Bd.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiffany A. Yap
- Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, California, United States of America
- Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Michelle S. Koo
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Richard F. Ambrose
- Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Vance T. Vredenburg
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, California, United States of America
- Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Borzée A, Kyong CN, Kil HK, Jang Y. Impact of Water Quality on the Occurrence of Two Endangered Korean Anurans:Dryophytes suweonensisandPelophylax chosenicus. HERPETOLOGICA 2018. [DOI: 10.1655/herpetologica-d-17-00011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Amaël Borzée
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, 151–742, Republic of Korea
| | - Choi Nak Kyong
- Seoul Research Institute of Health and Environment, Gwacheon, 427–070, Republic of Korea
| | - Hye Kyung Kil
- Seoul Research Institute of Health and Environment, Gwacheon, 427–070, Republic of Korea
| | - Yikweon Jang
- Department of Life Sciences and Division of EcoScience, Ewha Woman's University, Seoul, 120–750, Republic of Korea
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Abarca JG, Zuniga I, Ortiz-Morales G, Lugo A, Viquez-Cervilla M, Rodriguez-Hernandez N, Vázquez-Sánchez F, Murillo-Cruz C, Torres-Rivera EA, Pinto-Tomás AA, Godoy-Vitorino F. Characterization of the Skin Microbiota of the Cane Toad Rhinella cf. marina in Puerto Rico and Costa Rica. Front Microbiol 2018; 8:2624. [PMID: 29354109 PMCID: PMC5760547 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.02624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2017] [Accepted: 12/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Rhinella marina is a toad native to South America that has been introduced in the Antilles, likely carrying high loads of microorganisms, potentially impacting local community diversity. The amphibian skin is involved in pathogen defense and its microbiota has been relatively well studied, however, research focusing on the cane toad microbiota is lacking. We hypothesize that the skin microbial communities will differ between toads inhabiting different geographical regions in Central America and the Caribbean. To test our hypothesis, we compared the microbiota of three populations of R. cf. marina toads, two from Costa Rican (native) and one Puerto Rican (exotic) locations. In Costa Rica, we collected 11 toads, 7 in Sarapiquí and 4 from Turrialba while in Puerto Rico, 10 animals were collected in Santa Ana. Separate swab samples were collected from the dorsal and ventral sites resulting in 42 samples. We found significant differences in the structure of the microbial communities between Puerto Rico and Costa Rica. We detected as much as 35 different phyla; however, communities were dominated by Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria. Alpha diversity and richness were significantly higher in toads from Puerto Rico and betadiversity revealed significant differences between the microbiota samples from the two countries. At the genus level, we found in Santa Ana, Puerto Rico, a high dominance of Kokuria, Niabella, and Rhodobacteraceae, while in Costa Rica we found Halomonas and Pseudomonas in Sarapiquí, and Acinetobacter and Citrobacter in Turrialba. This is the first report of Niabella associated with the amphibian skin. The core microbiome represented 128 Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) mainly from five genera shared among all samples, which may represent the symbiotic Rhinella's skin. These results provide insights into the habitat-induced microbial changes facing this amphibian species. The differences in the microbial diversity in Puerto Rican toads compared to those in Costa Rica provide additional evidence of the geographically induced patterns in the amphibian skin microbiome, and highlight the importance of discussing the microbial tradeoffs in the colonization of new ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan G. Abarca
- Centro de Investigación en Estructuras Microscópicas, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro de Montes de Oca, Costa Rica
| | - Ibrahim Zuniga
- Centro de Investigación en Estructuras Microscópicas, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro de Montes de Oca, Costa Rica
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Escuela de Medicina, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro de Montes de Oca, Costa Rica
- Centro de Investigación en Biología Celular y Molecular, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro de Montes de Oca, Costa Rica
| | - Gilmary Ortiz-Morales
- Department of Natural Sciences, Microbial Ecology and Genomics Laboratory, Inter American University of Puerto Rico, Metropolitan Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Armando Lugo
- Department of Natural Sciences, Microbial Ecology and Genomics Laboratory, Inter American University of Puerto Rico, Metropolitan Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Mariel Viquez-Cervilla
- Centro de Investigación en Estructuras Microscópicas, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro de Montes de Oca, Costa Rica
| | - Natalia Rodriguez-Hernandez
- Centro de Investigación en Estructuras Microscópicas, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro de Montes de Oca, Costa Rica
| | - Frances Vázquez-Sánchez
- Department of Natural Sciences, Microbial Ecology and Genomics Laboratory, Inter American University of Puerto Rico, Metropolitan Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Catalina Murillo-Cruz
- Centro de Investigación en Estructuras Microscópicas, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro de Montes de Oca, Costa Rica
| | - Ernesto A. Torres-Rivera
- Department of Natural Sciences, Center for Environmental Education, Conservation and Interpretation, Inter American University of Puerto Rico, Metropolitan Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Adrián A. Pinto-Tomás
- Centro de Investigación en Estructuras Microscópicas, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro de Montes de Oca, Costa Rica
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Escuela de Medicina, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro de Montes de Oca, Costa Rica
- Centro de Investigación en Biología Celular y Molecular, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro de Montes de Oca, Costa Rica
| | - Filipa Godoy-Vitorino
- Department of Natural Sciences, Microbial Ecology and Genomics Laboratory, Inter American University of Puerto Rico, Metropolitan Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
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Correction: Introduced bullfrogs are associated with increased Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis prevalence and reduced occurrence of Korean treefrogs. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0190551. [PMID: 29284040 PMCID: PMC5746252 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0190551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0177860.].
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Borzée A, Kim K, Heo K, Jablonski PG, Jang Y. Impact of land reclamation and agricultural water regime on the distribution and conservation status of the endangered Dryophytes suweonensis. PeerJ 2017; 5:e3872. [PMID: 29018610 PMCID: PMC5631092 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.3872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2017] [Accepted: 09/09/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Knowledge about the distribution and habitat preferences of a species is critical for its conservation. The Suweon Treefrog (Dryophytes suweonensis) is an endangered species endemic to the Republic of Korea. We conducted surveys from 2014 to 2016 at 890 potentially suitable sites across the entire range of the species in South Korea. We then assessed whether D. suweonensis was found in the current and ancestral predicted ranges, reclaimed and protected areas, and how the presence of agricultural floodwater affected its occurrence. Our results describe a 120 km increase in the southernmost known distribution of the species, and the absence of the species at lower latitudes. We then demonstrate a putative constriction on the species ancestral range due to urban encroachment, and provide evidence for a significant increase in its coastal range due to the colonisation of reclaimed land by the species. In addition, we demonstrate that D. suweonensis is present in rice fields that are flooded with water originating from rivers as opposed to being present in rice fields that are irrigated from underground water. Finally, the non-overlap of protected areas and the occurrence of the species shows that only the edge of a single site where D. suweonensis occurs is legally protected. Based on our results and the literature, we suggest the design of a site fitting all the ecological requirements of the species, and suggest the use of such sites to prevent further erosion in the range of D. suweonensis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amaël Borzée
- Laboratory of Behavioral Ecology and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
- Division of EcoScience, Ewha Women’s University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Kyungmin Kim
- Division of EcoScience, Ewha Women’s University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Kyongman Heo
- Division of EcoScience, Ewha Women’s University, Seoul, South Korea
- College of Natural Science, Sangmyung University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Piotr G. Jablonski
- Laboratory of Behavioral Ecology and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
- Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Yikweon Jang
- Division of EcoScience, Ewha Women’s University, Seoul, South Korea
- Interdisciplinary Program of EcoCreative, Ewha Women’s University, Seoul, South Korea
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