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Volume 10
Issue 3
10.3390/d10030081
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Review

Effects of Emerging Infectious Diseases on Amphibians: A Review of Experimental Studies

by
Andrew R. Blaustein
1,*,
Jenny Urbina
2,
Paul W. Snyder
1,
Emily Reynolds
2,
Trang Dang
1,
Jason T. Hoverman
3,
Barbara Han
4,
Deanna H. Olson
5,
Catherine Searle
6 and
Natalie M. Hambalek
1
1
Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
2
Environmental Sciences Graduate Program, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
3
Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
4
Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, New York, NY 12545, USA
5
US Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
6
Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Diversity 2018, 10(3), 81; https://doi.org/10.3390/d10030081
Submission received: 25 May 2018 / Revised: 25 July 2018 / Accepted: 27 July 2018 / Published: 4 August 2018
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conservation and Ecology of Amphibians)
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Abstract

Numerous factors are contributing to the loss of biodiversity. These include complex effects of multiple abiotic and biotic stressors that may drive population losses. These losses are especially illustrated by amphibians, whose populations are declining worldwide. The causes of amphibian population declines are multifaceted and context-dependent. One major factor affecting amphibian populations is emerging infectious disease. Several pathogens and their associated diseases are especially significant contributors to amphibian population declines. These include the fungi Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis and B. salamandrivorans, and ranaviruses. In this review, we assess the effects of these three pathogens on amphibian hosts as found through experimental studies. Such studies offer valuable insights to the causal factors underpinning broad patterns reported through observational studies. We summarize key findings from experimental studies in the laboratory, in mesocosms, and from the field. We also summarize experiments that explore the interactive effects of these pathogens with other contributors of amphibian population declines. Though well-designed experimental studies are critical for understanding the impacts of disease, inconsistencies in experimental methodologies limit our ability to form comparisons and conclusions. Studies of the three pathogens we focus on show that host susceptibility varies with such factors as species, host age, life history stage, population and biotic (e.g., presence of competitors, predators) and abiotic conditions (e.g., temperature, presence of contaminants), as well as the strain and dose of the pathogen, to which hosts are exposed. Our findings suggest the importance of implementing standard protocols and reporting for experimental studies of amphibian disease.
Keywords: amphibian population declines; experiments; pathogens; Batrachochytrium; ranavirus amphibian population declines; experiments; pathogens; Batrachochytrium; ranavirus

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MDPI and ACS Style

Blaustein, A.R.; Urbina, J.; Snyder, P.W.; Reynolds, E.; Dang, T.; Hoverman, J.T.; Han, B.; Olson, D.H.; Searle, C.; Hambalek, N.M. Effects of Emerging Infectious Diseases on Amphibians: A Review of Experimental Studies. Diversity 2018, 10, 81. https://doi.org/10.3390/d10030081

AMA Style

Blaustein AR, Urbina J, Snyder PW, Reynolds E, Dang T, Hoverman JT, Han B, Olson DH, Searle C, Hambalek NM. Effects of Emerging Infectious Diseases on Amphibians: A Review of Experimental Studies. Diversity. 2018; 10(3):81. https://doi.org/10.3390/d10030081

Chicago/Turabian Style

Blaustein, Andrew R., Jenny Urbina, Paul W. Snyder, Emily Reynolds, Trang Dang, Jason T. Hoverman, Barbara Han, Deanna H. Olson, Catherine Searle, and Natalie M. Hambalek. 2018. "Effects of Emerging Infectious Diseases on Amphibians: A Review of Experimental Studies" Diversity 10, no. 3: 81. https://doi.org/10.3390/d10030081

APA Style

Blaustein, A. R., Urbina, J., Snyder, P. W., Reynolds, E., Dang, T., Hoverman, J. T., Han, B., Olson, D. H., Searle, C., & Hambalek, N. M. (2018). Effects of Emerging Infectious Diseases on Amphibians: A Review of Experimental Studies. Diversity, 10(3), 81. https://doi.org/10.3390/d10030081

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