Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152735
Title (Primary) The role of abiotic variables in an emerging global amphibian fungal disease in mountains
Author Haver, M.; Le Roux, G.; Friesen, J. ORCID logo ; Loyau, A.; Vredenburg, V.T.; Schmeller, D.S.
Source Titel Science of the Total Environment
Year 2022
Department UBZ
Volume 815
Page From art. 152735
Language englisch
Topic T7 Bioeconomy
Keywords Freshwater ecosystems; Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis; Climate change; Hydrology; Aquatic pollution; Interdisciplinary research
Abstract The emergence of the chytridiomycete fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), causing the disease chytridiomycosis, has caused collapse of amphibian communities in numerous mountain systems. The health of amphibians and of mountain freshwater habitats they inhabit is also threatened by ongoing changes in environmental, and anthropogenic factors such as climate, hydrology, and pollution. Climate change is causing more extreme climatic events, shifts in ice occurrence, and changes in the timing of snow-melt and pollutant deposition cycles. All of these factors impact both pathogen and host, and disease dynamics. Here we review abiotic variables, known to control Bd occurrence and chytridiomycosis severity, and discuss how climate change may modify them. We propose two main categories of abiotic variables that may alter Bd distribution, persistence, and physiology: 1) climate and hydrology (temperature, precipitation, hydrology, ultraviolet radiation (UVR); and, 2) water chemistry (pH, salinity, pollution). For both categories, we identify topics for further research. More studies on the relationship between global change, pollution and pathogens in complex landscapes, such as mountains, are needed to allow for accurate risk assessments for freshwater ecosystems and resulting impacts on wildlife and human health. Our review emphasizes the importance of using data of higher spatiotemporal resolution and uniform abiotic metrics in order to better compare study outcomes. Fine-scale temperature variability, especially of water temperature, variability of moisture conditions and water levels, snow, ice and runoff dynamics should be assessed as abiotic variables shaping the mountain habitat of pathogen and host. A better understanding of hydroclimate and water chemistry variables, as co-factors in disease, will increase our understanding of chytridiomycosis dynamics.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=25569
Haver, M., Le Roux, G., Friesen, J., Loyau, A., Vredenburg, V.T., Schmeller, D.S. (2022):
The role of abiotic variables in an emerging global amphibian fungal disease in mountains
Sci. Total Environ. 815 , art. 152735 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152735