Expanding Distribution of Lethal Amphibian Fungus<i>Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans</i>in Europe

Sluijs, Annemarieke Spitzen‐van der; Martel, An; Asselberghs, Johan; Bales, Emma K.; Beukema, Wouter; Bletz, Molly C.; Dalbeck, Lutz; Goverse, E.; Kerres, Alexander; Kinet, Thierry; Kirst, Kai; Laudelout, Arnaud; Fonte, Luís Fernando Marin da; Nöllert, Andreas; Ohlhoff, Dagmar; Sabino‐Pinto, Joana; Schmidt, Benedikt R.; Speybroeck, Jeroen; Spikmans, F.; Steinfartz, Sebastian; Veith, Michael; Vences, Miguel; Wagner, Norman; Pasmans, Frank; Lötters, Stefan

doi:10.3201/eid2207.160109

Cited by 131 publications

(160 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) is a recently discovered species of salamander-specific chytrid [58] that has been introduced into Europe, where it is causing mass dieoffs and population declines in several species [58,59]. Field and museum sampling has shown that Bsal has been present in Asia for over 150 years and is present in the wild in at least three countries [58 -60], although the impact on Asian populations is not known.…”

Section: (V) Salamander Chytridmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, they found that Alytes obstetricans in the Netherlands is infected but not declining, whereas populations of that species in upland areas of Spain are highly susceptible. As Bsal continues to spread in the region [59], researchers will have opportunity to establish capture-mark-recapture studies to quantify the response of native amphibians to co-infection by multiple chytrid lineages.…”

Section: (Iii) Europementioning

confidence: 99%

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Overview of chytrid emergence and impacts on amphibians

Lips

2016

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

199

169

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One contribution of 18 to a discussion meeting issue 'Tackling emerging fungal threats to animal health, food security and ecosystem resilience'. Chytridiomycosis is an emerging infectious disease of amphibians that affects over 700 species on all continents where amphibians occur. The amphibianchytridiomycosis system is complex, and the response of any amphibian species to chytrid depends on many aspects of the ecology and evolutionary history of the amphibian, the genotype and phenotype of the fungus, and how the biological and physical environment can mediate that interaction. Impacts of chytridiomycosis on amphibians are varied; some species have been driven extinct, populations of others have declined severely, whereas still others have not obviously declined. Understanding patterns and mechanisms of amphibian responses to chytrids is critical for conservation and management. Robust estimates of population numbers are needed to identify species at risk, prioritize taxa for conservation actions, design management strategies for managing populations and species, and to develop effective measures to reduce impacts of chytrids on amphibians.This article is part of the themed issue 'Tackling emerging fungal threats to animal health, food security and ecosystem resilience'.

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Section: (V) Salamander Chytridmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: (Iii) Europementioning

confidence: 99%

Overview of chytrid emergence and impacts on amphibians

Lips

2016

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

199

169

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“…Since this fungus has been found in wild Asian newts, it is expected that Bsal is native to Asia and has recently been introduced into Europe by humans [11]. Since 2010, observed Dutch populations of fire salamanders ( Salamandra salamandra ) have drastically declined due to Bsal infections, with sometimes less than one percent survival rate (the latter studied in one population only) [12,13]. In subsequent years, Bsal infections have been recorded in additional species and nearby sites (within a radius of about 100 km from first noted outbreaks) in Belgium and Germany, and it appears that Bsal is spreading in its invasive range [13].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Since 2010, observed Dutch populations of fire salamanders ( Salamandra salamandra ) have drastically declined due to Bsal infections, with sometimes less than one percent survival rate (the latter studied in one population only) [12,13]. In subsequent years, Bsal infections have been recorded in additional species and nearby sites (within a radius of about 100 km from first noted outbreaks) in Belgium and Germany, and it appears that Bsal is spreading in its invasive range [13]. According to these authors, to date Bsal infections in Europe in the wild are known in one salamander and two newt species at 14 sites.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A basic assumption of SDMs is that a species and its environment are in equilibrium [25,26]. SDMs built in early invasion stages, as it is expected for Bsal [13], are in conflict with this assumption and tend to underpredict the potential distribution of a species [27]. On the other hand, with regard to the development of mitigation strategies, attempting to build a Bsal SDM might be a valuable contribution.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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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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Amphibians

Jayson¹

2020

Handbook of Exotic Pet Medicine

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Expanding Distribution of Lethal Amphibian FungusBatrachochytrium salamandrivoransin Europe

Cited by 131 publications

References 9 publications

Overview of chytrid emergence and impacts on amphibians

Overview of chytrid emergence and impacts on amphibians

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

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