Averting a North American biodiversity crisis

Yap, Tiffany A.; Koo, Michelle S.; Ambrose, Richard F.; Wake, David B.; Vredenburg, Vance T.

doi:10.1126/science.aab1052

Cited by 130 publications

(163 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…dendrobatidis bacteria likely have general antimicrobial properties (52) and may provide a general defensive benefit against pathogens to the host (9,13,23,42). Therefore, our results may also be useful if the deadly, closely related fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (43) reaches this salamander biodiversity hot spot (44).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Antifungal Bacteria on Woodland Salamander Skin Exhibit High Taxonomic Diversity and Geographic Variability

Muletz‐Wolz

DiRenzo

Yarwood³

et al. 2017

Appl Environ Microbiol

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Diverse bacteria inhabit amphibian skin; some of those bacteria inhibit growth of the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. Yet there has been no systematic survey of anti-B. dendrobatidis bacteria across localities, species, and elevations. This is important given geographic and taxonomic variations in amphibian susceptibility to B. dendrobatidis. Our collection sites were at locations within the Appalachian Mountains where previous sampling had indicated low B. dendrobatidis prevalence. We determined the numbers and identities of anti-B. dendrobatidis bacteria on 61 Plethodon salamanders (37 P. cinereus, 15 P. glutinosus, 9 P. cylindraceus) via culturing methods and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. We sampled co-occurring species at three localities and sampled P. cinereus along an elevational gradient (700 to 1,000 meters above sea level [masl]) at one locality. We identified 50 anti-B. dendrobatidis bacterial operational taxonomic units (OTUs) and found that the degree of B. dendrobatidis inhibition was not correlated with relatedness. Five anti-B. dendrobatidis bacterial strains occurred on multiple amphibian species at multiple localities, but none were shared among all species and localities. The prevalence of anti-B. dendrobatidis bacteria was higher at Shenandoah National Park (NP), VA, with 96% (25/26) of salamanders hosting at least one anti-B. dendrobatidis bacterial species compared to 50% (7/14) at Catoctin Mountain Park (MP), MD, and 38% (8/21) at Mt. Rogers National Recreation Area (NRA), VA. At the individual level, salamanders at Shenandoah NP had more anti-B. dendrobatidis bacteria per individual ( ϭ 3.3) than those at Catoctin MP ( ϭ 0.8) and at Mt. Rogers NRA ( ϭ 0.4). All salamanders tested negative for B. dendrobatidis. Anti-B. dendrobatidis bacterial species are diverse in central Appalachian Plethodon salamanders, and their distribution varied geographically. The antifungal bacterial species that we identified may play a protective role for these salamanders.IMPORTANCE Amphibians harbor skin bacteria that can kill an amphibian fungal pathogen, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. Some amphibians die from B. dendrobatidis infection, whereas others do not. The bacteria that can kill B. dendrobatidis, called anti-B. dendrobatidis bacteria, are thought to influence the B. dendrobatidis infection outcome for the amphibian. Yet how anti-B. dendrobatidis bacterial species vary among amphibian species and populations is unknown. We determined the distribution of anti-B. dendrobatidis bacterial species among three salamander species (n ϭ 61) sampled at three localities. We identified 50 unique anti-B. dendrobatidis bacterial species and found that all of the tested salamanders were negative for B. dendrobatidis. Five anti-B. dendrobatidis bacterial species were commonly detected, suggesting a stable, functional association with these salamanders. The number of

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The inhibitory properties of anti-B. dendrobatidis bacteria may inform research on other emerging fungal pathogens such as B. salamandrivorans, which also poses a significant threat to global amphibian biodiversity (43,44).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Antifungal Bacteria on Woodland Salamander Skin Exhibit High Taxonomic Diversity and Geographic Variability

Muletz‐Wolz

DiRenzo

Yarwood³

et al. 2017

Appl Environ Microbiol

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“…Therefore, at each pond or stream water temperature and ambient temperature were measured using an HHC201 thermocouple thermometer, with a hermetically sealed thermocouple (OMEGA ® ). Prevalence and infection loads of Bsal and Bd in the captured amphibians was determined by collecting non-invasive skin swabs29. All methods were carried out in accordance with Vietnamese guidelines and regulations.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans is the predominant chytrid fungus in Vietnamese salamanders

Laking

Ngo

Pasmans

et al. 2017

Sci Rep

104

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The amphibian chytrid fungi, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) and B. salamandrivorans (Bsal), pose a major threat to amphibian biodiversity. Recent evidence suggests Southeast Asia as a potential cradle for both fungi, which likely resulted in widespread host-pathogen co-existence. We sampled 583 salamanders from 8 species across Vietnam in 55 locations for Bsal and Bd, determined scaled mass index as a proxy for fitness and collected environmental data. Bsal was found within 14 of the 55 habitats (2 of which it was detected in 2013), in 5 salamandrid species, with a prevalence of 2.92%. The globalized pandemic lineage of Bd was found within one pond on one species with a prevalence of 0.69%. Combined with a complete lack of correlation between infection and individual body condition and absence of indication of associated disease, this suggests low level pathogen endemism and Bsal and Bd co-existence with Vietnamese salamandrid populations. Bsal was more widespread than Bd, and occurs at temperatures higher than tolerated by the type strain, suggesting a wider thermal niche than currently known. Therefore, this study provides support for the hypothesis that these chytrid fungi may be endemic to Asia and that species within this region may act as a disease reservoir.

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“…Similar to the ECA approach, we chose a set out of the available BIOCLIM predictors that represent extreme and favourable conditions to Bsal (similar to [20,23]). The predictor ‘bio 8’ (mean temperature of wettest quarter) was included to account for possible temperature relationships at expected beneficial humid conditions, and ‘bio 15’ (precipitation seasonality) was included to examine the importance of stable precipitation conditions over the year.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Aware of this circumstance, Yap et al . (2015) [23] provisionally used avatar species (i.e. records and random points inside the distribution of Asian urodeles that potentially can be Bsal -positive) to create a Bsal SDM for North America.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring the Distribution of the Spreading Lethal Salamander Chytrid Fungus in Its Invasive Range in Europe – A Macroecological Approach

et al. 2016

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The chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) is a dangerous pathogen to salamanders and newts. Apparently native to Asia, it has recently been detected in Western Europe where it is expected to spread and to have dramatic effects on naïve hosts. Since 2010, Bsal has led to some catastrophic population declines of urodeles in the Netherlands and Belgium. More recently, it has been discovered in additional, more distant sites including sites in Germany. With the purpose to contribute to a better understanding of Bsal, we modelled its potential distribution in its invasive European range to gain insights about the factors driving this distribution. We computed Bsal Maxent models for two predictor sets, which represent different temporal resolutions, using three different background extents to account for different invasion stage scenarios. Beside ‘classical’ bioclimate, we employed weather data, which allowed us to emphasize predictors in accordance with the known pathogen’s biology. The most important predictors as well as spatial predictions varied between invasion scenarios and predictor sets. The most reasonable model was based on weather data and the scenario of a recent pathogen introduction. It identified temperature predictors, which represent optimal growing conditions and heat limiting conditions, as the most explaining drivers of the current distribution. This model also predicted large areas in the study region as suitable for Bsal. The other models predicted considerably less, but shared some areas which we interpreted as most likely high risk zones. Our results indicate that growth relevant temperatures measured under laboratory conditions might also be relevant on a macroecological scale, if predictors with a high temporal resolution and relevance are used. Additionally, the conditions in our study area support the possibility of a further Bsal spread, especially when considering that our models might tend to underestimate the potential distribution of Bsal.

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Averting a North American biodiversity crisis

Abstract: A newly described pathogen poses a major threat to salamanders via trade BIODIVERSITY

Cited by 130 publications

References 20 publications

Antifungal Bacteria on Woodland Salamander Skin Exhibit High Taxonomic Diversity and Geographic Variability

Antifungal Bacteria on Woodland Salamander Skin Exhibit High Taxonomic Diversity and Geographic Variability

Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans is the predominant chytrid fungus in Vietnamese salamanders

Exploring the Distribution of the Spreading Lethal Salamander Chytrid Fungus in Its Invasive Range in Europe – A Macroecological Approach

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