Distribution and conservation status of<i>Bombina variegata</i>in Italy (Amphibia, Bombinatoridae)

Barbieri, Francesco; Bernini, Franco; Guarino, Fabio Maria; Venchi, Alberto

doi:10.1080/11250003.2004.9525541

Cited by 10 publications

(15 citation statements)

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“…In suitable habitats along the Apennine chain, B. pachypus was considered as a common species until the mid 1990’s, when population declines and disappearances begun to be reported [38], [39]. Nevertheless, our results date back the presence of the pathogen to at least 1978.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 73%

“…Once abundant throughout its range (it was categorized as ‘Least Concern’ in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species until 2009 [38]), B. pachypus populations have been reported to decline in most parts of its natural range, with the exception of the southernmost portion (the Calabria region), since about the last 15 years [38], [39]. For instance, during a survey carried out in the years 1999–2000 [39], 82% of known sites of presence were confirmed within the Calabria region, whereas 54% were confirmed throughout the rest of the peninsula. Moreover, 64 new sites of presence were discovered in Calabria since 1996, while just 5 new sites were discovered in the other regions [39].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For instance, during a survey carried out in the years 1999–2000 [39], 82% of known sites of presence were confirmed within the Calabria region, whereas 54% were confirmed throughout the rest of the peninsula. Moreover, 64 new sites of presence were discovered in Calabria since 1996, while just 5 new sites were discovered in the other regions [39]. Consequently, the species is now considered as ‘Endangered’ by the IUCN [38], mostly owing to its susceptibility to chytridiomycosis.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Widespread Occurrence of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in Contemporary and Historical Samples of the Endangered Bombina pachypus along the Italian Peninsula

2013

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Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis is considered a main driver of the worldwide declines and extinctions of amphibian populations. Nonetheless, fundamental questions about its epidemiology, including whether it acts mainly as a “lone killer” or in conjunction with other factors, remain largely open. In this paper we analysed contemporary and historical samples of the endangered Apennine yellow-bellied toad (Bombina pachypus) along the Italian peninsula, in order to assess the presence of the pathogen and its spreading dynamics. Once common throughout its range, B. pachypus started to decline after the mid-1990s in the northern and central regions, whereas no declines have been observed so far in the southern region. We show that Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis is currently widespread along the entire peninsula, and that this was already so at least as early as the late 1970s, that is, well before the beginning of the observed declines. This temporal mismatch between pathogen occurrence and host decline, as well as the spatial pattern of the declines, suggests that the pathogen has not acted as a “lone killer”, but in conjunction with other factors. Among the potentially interacting factors, we identified two as the most probable, genetic diversity of host populations and recent climate changes. We discuss the plausibility of this scenario and its implications on the conservation of B. pachypus populations.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 73%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Widespread Occurrence of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in Contemporary and Historical Samples of the Endangered Bombina pachypus along the Italian Peninsula

2013

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“…This Italian endemic species has experienced severe population declines in most of its range, with the exception of the southernmost area, over the last 15 yr (Barbieri et al 2004, Andreone et al 2009), and it has been proposed that Bd-related mortality has played a role in this (Stagni et al 2004). Interestingly, we found a delay of at least 1 decade between the first evidence of Bd occurrence and the beginning of the B. pachypus decline.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 59%

Geographic distribution of the chytrid pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis among mountain amphibians along the Italian peninsula

Zampiglia¹,

Canestrelli²,

Chiocchio³

et al. 2013

Dis. Aquat. Org.

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The amphibian chytrid pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is considered a major cause of amphibian population declines, particularly in montane areas. Here, we investigated the presence and distribution of Bd among populations of 3 mid- to high-altitude species spanning the entire Italian peninsula (486 individuals from 39 sites overall): the stream frog Rana italica, the fire salamander Salamandra salamandra gigliolii, and the alpine newt Mesotriton alpestris apuanus. We found Bd in all of the analyzed species. Despite the widespread distribution of the pathogen, its overall prevalence (6, 9 and 19%, respectively) was lower than previously reported for the endangered Apennine yellow-bellied toad Bombina pachypus (62.5%). Moreover, several populations of the species studied here were not infected, even at sites where Bd has been detected in other host species. When coupled with the lack of evidence for Bd-related mortalities in these species in peninsular Italy, these results suggest that mechanisms of resistance and/or tolerance are protecting populations of these species from the pathogenic activity of Bd. Nevertheless, in light of the dynamic pattern of Bd-host interactions reported in other studies, of Bd-related mortalities in at least 1 study species (S. s. salamandra) in other areas, and the ongoing climate changes in montane environments, we suggest that the occurrence of Bd should be considered a potential threat to the long-term persistence of these species, and urge the implementation of monitoring and conservation plans.

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“…This species is listed as endangered in the IUCN Red List (as Bombina pachypus; Andreone 2009), and is protected by the Habitats Directive of the European Union (92/43/EEC). Populations in the north and center of the species' range have declined in both number and abundance since the mid-1990s (Barbieri et al 2004). A recent study has found evidence of infection by B. dendrobatidis on specimens across the Italian peninsula (Canestrelli et al 2013).…”

Section: Study Speciesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Designing screening protocols for amphibian disease that account for imperfect and variable capture rates of individuals

Canessa

Martel

Pasmans

2014

Ecological Applications

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Abstract. The amphibian chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, is one of the main factors in global amphibian decline. Accurate knowledge of its presence and prevalence in an area is needed to trigger conservation actions. However, imperfect capture rates determine the number of individuals caught and tested during field surveys, and contribute to the uncertainty surrounding estimates of prevalence. Screening programs should be planned with the objective of minimizing such uncertainty. We show how this can be achieved by using predictive models that incorporate information about population size and capture rates. Using as a case study an existing screening program for three populations of the yellow-bellied toad (Bombina variegata pachypus) in northern Italy, we sought to quantify the effect of seasonal variation in individual capture rates on the uncertainty surrounding estimates of chytrid prevalence. We obtained estimates of population size and capture rates from mark-recapture data, and found wide seasonal variation in the individual recapture rates. We then incorporated this information in a binomial model to predict the estimates of prevalence that would be obtained by sampling at different times in the season, assuming no infected individuals were found. Sampling during the period of maximum capture probability was predicted to decrease upper 95% credible intervals by a maximum of 36%, compared with least suitable periods, with greater gains when using uninformative priors. We evaluated model predictions by comparing them with the results of screening surveys in 2012. The observed results closely matched the predicted figures for all populations, suggesting that this method can be reliably used to maximize the sampling size of surveillance programs, thus improving their efficiency.

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Distribution and conservation status ofBombina variegatain Italy (Amphibia, Bombinatoridae)

Cited by 10 publications

References 10 publications

Widespread Occurrence of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in Contemporary and Historical Samples of the Endangered Bombina pachypus along the Italian Peninsula

Widespread Occurrence of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in Contemporary and Historical Samples of the Endangered Bombina pachypus along the Italian Peninsula

Geographic distribution of the chytrid pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis among mountain amphibians along the Italian peninsula

Designing screening protocols for amphibian disease that account for imperfect and variable capture rates of individuals

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