A5011341185- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Turtle Biology and Conservation
- Plant and animal studies
- Dermatological diseases and infestations
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Antimicrobial Peptides and Activities
- Gut microbiota and health
- Urban Agriculture and Sustainability
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Parasite Biology and Host Interactions
- Aquaculture disease management and microbiota
- Rabies epidemiology and control
- Animal and Plant Science Education
- Vector-borne infectious diseases
- Psidium guajava Extracts and Applications
- Urban Green Space and Health
- Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Plant Pathogens and Fungal Diseases
- Insect Utilization and Effects
- Parasitic Diseases Research and Treatment
- Dermatology and Skin Diseases
University of Alabama
2018-2024
James Cook University
2016-2022
The Jones Center at Ichauway
2014
University of Maine
2012
Abstract Global amphibian declines are linked with the presence of specific, highly virulent genotypes emerging fungal disease chytridiomycosis caused by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis ( Bd ) known as global panzootic lineage ‐GPL). The trade in amphibians for human consumption is suspected to have facilitated emergence disease, but evidence support this largely lacking. Here, we investigated role Lithobates catesbeianus (North American bullfrog) spreading comparing strains associated L. a...
Unprecedented global climate change and increasing rates of infectious disease emergence are occurring simultaneously. Infection with emerging pathogens may alter the thermal thresholds hosts. However, effects fungal infection on host limits have not been examined. Moreover, influence infections heat tolerance hosts has rarely investigated within context realistic acclimation regimes potential anthropogenic change. We tested for in a model system: frogs infected chytrid Batrachochytrium...
Abstract Hybridization of parasites can generate new genotypes with high virulence. The fungal amphibian parasite Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis ( Bd ) hybridizes in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest, a biodiversity hotspot where declines have been linked to , but the virulence hybrid native hosts has never tested. We compared (measured as host mortality and infection burden) parental lineages, putatively hypovirulent lineage -Brazil hypervirulent Global Pandemic Lineage -GPL), panel Brazilian hosts....
Abstract The onset of global climate change has led to abnormal rainfall patterns, disrupting associations between wildlife and their symbiotic microorganisms. We monitored a population pumpkin toadlets skin bacteria in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest during drought. Given recognized ability some amphibian inhibit widespread fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), we investigated links microbiome health, susceptibility Bd host mortality die‐off event. found that deficit was an...
The chytridiomycete fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) colonizes mouthparts of amphibian larvae and superficial epidermis post-metamorphic amphibians, causing the disease chytridiomycosis. Fungal growth within host cells has been documented by light transmission electron microscopy; however, entry into not. Our objective was to document how Bd enters in wood frog Lithobates sylvaticus, a species at high mortality risk for chytridiomycosis, bullfrog L. catesbeianus, low We inoculated...
Abstract Morphology mediates the relationship between an organism's body temperature and its environment. Dark organisms, for example, tend to absorb heat more quickly than lighter individuals, which could influence their responses temperature. Therefore, temperature‐related traits such as morphology may affect patterns of species abundance, richness, community assembly across a broad range spatial scales. In this study, we examined variation in color lightness size within butterfly...
Bullfrog farming and trade practices are well-established, globally distributed, economically valuable, but pose risks for biodiversity conservation. Besides their negative impacts on native amphibian populations as an invasive species, bullfrogs play a key role in spreading the frog-killing fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) natural environment. Bullfrogs tolerant to Bd, meaning that they can carry high infection loads without developing chytridiomycosis. To test potential of...
Wildlife disease dynamics are strongly influenced by the structure of host communities and their symbiotic microbiota. Conspicuous amphibian declines associated with waterborne fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) have been observed in aquatic-breeding frogs globally. However, less attention has given to cryptic terrestrial-breeding amphibians that also declining tropical regions. By experimentally manipulating multiple assemblages harbouring natural microbial communities, we...
With emerging diseases on the rise, there is an urgent need to identify and understand novel mechanisms of prophylactic protection in vertebrate hosts. Inducing resistance against pathogens through prophylaxis ideal management strategy that may impact their host-associated microbiome. The host microbiome recognized as a critical component immunity, but effects inoculation are unknown. In this study, we investigate composition, focusing selection anti-pathogenic microbes contributing acquired...
Chytridiomycosis, an emerging infectious disease caused by the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, threatens anuran populations worldwide. Effects of B. dendrobatidis on frog species are variable. Some typically develop nonlethal infections and may function as carriers; others lethal that can lead to population declines. Nonlethal in bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) well-documented. In contrast, recently metamorphosed wood frogs (L. sylvaticus) die from chytridiomycosis. We...
Abstract Recent emergences of fungal diseases have caused catastrophic global losses biodiversity. Temperature is one the most important factors influencing host–fungus associations but effects temperature variability on disease development are rarely examined. The chytrid pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) has had severe populations hundreds rainforest‐endemic amphibian species we know little about rainforest‐specific host body cycles infection patterns. To address this challenge,...
Summary Commercially available fluctuating‐temperature chambers are large and costly. This poses a challenge to experimental ecologists endeavouring recreate natural temperature cycles in the laboratory because number of commercial required for replicated study designs is prohibitively expensive purchase, requires amount space consumes great deal energy. We developed validated design economical, programmable based on relatively small (23 L) commercially manufactured constant chamber ($140 US...
Farming practices may reshape the structure of watersheds, water quality, and health aquatic organisms. Nutrient enrichment from agricultural pollution increases disease pressure in many host–pathogen systems, but mechanisms underlying this pattern are not always resolved. For example, nutrient should strongly influence pools environmental bacteria, which has potential to alter microbiome composition animals their vulnerability disease. However, shifts host have received little attention as...
Habitat fragmentation can negatively impact wildlife populations by simplification of ecological interactions, but little is known about how these impacts extend to host-associated symbiotic communities. The communities amphibians play important roles in anti-pathogen defences, particularly against the amphibian chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis ( Bd ). In this study, we analyse role macroparasitic helminth concert with microbial defending host infection within context forest...
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The host-associated microbiome is vital to host immunity and pathogen defense. In aquatic ecosystems, organisms may interact with environmental bacteria influence the pool of potential symbionts, but effects these interactions on assembly resistance are unresolved. We used replicated bromeliad microecosystems test for indirect arthropod-bacteria burden, using tadpoles fungal amphibian Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis as a model host-pathogen system. Arthropods influenced by altering bacteria,...
Loss of biodiversity within relatively pristine protected areas presents a major challenge for conservation. At La Selva Biological Station in the lowlands Costa Rica, amphibians, reptiles, and understory birds have all declined over past four decades, yet factors contributing to these declines remain unclear. Here, we conduct two tests hypothesis that faunal are linked shifting dynamics leaf litter, critical microhabitat amphibians reptiles component forest carbon cycles. First, 16-month...