A5021819956- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Plant and animal studies
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Turtle Biology and Conservation
- Antimicrobial Peptides and Activities
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Animal and Plant Science Education
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Fungal Infections and Studies
- Aquaculture disease management and microbiota
- Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Zoonotic diseases and public health
- Microbial infections and disease research
- Vector-borne infectious diseases
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Retinal Development and Disorders
- Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Career Development and Diversity
University of Pittsburgh
2016-2025
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
2012-2025
Tulane University
2011-2024
Ecological Society of America
2019
Pittsburg State University
2016
University of Michigan–Ann Arbor
2009
University of California, Berkeley
2009
American Museum of Natural History
2009
Anthropogenic trade and development have broken down dispersal barriers, facilitating the spread of diseases that threaten Earth's biodiversity. We present a global, quantitative assessment amphibian chytridiomycosis panzootic, one most impactful examples disease spread, demonstrate its role in decline at least 501 species over past half-century, including 90 presumed extinctions. The effects been greatest large-bodied, range-restricted anurans wet climates Americas Australia. Declines...
Predicting how climate change will affect disease dynamics requires an understanding of the environment affects host–pathogen interactions. For amphibians, global declines and extinctions have been linked to a pathogenic chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis . Using combination body temperature measurements assays conducted before after arrival B. , this study tested hypothesis that prevalence infection in wild population Panamanian golden frogs ( Atelopus zeteki ). The timing first...
Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis , a pathogenic chytrid fungus implicated in worldwide amphibian declines, is considered an specialist. Identification of nonamphibian hosts could help explain the virulence, heterogeneous distribution, variable rates spread, and persistence B. freshwater ecosystems even after extirpations. Here, we test whether mosquitofish ( Gambusia holbrooki) crayfish Procambarus spp. Orconectes virilis ), which are syntopic with many species, possible for . Field surveys...
Resistance is not futile The fungal disease chytridiomycosis has wreaked havoc on amphibians worldwide. caused by the organism Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis and was first identified in late 1990s. Voyles et al. revisited protected areas Panama where catastrophic amphibian losses were recorded a decade ago (see Perspective Collins). Although theory predicts that epidemics should result reduced pathogenicity, they found no evidence for such reduction. Despite this, community displaying signs...
Biodiversity loss is one major outcome of human-mediated ecosystem disturbance. One way that humans have triggered wildlife declines by transporting disease-causing agents to remote areas the world. Amphibians been hit particularly hard disease due in part a globally distributed pathogenic chytrid fungus ( Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis [ Bd ]). Prior research has revealed important insights into biology and distribution ; however, there are still many outstanding questions this system....
Social monogamy, typically characterized by the formation of a pair bond, increased territorial defense, and often biparental care, has independently evolved multiple times in animals. Despite independent evolutionary origins monogamous mating systems, several homologous brain regions neuropeptides their receptors have been shown to play conserved role regulating social affiliation parental but little is known about neuromolecular mechanisms underlying monogamy on genomic scale. Here, we...
DAO Diseases of Aquatic Organisms Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout JournalEditorsSpecials 94:235-238 (2011) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/dao02337 NOTE Elevated temperature as a treatment for Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis infection in captive frogs Matthew W. H. Chatfield*, Corinne L. Richards-Zawacki Tulane University, Department Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, New Orleans, Louisiana 70118, USA...
DAO Diseases of Aquatic Organisms Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout JournalEditorsSpecials 101:95-104 (2012) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/dao02521 Clinical trials with itraconazole as a treatment for chytrid fungal infections in amphibians Laura A. Brannelly1,*, Corinne L. Richards-Zawacki1, Allan P. Pessier2 1Department Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana 70118,...
We sequenced the genome of strawberry poison frog, Oophaga pumilio, at a depth 127.5× using variable insert size libraries. The total is estimated to be 6.76 Gb, which 4.76 Gb are from high copy number repetitive elements with low differentiation across copies. These repeats encompass DNA transposons, RNA and LTR retrotransposons, including least 0.4 1.0 Mariner/Tc1 Gypsy elements, respectively. Expression data indicate levels gypsy expression in ova O. pumilio compared Xenopus laevis....
Abstract Understanding how reproductive barriers evolve during speciation remains an important question in evolution. Divergence mating preferences may be a common first step this process. The striking colour pattern diversity of strawberry dart frog ( Dendrobates pumilio ) populations has likely been shaped by sexual selection. Previous laboratory studies have shown that females attend to male coloration and prefer court with males their own colour, suggesting divergent morphs...
The ability of wildlife populations to mount rapid responses novel pathogens will be critical for mitigating the impacts disease outbreaks in a changing climate. Field studies have documented that amphibians preferring warmer temperatures are less likely infected with fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis ( Bd ). However, it is unclear whether this phenomenon driven by behavioural fever or natural variation thermal preference. Here, we placed frogs gradients, tested temperature...
Abstract Amphibians are ideal for studying visual system evolution because their biphasic (aquatic and terrestrial) life history ecological diversity expose them to a broad range of conditions. Here, we evaluate signatures selection on opsin genes across Neotropical anurans focus three diurnal clades that well-known the concurrence conspicuous colors chemical defense (i.e., aposematism): poison frogs (Dendrobatidae), Harlequin toads (Bufonidae: Atelopus), pumpkin toadlets (Brachycephalidae:...
ABSTRACT Environmental challenges early in development can result complex phenotypic trade-offs and long-term effects on individual physiology, performance behavior, with implications for disease predation risk. We examined the of simulated pond drying elevated water temperatures development, growth, thermal physiology behavior a North American amphibian, Rana sphenocephala. Tadpoles were raised outdoor mesocosms under warming regimes based projected climatic conditions 2070. predicted that...
ABSTRACT Studying declining and rare species is inherently challenging, particularly when the cause of rarity emerging infectious diseases (EIDs). Tracking changes in distribution pathogens that EIDs, made scarce by them, necessary for conservation efforts, but it often a time resource intensive task. Here, we demonstrate how using environmental DNA (eDNA) to detect species—and threaten them—can be powerful tool understand disease dynamics develop effective strategies. Amphibian populations...
Abstract Human‐induced climate change, land use changes, and urbanization are predicted to dramatically impact landscape hydrology, which can have devastating impacts on aquatic organisms. For amphibians that rely environments breed develop, it is essential understand how the larval environment development, condition, performance later in life. Two important of urbanization, changes reduced hydroperiod variable density. Here, we explored density affect morphology, physiology, immune defenses...
Most hosts contain few parasites, whereas many. This pattern, known as aggregation, is well-documented in macroparasites where parasite intensity distribution among affects host–parasite dynamics. Infection also drives fungal disease dynamics, but we lack a basic understanding of host–fungal aggregation patterns, how they compare with and if reflect biological processes. To begin addressing these gaps, characterized the pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) amphibian hosts. Utilizing...
Abstract Aim Understanding how heterogeneous landscapes shape genetic structure not only sheds light on processes involved in population divergence and speciation, but can also guide management strategies to promote maintain connectivity of populations endangered species. This study aimed (1) identify barriers corridors for gene flow among the frog, Atelopus varius (2) assess relative contributions alternative landscape factors patterns variation these a hypothesis testing framework....
Divergence in male mating signals and associated female preferences is often an important step the process of speciation. Reproductive character displacement, pattern greater divergence and/or preference sympatry than allopatry, has been observed a variety taxa with different degrees postzygotic isolation. A number selective processes, including reinforcement, have proposed to cause such pattern. Cases which reproductive displacement occurs among intraspecific variants are especially...
The pathogenic chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) has been linked to global declines and extinctions of amphibians, making it one the most devastating wildlife pathogens known. Understanding factors that affect disease dynamics in this system is critical for mitigating infection protecting threatened species. Crayfish are hosts pathogen can transmit Bd amphibians. Because they co-occur with susceptible amphibian communities, crayfish may be important alternative Bd....
Abstract The phenomenon of aposematism, or the pairing antipredator defence with conspicuous distinctive signals, serves as an excellent example how traits act in concert to shape fitness. Not only does this complex phenotype require integration multiple traits, it alters fitness pay‐offs yet others. protection offered by aposematism may, for example, reduce costs associated foraging sexual display. Thus, well‐protected aposematic lineages should be bolder, more active and less likely...