Journal article
Non-declining amphibians can be important reservoir hosts for amphibian chytrid fungus
LA Brannelly, RJ Webb, DA Hunter, N Clemann, K Howard, LF Skerratt, L Berger, BC Scheele
Animal Conservation | WILEY | Published : 2018
DOI: 10.1111/acv.12380
Abstract
Amphibian chytridiomycosis, caused by infection with Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), is the most devastating vertebrate disease on record. Reservoir hosts are likely to be important in the Bd-amphibian system because many amphibian species can carry infections without experiencing mortality. However, while a variety of reservoirs have been proposed, few have been empirically demonstrated to act as competent reservoir hosts. In this study, we investigate whether the common eastern froglet, Crinia signifera, a non-declining species that is widespread in eastern Australia, is a reservoir host for Bd infection. We conducted a long-term, large-scale field survey to investigate disease dynami..
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Awarded by Australian Research Council
Funding Acknowledgements
We thank A. Roberts, T Kosch, C. Wei, K. McMullin and U. Roebeck for help with animal husbandry and all field assistants for help catching and swabbing frogs over the 7-year field study. Funding was provided by the Australian Research Council (grants FT100100375, LP110200240, DP120100811), New South Wales Office of Environment and Heritage, New South Wales Department of Environment and Climate Change, the Victoria Department of Sustainability and Environment, Victoria Department of Environment and Primary Industries Parks Victoria, and the Taronga Conservation Science Initiative. The authors declare no conflicts of interest.