Host–pathogen metapopulation dynamics suggest high elevation refugia for boreal toads

Emerging infectious diseases are an increasingly common threat to wildlife. Chytridiomycosis, caused by the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), is an emerging infectious disease that has been linked to amphibian declines around the world. Few studies exist that explore amphibian–Bd...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ecological applications 2018-06, Vol.28 (4), p.926-937
Main Authors: Mosher, Brittany A., Bailey, Larissa L., Muths, Erin, Huyvaert, Kathryn P.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Altitude
amphibian decline
Anaxyrus boreas boreas
Animals
Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis
Bufonidae - microbiology
Chytridiomycosis
Chytridiomycota - physiology
Disease
Disease control
Elevation
Extinction
Host-Pathogen Interactions
host–pathogen dynamics
Infectious diseases
Landscape
Metapopulations
Models, Biological
Mountains
multispecies occupancy
Natural resources
Pathogens
Population Dynamics
Populations
Refugia
Threatened species
Toads
Wildlife
Wildlife habitats
Wildlife management
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Summary:Emerging infectious diseases are an increasingly common threat to wildlife. Chytridiomycosis, caused by the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), is an emerging infectious disease that has been linked to amphibian declines around the world. Few studies exist that explore amphibian–Bd dynamics at the landscape scale, limiting our ability to identify which factors are associated with variation in population susceptibility and to develop effective in situ disease management. Declines of boreal toads (Anaxyrus boreas boreas) in the southern Rocky Mountains are largely attributed to chytridiomycosis but variation exists in local extinction of boreal toads across this metapopulation. Using a large-scale historic data set, we explored several potential factors influencing disease dynamics in the boreal toad–Bd system: geographic isolation of populations, amphibian community richness, elevational differences, and habitat permanence. We found evidence that boreal toad extinction risk was lowest at high elevations where temperatures may be suboptimal for Bd growth and where small boreal toad populations may be below the threshold needed for efficient pathogen transmission. In addition, boreal toads were more likely to recolonize high elevation sites after local extinction, again suggesting that high elevations may provide refuge from disease for boreal toads. We illustrate a modeling framework that will be useful to natural resource managers striving to make decisions in amphibian–Bd systems. Our data suggest that in the southern Rocky Mountains high elevation sites should be prioritized for conservation initiatives like reintroductions.
ISSN:1051-0761
1939-5582
DOI:10.1002/eap.1699