RACE: Risk Assessment of Chytridiomycosis to European amphibian biodiversity
Lead Research Organisation:
Zoological Society of London
Department Name: Institute of Zoology
Abstract
Detailed in VR main application
Publications
Angelini C
(2014)
Environmentally determined juvenile growth rates dictate the degree of sexual size dimorphism in the Sardinian brook newt
in Evolutionary Ecology
Bai C
(2012)
Global and endemic Asian lineages of the emerging pathogenic fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis widely infect amphibians in China
in Diversity and Distributions
Baláž V
(2014)
Assessing risk and guidance on monitoring of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in Europe through identification of taxonomic selectivity of infection.
in Conservation biology : the journal of the Society for Conservation Biology
Bates KA
(2018)
Amphibian chytridiomycosis outbreak dynamics are linked with host skin bacterial community structure.
in Nature communications
Bielby J
(2013)
Geographic and taxonomic variation in B atrachochytrium dendrobatidis infection and transmission within a highly endemic amphibian community
in Diversity and Distributions
Bosch J
(2018)
Long-term monitoring of an amphibian community after a climate change- and infectious disease-driven species extirpation
in Global Change Biology
Calboli FC
(2011)
The need for jumpstarting amphibian genome projects.
in Trends in ecology & evolution
| Description | Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis is in fact a composite of multiple diverged lineages, one of which (BdGPL) is predominantly responsible for chytrid-related global amphibian declines. However, the outcome of the amphibian host/BdGPL interaction is strongly mediated by factors intrinsic to the host species, developmental stage and the environment within which the interaction occurs. Through spatial surveillance and experimentation we have determined that one group of European amphibians (the clade including the families Alytidae and Bombinatoridae) is at greater risk of infection and, as a result, potential decline due to chytridiomycosis: this despite the fact that many other European amphibian species not contained within this clade are susceptible to infection and disease. Even highly susceptible species within these two families do not always exhibit infection and disease dynamics that should lead to population decline and loss. Overall, Europe's amphibian fauna appears to be less threatened by chytridiomycosis caused by B dendrobatidis. Many European species have not been appropriately sampled, though, and host/pathogen dynamics are not stable entities, so further research and monitoring is required. |
| Exploitation Route | We have laid down the methodological groundwork for our and other teams to investigate risk in previously unstudied European amphibian species. Our baseline data for focal populations and species form the basis from which further patterns can be elucidated, given ongoing funding and research effort. Our initial findings, though, do provide evidence that certain taxonomic groups and populations should be the subject of disease mitigation efforts. |
| Sectors | Environment |
| Description | Our findings have been used to develop a policy brief to the EU Parliament http://www.biodiversa.org/552 |
| First Year Of Impact | 2010 |
| Sector | Environment |
| Impact Types | Societal Policy & public services |
| Description | Conference talk |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Talk given at the British Society for Parasitology Conference in London |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://bsp.uk.net/2016/05/02/blog-bsp-2016-spring-meeting/ |
| Description | Presentation at ZSL scientific event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Presentation regarding the potential impact of invasive species on emergence of threatening amphibian infectious diseases, delivered as part of the ZSL Scientific Event launching the 2016 Living Planet Report |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | https://www.zsl.org/science/whats-on/the-living-planet-report-2016-threats-pressures-and-addressing-... |