Low-load pathogen spillover predicts shifts in skin microbiome and survival of a terrestrial-breeding amphibian.

ABSTRACT: Wildlife disease dynamics are strongly influenced by the structure of host communities and their symbiotic microbiota. Conspicuous amphibian declines associated with the waterborne fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) have been observed in aquatic-breeding frogs globally. However, less attention has been given to cryptic terrestrial-breeding amphibians that have also been declining in tropical regions. By experimentally manipulating multiple tropical amphibian assemblages harbouring natural microbial communities, we tested whether Bd spillover from naturally infected aquatic-breeding frogs could lead to Bd amplification and mortality in our focal terrestrial-breeding host: the pumpkin toadlet Brachycephalus pitanga. We also tested whether the strength of spillover could vary

SUBMITTER: Becker CG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6710587 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature