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Predation by zooplankton on Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis: biological control of the deadly amphibian chytrid fungus?

Biodiversity and Conservation volume 20, pages 3549–3553 (2011)Cite this article

An Erratum to this article was published on 23 September 2011

Abstract

Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (hereafter Batrachochytrium), a fungal pathogen of amphibians, causes the disease chytridiomycosis which is responsible for unprecedented population declines and extinctions globally. Host defenses against chytridiomycosis include cutaneous symbiotic bacteria and anti-microbial peptides, and proposed treatment measures include use of fungicides and bioaugmentation. Efforts to eradicate the fungus from localized areas of disease outbreak have not been successful. Instead, control measures to mitigate the impacts of the disease on host populations, many of which are already persisting with Batrachochytrium in an endemic state, may be more realistic. The infective stage of the fungus is an aquatic zoospore, 3–5 μm in diameter. Here we show that zoospores of Batrachochytrium are consumed by the zooplankter Daphnia magna. This species inhabits amphibian breeding sites where Batrachochytrium transmission occurs, and consumption of Batrachochytrium zoospores may lead to effective biological control of Batrachochytrium.

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Acknowledgments

We acknowledge the Tanguay, Spatafora, and Taylor laboratories of Oregon State University for use of space and equipment, and especially B. Taylor for assistance. This material is based upon work supported under a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship to J.C.B. Additional funding was provided by NSF (DEB0213851 and IBN9977063).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Zoology Department, Oregon State University, 3029 Cordley Hall, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA

    Julia C. Buck & Andrew R. Blaustein

  2. Environmental and Molecular Toxicology Department, Oregon State University, 1007 ALS Building, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA

    Lisa Truong

Authors
  1. Julia C. Buck
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  2. Lisa Truong
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  3. Andrew R. Blaustein
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Correspondence to Julia C. Buck.

Additional information

An erratum to this article can be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10531-011-0163-4

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Buck, J.C., Truong, L. & Blaustein, A.R. Predation by zooplankton on Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis: biological control of the deadly amphibian chytrid fungus?. Biodivers Conserv 20, 3549–3553 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-011-0147-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-011-0147-4

Keywords

  • Amphibian chytrid fungus
  • Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis
  • Biological control
  • Daphnia magna
  • Zooplankton