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Bd on the Beach: High Prevalence of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in the Lowland Forests of Gorgona Island (Colombia, South America)

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Abstract

The amphibian chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, Bd, has been implicated in the decimation and extinction of many amphibian populations worldwide, especially at mid and high elevations. Recent studies have demonstrated the presence of the pathogen in the lowlands from Australia and Central America. We extend here its elevational range by demonstrating its presence at the sea level, in the lowland forests of Gorgona Island, off the Pacific coast of Colombia. We conducted two field surveys, separated by four years, and diagnosed Bd by performing polymerase chain reactions on swab samples from the skin of five amphibian species. All species, including the Critically Endangered Atelopus elegans, tested positive for the pathogen, with prevalences between 3.9 % in A. elegans (in 2010) and 52 % in Pristimantis achatinus. Clinical signs of chytridiomycosis were not detected in any species. To our knowledge, this is the first report of B. dendrobatidis in tropical lowlands at sea level, where temperatures may exceed optimal growth temperatures of this pathogen. This finding highlights the need to understand the mechanisms allowing the interaction between frogs and pathogen in lowland ecosystems.

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Acknowledgments

This study was completed with financial support from Conservation International’s Critically Endangered Species Fund and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Conservation Endowment Fund. For assistance in the field, we thank A. J. Crawford, C. Silva, J. Méndez, and J. A. Hernández. Thanks to A. J. Crawford, D. M. Hudson, S. LÖtters and R. Ibáñez for helpful comments and suggestions that greatly improved this manuscript. Research permits were provided by the Unidad Administrativa del Sistema de Parques Nacionales Naturales (PIDB DTSO 001-09 and PIDB DTSO 019-09).

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Author notes

  1. Carolina Sarmiento

    Present address: Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado, 0843-03092, Ancon, Republic of Panama

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, AA 4976, Colombia

    Sandra Victoria Flechas, Carolina Sarmiento & Adolfo Amézquita

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  1. Sandra Victoria Flechas
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  2. Carolina Sarmiento
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Correspondence to Sandra Victoria Flechas.

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Flechas, S.V., Sarmiento, C. & Amézquita, A. Bd on the Beach: High Prevalence of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in the Lowland Forests of Gorgona Island (Colombia, South America). EcoHealth 9, 298–302 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10393-012-0771-9

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