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Impact and Dynamics of Disease in Species Threatened by the Amphibian Chytrid Fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis
Citation
Murray, KA and Skerratt, LF and Speare, R and McCallum, HI, Impact and Dynamics of Disease in Species Threatened by the Amphibian Chytrid Fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, Conservation Biology, 23, (5) pp. 1242-1252. ISSN 0888-8892 (2009) [Refereed Article]
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Copyright Statement
The definitive published version is available online at: http://interscience.wiley.com
Official URL: http://interscience.wiley.com
DOI: doi:10.1111/j.1523-1739.2009.01211.x
Abstract
Estimating disease-associated mortality and transmission processes is difficult in free-ranging
wildlife but important for understanding disease impacts and dynamics and for informing management
decisions. In a capture–mark–recapture study, we used a PCR-based diagnostic test in combination with
multistate models to provide the first estimates of disease-associated mortality and detection, infection, and
recovery rates for frogs endemically infected with the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd),
which causes the pandemic amphibian disease chytridiomycosis. We found that endemic chytridiomycosis
was associated with a substantial reduction (approximately 38%) in apparent monthly survival of the threat-
ened rainforest treefrog Litoria pearsoniana despite a long period of coexistence (approximately 30 years);
detection rate was not influenced by disease status; improved recovery and reduced infection rates corre-
lated with decreased prevalence, which occurred when temperatures increased; and incorporating changes
in individuals’ infection status through time with multistate models increased effect size and support (98.6%
vs. 71% of total support) for the presence of disease-associated mortality when compared with a Cormack–
Jolly–Seber model in which infection status was restricted to the time of first capture. Our results indicate
that amphibian populations can face significant ongoing pressure from chytridiomycosis long after epidemics
associated with initial Bd invasions subside, an important consideration for the long-term conservation of
many amphibian species worldwide. Our findings also improve confidence in estimates of disease prevalence
in wild amphibians and provide a general framework for estimating parameters in epidemiological models
for chytridiomycosis, an important step toward better understanding and management of this disease.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
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Keywords: | amphibian declines, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, chytridiomycosis, endemic, epidemiology, mark–recapture, survival, transmission |
Research Division: | Biological Sciences |
Research Group: | Evolutionary biology |
Research Field: | Animal systematics and taxonomy |
Objective Division: | Environmental Management |
Objective Group: | Fresh, ground and surface water systems and management |
Objective Field: | Control of pests, diseases and exotic species in fresh, ground and surface water |
UTAS Author: | McCallum, HI (Professor Hamish McCallum) |
ID Code: | 59902 |
Year Published: | 2009 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 117 |
Deposited By: | Zoology |
Deposited On: | 2009-12-21 |
Last Modified: | 2010-04-27 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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