Blooi Mark, Laking Alexandra E, Martel An, Haesebrouck Freddy, Jocque Merlijn, Brown Tom, Green Stephen, Vences Miguel, Bletz Molly C, Pasmans Frank
Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
Operation Wallacea, Hope House, Old Bolingbroke, Lincolnshire, United Kingdom.
PLoS One. 2017 Jul 13;12(7):e0181051. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0181051. eCollection 2017.
The fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) drives declines and extinctions in amphibian communities. However, not all regions and species are equally affected. Here, we show that association with amphibian aquatic habitat types (bromeliad phytotelmata versus stream) across Central America results in the odds of being threatened by Bd being five times higher in stream microhabitats. This differential threat of Bd was supported in our study by a significantly lower prevalence of Bd in bromeliad-associated amphibian species compared to riparian species in Honduran cloud forests. Evidence that the bromeliad environment is less favorable for Bd transmission is exemplified by significantly less suitable physicochemical conditions and higher abundance of Bd-ingesting micro-eukaryotes present in bromeliad water. These factors may inhibit aquatic Bd zoospore survival and the development of an environmental reservoir of the pathogen. Bromeliad phytotelmata thus may act as environmental refuges from Bd, which contribute to protecting associated amphibian communities against chytridiomycosis-driven amphibian declines that threaten the nearby riparian communities.
真菌病原体蛙壶菌（Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis，简称Bd）导致两栖动物群落数量减少和物种灭绝。然而，并非所有地区和物种受到的影响都相同。在此，我们表明，在中美洲，与两栖动物水生栖息地类型（凤梨科植物积水处与溪流）的关联导致溪流微生境中受到Bd威胁的几率比凤梨科植物积水处高出五倍。在我们的研究中，洪都拉斯云雾森林中与凤梨科植物相关的两栖动物物种的Bd患病率明显低于河岸物种，这支持了Bd的这种差异威胁。凤梨科植物环境对Bd传播不太有利的证据体现在凤梨科植物积水中明显不太适宜的物理化学条件以及大量摄取Bd的微型真核生物的存在。这些因素可能会抑制水生Bd游动孢子的存活以及病原体环境库的形成。因此，凤梨科植物积水处可能充当了躲避Bd的环境避难所，有助于保护相关的两栖动物群落免受壶菌病导致的两栖动物数量减少的影响，而这种减少正威胁着附近的河岸群落。
