10.25349/D9Z020
Adams, Andrea
0000-0001-5609-6150
University of California, Santa Barbara
Bushell, Jessie
San Francisco Zoo
Grasso, Robert
National Park Service
Data from: To treat or Not to Treat? Experimental Pathogen Exposure,
Treatment, and Release of a Threatened Amphibian
Dryad
dataset
2022
FOS: Biological sciences
amphibian declines
disease mitigation
Ex situ conservation
Endangered species
Amphibian conservation
itraconazole
translocation
Reintroduction biology
Yosemite Conservancy*
Dorrance Family Foundation
https://ror.org/05fvy0w58
2022-09-13T00:00:00Z
2022-09-13T00:00:00Z
en
120343 bytes
7
CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
Species reintroductions may mitigate the effects of severe amphibian
declines, but chytridiomycosis—the often-deadly amphibian disease caused
by the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd)—can hinder
these efforts. Exposing amphibians to the pathogen ex-situ may improve
disease outcomes post-release. We experimentally inoculated the federally
threatened California red-legged frog (Rana draytonii) ex situ, cleared Bd
infections, then released them to the wild for monitoring in an area where
Bd is present. Ex situ, previously-exposed frogs had lower Bd loads than
previously uninfected frogs, and all exposure groups, including previously
uninfected frogs, naturally reduced their Bd loads in two independent
experiments. After release to the wild, we observed no differences in
field-contracted Bd infection among exposure groups. Treating
post-metamorphic R. draytonii ex situ may not confer additional
post-release benefits to this species in terms of chytridiomycosis burden.
Our results, however, do not necessarily mirror Bd susceptibility
throughout the amphibian life cycle, with other source populations that
may have different Bd infection histories or responses to different Bd
strains. These results provide a clearer understanding of post-release
disease responses of a threatened, Bd-susceptible species with prior
pathogen exposure. Following ex situ experiments with in situ applications
can provide a more comprehensive understanding of threat outcomes for
declining species in reintroduction programs, and strengthen critical
links between ex situ and in situ conservation partners.
Refer to the README.txt file.