View in EDS

Experimental Drought Suppresses Amphibian Pathogen Yet Intensifies Transmission and Disrupts Protective Skin Microbiome.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Experimental Drought Suppresses Amphibian Pathogen Yet Intensifies Transmission and Disrupts Protective Skin Microbiome.
Authors: Buttimer, Shannon1,2 (AUTHOR) shannon.buttimer@gmail.com, Medina, Daniel1 (AUTHOR), Martins, Renato A.3 (AUTHOR), da Silva, Ana Gabrielle Morais4 (AUTHOR), Neely, Wesley J.5 (AUTHOR), Haddad, Célio F. B.3 (AUTHOR), DiRenzo, Graziella V.6 (AUTHOR), Catenazzi, Alessandro7 (AUTHOR), Bell, Rayna C.8 (AUTHOR), Becker, C. Guilherme1,2 (AUTHOR) guibecker@psu.edu
Source: Global Change Biology. Jun2025, Vol. 31 Issue 6, p1-14. 14p.
Subjects: Climate change, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, Animal behavior, Disease resistance of plants, Medical climatology, Biomes
Abstract: Shifting precipitation regimes driven by global climate change can alter vertebrate behavior and host‐symbiont relationships, potentially compromising host resistance to pathogen invasion. In Brazil's Atlantic Forest, a biodiversity hotspot, prior research identified drought as a key factor disrupting the skin microbiome, contributing to a die‐off of pumpkin toadlets due to the invasive waterborne fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). However, observational studies cannot disentangle the direct effect of moisture on Bd growth from increased amphibian activity during wet breeding seasons. Using field enclosures, we experimentally tested the influence of drought conditions on host microhabitat use, Bd disease dynamics, and the composition and predicted Bd‐inhibitory function of cutaneous bacterial communities. Each enclosure housed ecologically realistic densities of Brachycephalus pitanga, a micro‐endemic pumpkin toadlet. We simulated a short‐term drought in half of the enclosures using translucent tarp coverings. To track individual toadlets, we identified their unique markings and collected skin swabs biweekly over 3 months. We then implemented molecular techniques to quantify Bd loads and characterize skin bacterial diversity and composition over time. Our findings indicate that while drought may reduce overall Bd loads on hosts, this effect is partially offset by an increase in the use of water‐filled areas of the enclosures and by a disruption of the protective host skin microbiome. This study provides valuable insights into the cascading impacts of climate change on animal behavior, host‐symbiont interactions, and disease dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Global Change Biology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Engineering Source
Description
Abstract:Shifting precipitation regimes driven by global climate change can alter vertebrate behavior and host‐symbiont relationships, potentially compromising host resistance to pathogen invasion. In Brazil's Atlantic Forest, a biodiversity hotspot, prior research identified drought as a key factor disrupting the skin microbiome, contributing to a die‐off of pumpkin toadlets due to the invasive waterborne fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). However, observational studies cannot disentangle the direct effect of moisture on Bd growth from increased amphibian activity during wet breeding seasons. Using field enclosures, we experimentally tested the influence of drought conditions on host microhabitat use, Bd disease dynamics, and the composition and predicted Bd‐inhibitory function of cutaneous bacterial communities. Each enclosure housed ecologically realistic densities of Brachycephalus pitanga, a micro‐endemic pumpkin toadlet. We simulated a short‐term drought in half of the enclosures using translucent tarp coverings. To track individual toadlets, we identified their unique markings and collected skin swabs biweekly over 3 months. We then implemented molecular techniques to quantify Bd loads and characterize skin bacterial diversity and composition over time. Our findings indicate that while drought may reduce overall Bd loads on hosts, this effect is partially offset by an increase in the use of water‐filled areas of the enclosures and by a disruption of the protective host skin microbiome. This study provides valuable insights into the cascading impacts of climate change on animal behavior, host‐symbiont interactions, and disease dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:13541013
DOI:10.1111/gcb.70275