AMPHIBIAN POPULATION DECLINES AT SAVANNAH RIVER SITE ARE LINKED TO CLIMATE, NOT CHYTRIDIOMYCOSIS

• DOI: 10.1890/05-0598
• Publication Date: 2007-06-04T23:33:41Z
• Authors: P. Daszak; D. E. Scott; A. M. Kilpatrick; C. Faggioni; J. W. Gibbons; D. Porter
• Keywords: Chytridiomycosis; Chytridiomycota; Emerging infectious disease; Population decline

Amphibian populations at the Savannah River Site (SRS), South Carolina, USA, have been censused consistently for 35 years, and this provides a time series to examine causes of population fluctuations. We examined archived museum specimens 15 anuran species collected wetlands on SRS presence causative agent (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) chytridiomycosis, an emerging disease associated with declines elsewhere. Infections were present in three out 137 (2.18%) individuals; pathogen was detected two Rana catesbeiana single sphenocephala, all between 1978 1981. Lesions not consistent later stages fatal chytridiomycosis. Analysis trajectories nine amphibian over 26 years showed that four declined significantly period, including R. sphenocephala. However, we demonstrate these are more likely caused by increase number insufficient rainfall shortened hydroperiod breeding site than chytrid epidemics. This pattern appears be linked drying trend through 1990s, although it is unclear whether climate change. study demonstrates B. dendrobatidis communities where some declining does always implicate chytrids as cause decline. Like many other pathogens, outcome infection can vary among individuals populations, depending life history traits, environmental conditions, virulence factors pathogen. Our report also usefulness long-term monitoring studying host–parasite ecology diseases.