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Amphibian Chytrid Fungus Broadly Distributed in the Brazilian Atlantic Rain Forest

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Abstract

To investigate the occurrence of the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in Brazil, we conducted histological screenings of 96 preserved specimens of anurans collected at 10 sites in the Atlantic rain forest. Data show this fungus to be widely distributed. Infected specimens included Colostethus olfersioides (Dendrobatidae), Bokermannohyla gouveai and Hypsiboas freicanecae (Hylidae), as well as Thoropa miliaris and Crossodactylus caramaschii (Leptodactylidae), extending the area of B. dendrobatidis occurrence in Brazil approximately 1,600 km N, 200 km S, and 270 km E. The altitudinal range of the chytrid is broad, spanning from less than 100 m (Estação Ecológica Juréia-Itatins, Reserva Biológica do Tinguá) to about 2,400 m (Parque Nacional do Itatiaia). An infection record dating to 1981 roughly coincides with the time of the first observations of amphibian declines in the country. Widespread occurrence of B. dendrobatidis in the Atlantic Forest adds to the challenge of conserving an already endangered biome given the potential risk of further local biodiversity loss. Further research is needed to understand how environmental and genetic factors relate to chytridiomycosis in leading to or preventing local die-offs. Protected sites at mid and high elevations may be particularly threatened, while lowland populations may be functioning as reservoirs. Conservation efforts should also involve monitoring studies and habitat protection.

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Acknowledgments

Andriele Muri, Dante Pavan, Felipe Curcio, and José Cassimiro da Silva, Jr., helped with fieldwork. Ricardo Guerra-Fuentes and Marianna Dixo contributed with specimens of C. caramaschii. José Pombal, Jr., and Hussam Zaher provided access to collections at MNRJ and MZUSP. Carolina Castro-Mello, Luciana Lobo, and Jane Zambon assisted with curatorial activities at MZUSP. In Costa Rica, Alfonso Carranza and the National Children’s Hospital allowed use of facilities; María del Carmen Obando helped to process samples. In Chicago, samples were processed at the University of Chicago Animal Resource Center Clinical and Histology Laboratory. Alan Pounds and David Wake provided insightful comments on the manuscript. This research was partially funded by Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo, Brazil’s Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, the Research and Analysis Network for Neotropical Amphibians, and the National Science Foundation (grant DEB-0130273).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, 3101 Valley Life Sciences Building #3160, Berkeley, CA, 94720-3160, USA

    Ana Carolina Oliveira de Queiroz Carnaval

  2. Escuela de Biología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica, Brazil

    Robert Puschendorf

  3. Departamento de Biologia Animal, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, Brazil

    Oswaldo Luiz Peixoto

  4. Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    Vanessa Kruth Verdade & Miguel Trefaut Rodrigues

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  1. Ana Carolina Oliveira de Queiroz Carnaval
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  2. Robert Puschendorf
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  3. Oswaldo Luiz Peixoto
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  4. Vanessa Kruth Verdade
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  5. Miguel Trefaut Rodrigues
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ana Carolina Oliveira de Queiroz Carnaval.

Appendix I

Appendix I

Appendix 1 Complete List of Screened Specimens Including Species Name, Locality Data, Year of Collection, Information on Life Stage and Condition, and Voucher Number
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Carnaval, A.C.O.Q., Puschendorf, R., Peixoto, O.L. et al. Amphibian Chytrid Fungus Broadly Distributed in the Brazilian Atlantic Rain Forest. EcoHealth 3, 41–48 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10393-005-0008-2

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