Strategic conservation action for frogs

Abstract

A common trait of the most successful pathogen species is their broad host range. Despite a wealth of research on Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, it remains unclear exactly how reservoir media and sympatric host species affect the disease dynamics of many declining species. Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd ) has caused widespread declines in amphibians and may infect other taxa such as crustaceans and fish, yet this pathogen does not cause disease in every host it infects. Understanding the ecological role that non‐declining species play in shaping population dynamics and transmission of Bd is paramount to informing conservation efforts for targeted species afflicted by disease and understanding mechanisms of decline. Brannelly et al. (2017) follow‐up on their previous work to describe Bd dynamics of a widespread and common frog species that occurs at important sites for conservation in south-eastern Australia.