Climatic niche evolution of infectious diseases driving amphibian declines

Ellepola, Gajaba; Herath, Jayampathi; Sun, Dan; Pie, Márcio R.; Murray, Kris A.; Pethiyagoda, Rohan; Howard, James L.; Meegaskumbura, Madhava

doi:10.1101/2022.05.13.491758

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 105 publications

(160 reference statements)

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“…Screening of tadpoles in Panama, and an investigation of captive-bred tadpoles in the UK, detected similar protists [36]. Perkinsea was also detected in Pristimantis frogs in Ecuador [37], and new analyses suggest that the pathogen will continue to result in considerable mortality of amphibians as climate change and the amphibian trade enable its geographic expansion [38]. The known range of Perkinsea has extended to Central and South America.…”

Section: Potential Effects Of Severe Perkinsea Infection On Amphibiansmentioning

confidence: 99%

A global biological conservation horizon scan of issues for 2023

Sutherland

Bennett²,

Brotherton³

et al. 2023

Trends in Ecology & Evolution

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Section: Potential Effects Of Severe Perkinsea Infection On Amphibiansmentioning

confidence: 99%

A global biological conservation horizon scan of issues for 2023

Sutherland

Bennett²,

Brotherton³

et al. 2023

Trends in Ecology & Evolution

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“…Both Bd and Bsal are thought to have originated in Asia, with endemic Bd lineages present in the region [ 5 , 6 ]. Bd affects all three amphibian orders and has caused widespread population declines, particularly in anuran species across all amphibian-inhabited continents, and except in Asia [ 4 , 7 , 8 ]. In contrast, Bsal mainly affects caudates and several anurans [ 9 , 10 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Bd affects all three amphibian orders and has caused widespread population declines, particularly in anuran species across all amphibian-inhabited continents, and J. Fungi 2023, 9, 911 2 of 13 except in Asia [4,7,8]. In contrast, Bsal mainly affects caudates and several anurans [9,10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecological Barriers for an Amphibian Pathogen: A Narrow Ecological Niche for Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans in an Asian Chytrid Hotspot

Sun,

Ellepola,

Herath

et al. 2023

JoF

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The chytrid fungal pathogens Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) and B. dendrobatidis (Bd) are driving amphibian extinctions and population declines worldwide. As their origins are believed to be in East/Southeast Asia, this region is crucial for understanding their ecology. However, Bsal screening is relatively limited in this region, particularly in hotspots where Bd lineage diversity is high. To address this gap, we conducted an extensive Bsal screening involving 1101 individuals from 36 amphibian species, spanning 17 natural locations and four captive facilities in the biodiversity-rich Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (GAR). Our PCR assays yielded unexpected results, revealing the complete absence of Bsal in all tested samples including 51 individuals with Bd presence. To understand the potential distribution of Bsal, we created niche models, utilizing existing occurrence records from both Asia and Europe. These models estimated potential suitable habitats for Bsal largely in the northern and southwestern parts of the GAR. Although Bsal was absent in our samples, the niche models identified 10 study sites as being potentially suitable for this pathogen. Interestingly, out of these 10 sites, Bd was detected at 8. This suggests that Bsal and Bd could possibly co-exist in these habitats, if Bsal were present. Several factors seem to influence the distribution of Bsal in Asia, including variations in temperature, local caudate species diversity, elevation, and human population density. However, it is climate-related factors that hold the greatest significance, accounting for a notable 60% contribution. The models propose that the specific climatic conditions of arid regions, primarily seen in the GAR, play a major role in the distribution of Bsal. Considering the increased pathogenicity of Bsal at stable and cooler temperatures (10–15 °C), species-dependent variations, and the potential for seasonal Bd-Bsal interactions, we emphasize the importance of periodic monitoring for Bsal within its projected range in the GAR. Our study provides deeper insights into Bsal’s ecological niche and the knowledge generated will facilitate conservation efforts in amphibian populations devastated by chytrid pathogens across other regions of the world.

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The two chytrid pathogens of amphibians in Eurasia—climatic niches and future expansion

et al. 2023

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Background Climate affects the thermal adaptation and distribution of hosts, and drives the spread of Chytridiomycosis—a keratin-associated infectious disease of amphibians caused by the sister pathogens Batrachochytrium dendrobatidi (Bd) and B. salamandrivorans (Bsal). We focus on their climate-pathogen relationships in Eurasia, the only region where their geographical distributions overlap. Eurasia harbours invaded and native areas of both pathogens and the natural habitats where they co-exist, making it an ideal region to examine their environmental niche correlations. Our understanding of how climate change will affect their distribution is broadened by the differences in climate correlates and niche characteristics between Bd and Bsal in Asia and Europe. This knowledge has potential conservation implications, informing future spread of the disease in different regions. Results We quantified the environmental niche overlap between Bd and Bsal in Eurasia using niche analyses. Results revealed partial overlap in the niche with a unique 4% of non-overlapping values for Bsal, suggesting segregation along certain climate axes. Bd tolerates higher temperature fluctuations, while Bsal requires more stable, lower temperature and wetter conditions. Projections of their Realized Climatic Niches (RCNs) to future conditions show a larger expansion of suitable ranges (SRs) for Bd compared to Bsal in both Asia and Europe, with their centroids shifting in different directions. Notably, both pathogens' highly suitable areas in Asia are expected to shrink significantly, especially under the extreme climate scenarios. In Europe, they are expected to expand significantly. Conclusions Climate change will impact or increase disease risk to amphibian hosts, particularly in Europe. Given the shared niche space of the two pathogens across available climate gradients, as has already been witnessed in Eurasia with an increased range expansion and niche overlap due to climate change, we expect that regions where Bsal is currently absent but salamanders are present, and where Bd is already prevalent, may be conducive for the spread of Bsal.

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Climatic niche evolution of infectious diseases driving amphibian declines

Cited by 3 publications

References 105 publications

A global biological conservation horizon scan of issues for 2023

A global biological conservation horizon scan of issues for 2023

Ecological Barriers for an Amphibian Pathogen: A Narrow Ecological Niche for Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans in an Asian Chytrid Hotspot

The two chytrid pathogens of amphibians in Eurasia—climatic niches and future expansion

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