Ecological Traits Predicting Amphibian Population Declines in Central America

Lips, Karen R.; Reeve, John D.; Witters, Lani R.

doi:10.1046/j.1523-1739.2003.01623.x

Cited by 362 publications

(434 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…Other factors, including clutch size, body size and ecological niche, are also considered important [8][9][10][11]. Although in agreement about the importance of these traits, our results go beyond previous results by highlighting the way multiple extrinsic threats may operate across specific ecological groups.…”

Section: Discussion (A) a Global Perspectivecontrasting

confidence: 52%

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Integrating species traits with extrinsic threats: closing the gap between predicting and preventing species declines

et al. 2010

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In studies of extinction risk, it is often insufficient to conclude that species with narrow ranges or small clutch sizes require prioritized protection. To improve conservation outcomes, we also need to know which threats interact with these traits to endanger some species but not others. In this study, we integrated the spatial patterns of key threats to Australian amphibians with species' ecological/life-history traits to both predict declining species and identify their likely threats. In addition to confirming the importance of previously identified traits (e.g. narrow range size), we find that extrinsic threats (primarily the disease chytridiomycosis and invasive mosquitofish) are equally important and interact with intrinsic traits (primarily ecological group) to create guild-specific pathways to decline in our model system. Integrating the spatial patterns of extrinsic threats in extinction risk analyses will improve our ability to detect and manage endangered species in the future, particularly where data deficiency is a problem.

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Section: Discussion (A) a Global Perspectivecontrasting

confidence: 52%

“…For example, for amphibians (and several other groups) small geographical range size has been consistently identified as the most important predisposing factor to decline [5][6][7]. Other factors, including clutch size, body size and ecological niche, have also been identified as potentially important [8][9][10][11].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Integrating species traits with extrinsic threats: closing the gap between predicting and preventing species declines

et al. 2010

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“…To fully understand the impacts of Bd on amphibians, it is necessary to examine the interactions between life history patterns and environmental variables (i.e., ambient moisture) that can exacerbate or ameliorate Bd prevalence and intensity (Lips et al 2003). We have shown that Bd infection varies seasonally in crawfish frogs (Lithobates areolatus), a North American ranid with a complex life history (Kinney et al 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

DROUGHT REDUCES CHYTRID FUNGUS (BATRACHOCHYTRIUM DENDROBATIDIS) INFECTION INTENSITY AND MORTALITY BUT NOT PREVALENCE IN ADULT CRAWFISH FROGS (LITHOBATES AREOLATUS)

Terrell

Engbrecht

Pessier

et al. 2014

Journal of Wildlife Diseases

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ABSTRACT:To fully understand the impacts of the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) on amphibians it is necessary to examine the interactions between populations and their environment. Ecologic variables can exacerbate or ameliorate Bd prevalence and infection intensity, factors that are positively related when Bd is acting on naive amphibian populations as an epidemic disease. In crawfish frogs (Lithobates areolatus), a North American species with a complex life history, we have shown that Bd acts as an endemic disease with impacts that vary seasonally; the highest infection prevalences and intensities and highest frog mortality occurred during late spring in postbreeding individuals. In this study, conducted between 28 February and 23 August 2011 in southwestern Indiana on the same population, we report an uncoupling of the previously observed relationship between Bd prevalence and intensity following an extreme drought. Specifically, there was a postdrought reduction in Bd infection intensity and mortality, but not in infection prevalence. This result suggests that the relationship between prevalence and intensity observed in Bd epidemics can be uncoupled in populations harboring endemic infections. Further, constant prevalence rates suggest either that crawfish frogs are being exposed to Bd sources independent of ambient moisture or that low-level infections below detection thresholds persist from year to year. Drought has several ecologically beneficial effects for amphibians with complex life histories, including eliminating fish and invertebrate populations that feed on larvae. To these ecologic benefits we suggest another, that drought can reduce the incidence of the severe skin disease (chytridiomycosis) due to Bd infection.

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“…Whenever mass die-offs were observed, population declines were rapid (4-6 months), Ͼ50% of species were extirpated, remaining species persisted at Ϸ20% of normal abundance, and recovery time exceeded 15 y postdecline (8). In most cases where dead and dying frogs were observed and subsequent population declines occurred, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, a pathogenic fungus known to kill amphibians, was found to be the cause of death for almost all individuals (8 -9).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Emerging infectious disease and the loss of biodiversity in a Neotropical amphibian community

Lips

Brem²,

Brenes³

et al. 2006

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Pathogens rarely cause extinctions of host species, and there are few examples of a pathogen changing species richness and diversity of an ecological community by causing local extinctions across a wide range of species. We report the link between the rapid appearance of a pathogenic chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in an amphibian community at El Copé , Panama, and subsequent mass mortality and loss of amphibian biodiversity across eight families of frogs and salamanders. We describe an outbreak of chytridiomycosis in Panama and argue that this infectious disease has played an important role in amphibian population declines. The high virulence and large number of potential hosts of this emerging infectious disease threaten global amphibian diversity.extinction ͉ fungus ͉ tropics ͉ chytridiomycosis ͉ Panama

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Ecological Traits Predicting Amphibian Population Declines in Central America

Cited by 362 publications

References 51 publications

Integrating species traits with extrinsic threats: closing the gap between predicting and preventing species declines

Integrating species traits with extrinsic threats: closing the gap between predicting and preventing species declines

DROUGHT REDUCES CHYTRID FUNGUS (BATRACHOCHYTRIUM DENDROBATIDIS) INFECTION INTENSITY AND MORTALITY BUT NOT PREVALENCE IN ADULT CRAWFISH FROGS (LITHOBATES AREOLATUS)

Emerging infectious disease and the loss of biodiversity in a Neotropical amphibian community

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