Species-level correlates of susceptibility to the pathogenic amphibian fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in the United States |
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Authors: | Betsy A Bancroft Barbara A Han Catherine L Searle Lindsay M Biga Deanna H Olson Lee B Kats Joshua J Lawler Andrew R Blaustein |
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Institution: | (1) School of Forest Resources, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-2100, USA;(2) Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, 30602 Athens, GA, Greece;(3) Department of Zoology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA;(4) USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA;(5) Natural Science Division, Seaver College, Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA 90263, USA;(6) Department of Biology, Southern Utah University, Cedar City, UT 84720, USA |
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Abstract: | Disease is often implicated as a factor in population declines of wildlife and plants. Understanding the characteristics that
may predispose a species to infection by a particular pathogen can help direct conservation efforts. Recent declines in amphibian
populations world-wide are a major conservation issue and may be caused in part by a fungal pathogen, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). We used Random Forest, a machine learning approach, to identify species-level characteristics that may be related to
susceptibility to Bd. Our results suggest that body size at maturity, aspects of egg laying behavior, taxonomic order and
family, and reliance on water are good predictors of documented infection for species in the continental United States. These
results suggest that, whereas local-scale environmental variables are important to the spread of Bd, species-level characteristics
may also influence susceptibility to Bd. The relationships identified in this study suggest future experimental tests, and
may target species for conservation efforts. |
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