STATUS:
Current
WHO:
David Pilliod - Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute,
Erin Muths - USGS Biological Resources Division
WHAT: A complete understanding of disease and its role in amphibian declines is lacking. In the western U.S., chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) has features of an introduced, lethal infectious disease to which amphibian populations have no resistance and which has been associated with population declines in several species. Information on the distribution of chytrid, the susceptibility of populations to chytridiomycosis, and the role of chytrid in amphibian population declines is critically needed. This project is designed to provide some of this needed information and addresses the following objectives:
A. Document the distribution of chytrid fungus in boreal toad (Bufo boreas) populations current and historic breeding locations in the Rocky Mountain region of WY and MT (data exist for CO, L. Livo, unpubl. data).
B. Establish 3 apex sites at robust boreal toad populations in CO, WY, and MT to:
- Monitor the status of and threats (e.g. potential immunosuppression related to the presence of contaminants and risk of chytrid infection) to these populations and use the data to develop conservation measures to protect these unique populations on a regional scale.
- Use capture-recapture population data for boreal toads and data on chytrid and contaminants to develop predictive models to examine possible interactions of disease and other stressors on amphibian population dynamics and persistence.
This project will sample in wilderness and non-wilderness areas. If chytrid is spread by human use of lakes and ponds (e.g., fishing, boating), then chytrid should be less prevalent in areas with fewer human activities, such as remote lakes in national parks and wilderness areas.
WHEN: 2003-2006
WHERE: Wyoming up to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) and in western Montana from the GYE to Glacier National Park; Colorado; apex sites at Denny Creek on the San Isabel National Forest in Colorado, Black Rock on the Bridger Teton National Forest in Wyoming, and Lost Trail National Wildlife Refuge in Montana.
WHY: Establishing the distribution of chytrid in the Rocky Mountains will provide important information for determining which amphibian populations are at risk and making conservation decisions about which habitats and or populations are the most important to protect and monitor. This project establishes 3 long-term studies embedded in a regional map of information about the incidence of chytrid fungus. The protocols at the 3 targeted apex sites are designed to monitor the status of and threats to these populations this year and into the future. Ultimately, data from our established apex sites will enable us to test hypotheses regarding why some populations are susceptible to disease outbreaks, while other populations are not.
PRODUCTS:
Leopold Institute Publications
Muths, E., Pilliod, D.S., Livo, L.J. 2008. Distribution and environmental limitations of an amphibian pathogen in the Rocky Mountains, USA. Biological Conservation 141:1484-1492.
Leopold Publication Number 646
