Journal article
Age- and size-dependent resistance to chytridiomycosis in the invasive cane toad Rhinella marina
LA Brannelly, G Martin, J Llewelyn, LF Skerratt, L Berger
Diseases of Aquatic Organisms | Published : 2018
DOI: 10.3354/dao03278
Abstract
In Australia, the cane toad Rhinella marina and chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) are examples of invasive species that have had dramatic impacts on native fauna. However, little is known about the interaction between Bd and cane toads. We aimed to explore the interaction of these 2 species in 3 parts. First, we collated data from the literature on Bd infection in wild cane toads. Second, we tested the susceptibility of recently metamorphosed cane toads to Bd infection. Finally, we modelled the distribution of the 2 species in Australia to identify where they overlap and, therefore, might interact. Through our data collation, we found that adult cane toads are infrequently i..
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Awarded by Australian Research Council
Funding Acknowledgements
We thank D. Tegtmeier, L. Bertola, M. Stewart, N. Harney, B. Cwiklinski and T. Knavel for data collection and husbandry assistance; G. Lestone for animal collection; M. Merces for help with dissections; and T. Kosch, D. Mendez, A. Hyatt, A. Shepak, A. Catenazzi, B. Phillips, R. Alford, F. Mutschmann and M. Crossland for more detailed cane toad survey data and advice on the manuscript. We particularly thank the late Dr. Rick Speare for his dedication to amphibian disease research and providing many comments on the direction of this manuscript. This work was financially supported by the Australian Research Council (grants FT100100375, LP110200240, DP120100811), and Taronga Zoo Conservation Science Initiative. Animal ethics were approved by James Cook University in applications A1897 and A2171.