Niche Contraction of an Endangered Frog Driven by the Amphibian Chytrid Fungus

Ecological correlates of extinction risk and persistence of direct-developing stream-dwelling frogs in Mesoamerica

“…3). This finding coincides with other studies that have suggested that the persistence of remnant populations of C. ranoides and C. taurus is associated with dry and warm regions that constrain the growth of Bd (Chaves et al, 2014;Granados-Martínez et al, 2021;Puschendorf et al, 2009;Zumbado-Ulate et al, 2014). Here we provide new evidence that high community heterogeneity (e.g., Schmidt and Ostfeld, 2001;Searle et al, 2011) and abiotic conditions outside of the optimal range for Bd transmission (e.g., pH 6-8; Piotrowski et al, 2004) could also be suppressing pathogen transmission in locations where remnant populations exist (Fig.…”

Assessing Suitable Habitats for Treefrog Species after Previous Declines in Costa Rica

“…Similarly, other treefrog species, such as the iconic red-eyed treefrog, Agalychnis callidryas, the harlequin treefrog, Dendropsophus ebraccatus (Figure 6b), the drab treefrog, Smilisca sordida (Figure 6c), and the masked treefrog, S. phaeota, appear to have increased their ranges after the historic Several mechanisms, acting alone or synergistically, may explain the persistence and resilience of these species, especially those susceptible to Bd. For example, some remnant populations may have (1) persisted in areas where environmental factors reduce pathogen transmission [93][94][95], (2) rapidly evolved reduced susceptibility to Bd [96], or (3) recovered after a decrease in the prevalence of disease due to low host abundance [97]. Furthermore, some of these species could have increased their detectability as a result of (1) relocations and introductions, (2) construction of artificial breeding sites, or (3) management in public and private protected areas.…”