Rapid assessment indicates context-dependent mitigation for amphibian disease risk

Wildlife Society Bulletin
By:  and 

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Abstract

Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) is a fungal pathogen that can cause the emerging infectious disease Bsal chytridiomycosis in some amphibians and is currently causing dramatic declines in European urodeles. To date, Bsal has not been detected in North America but has the potential to cause severe declines in naïve hosts if introduced. Therefore, it is critical that wildlife managers are prepared with effective management actions to combat the fungus. Research has been initiated to identify strategies; however, managers need guidance to prepare for an outbreak until results are available. We conducted a workshop at the Joint Meeting of The Wildlife Society and American Fisheries Society on 30 September 2019 with participants of a Bsal symposium. Our goals were to describe the expected effects of 11 management actions that could be implemented for Bsal in salamander communities in the northwestern, northeastern, and southeastern United States. Participants expected a variety of proposed management actions to decrease pathogen transmission and increase host survival, but also that the selection of a management action may depend on the specific membership of the amphibian community. Collectively, our assessment will help refine research and modeling priorities in an effort to mitigate the risk of Bsal to native U.S. amphibians.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Rapid assessment indicates context-dependent mitigation for amphibian disease risk
Series title Wildlife Society Bulletin
DOI 10.1002/wsb.1198
Volume 45
Issue 23-24
Year Published 2021
Language English
Publisher Wildlife Society
Contributing office(s) Eastern Ecological Science Center
Description 10 p.
First page 290
Last page 299
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