Differential Susceptibility May Not Drive Chytridiomycosis Related Declines in Multi‐Host Amphibian Communities.

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Title: Differential Susceptibility May Not Drive Chytridiomycosis Related Declines in Multi‐Host Amphibian Communities.
Authors: Ringwaldt, Elise1 (AUTHOR) elise.ringwaldt@utas.edu.au, Troy, Shannon2 (AUTHOR), Philips, Annie2 (AUTHOR), Carver, Scott1,3 (AUTHOR)
Source: Ecology & Evolution (20457758). Mar2026, Vol. 16 Issue 3, p1-12. 12p.
Subject Terms: *Amphibian declines, *Amphibians, *Amphibian populations, *Climate change, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, Sensitivity analysis, Wildlife diseases, Abiotic environment
Geographic Terms: Australia
Abstract: Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is the most catastrophic wildlife pathogen, associated with severe amphibian population declines or the extinction of over 500 species. Bd has the potential to influence the structure and dynamics of amphibian populations in multiple and compounding ways, yet few studies have investigated how Bd effects vary in communities with differential susceptibility. Here, we used temporal data from amphibian communities in temperate Tasmania, Australia, comprising four co‐occurring species: the brown treefrog (Litoria ewingii), Tasmanian treefrog (L. burrowsae), common froglet (Crinia signifera), and Tasmanian froglet (C. tasmaniensis). Previous laboratory trials indicated L. burrowsae and C. tasmaniensis are susceptible to Bd, whereas L. ewingii and C. signifera act as reservoirs. Using Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo models, we tested whether Bd presence, the presence of reservoirs, or same‐genus species influenced susceptible species across sites and years. Contrary to expectations—that Bd and reservoir hosts destabilise amphibian communities—we found no evidence of population declines in L. burrowsae or C. tasmaniensis. Instead, species appeared to coexist in a relatively stable community structure, despite Bd presence. Our findings suggest that susceptibility identified by laboratory trials might not reliably predict field disease outcomes in this system, owing to an absence of relevant extrinsic environmental variables. We postulate that pond conditions in which amphibian communities in our study occur, characterised by low temperature and pH, limit Bd growth and survival, creating a refuge from its effects. These results highlight the importance of ecological and environmental context when assessing disease impacts in wild multi‐host communities, and also that climate change may threaten community resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Ecology & Evolution (20457758) 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.)
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  Data: Differential Susceptibility May Not Drive Chytridiomycosis Related Declines in Multi‐Host Amphibian Communities.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ringwaldt%2C+Elise%22">Ringwaldt, Elise</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> elise.ringwaldt@utas.edu.au</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Troy%2C+Shannon%22">Troy, Shannon</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Philips%2C+Annie%22">Philips, Annie</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Carver%2C+Scott%22">Carver, Scott</searchLink><relatesTo>1,3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Ecology+%26+Evolution+%2820457758%29%22">Ecology & Evolution (20457758)</searchLink>. Mar2026, Vol. 16 Issue 3, p1-12. 12p.
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  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Amphibian+declines%22">Amphibian declines</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Amphibians%22">Amphibians</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Amphibian+populations%22">Amphibian populations</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Climate+change%22">Climate change</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Batrachochytrium+dendrobatidis%22">Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sensitivity+analysis%22">Sensitivity analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Wildlife+diseases%22">Wildlife diseases</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Abiotic+environment%22">Abiotic environment</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Australia%22">Australia</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is the most catastrophic wildlife pathogen, associated with severe amphibian population declines or the extinction of over 500 species. Bd has the potential to influence the structure and dynamics of amphibian populations in multiple and compounding ways, yet few studies have investigated how Bd effects vary in communities with differential susceptibility. Here, we used temporal data from amphibian communities in temperate Tasmania, Australia, comprising four co‐occurring species: the brown treefrog (Litoria ewingii), Tasmanian treefrog (L. burrowsae), common froglet (Crinia signifera), and Tasmanian froglet (C. tasmaniensis). Previous laboratory trials indicated L. burrowsae and C. tasmaniensis are susceptible to Bd, whereas L. ewingii and C. signifera act as reservoirs. Using Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo models, we tested whether Bd presence, the presence of reservoirs, or same‐genus species influenced susceptible species across sites and years. Contrary to expectations—that Bd and reservoir hosts destabilise amphibian communities—we found no evidence of population declines in L. burrowsae or C. tasmaniensis. Instead, species appeared to coexist in a relatively stable community structure, despite Bd presence. Our findings suggest that susceptibility identified by laboratory trials might not reliably predict field disease outcomes in this system, owing to an absence of relevant extrinsic environmental variables. We postulate that pond conditions in which amphibian communities in our study occur, characterised by low temperature and pH, limit Bd growth and survival, creating a refuge from its effects. These results highlight the importance of ecological and environmental context when assessing disease impacts in wild multi‐host communities, and also that climate change may threaten community resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Ecology & Evolution (20457758) 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.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1002/ece3.73201
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        PageCount: 12
        StartPage: 1
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Amphibian declines
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Amphibians
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Amphibian populations
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Climate change
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Sensitivity analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Wildlife diseases
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Abiotic environment
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Australia
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Differential Susceptibility May Not Drive Chytridiomycosis Related Declines in Multi‐Host Amphibian Communities.
        Type: main
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            NameFull: Ringwaldt, Elise
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            NameFull: Troy, Shannon
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            NameFull: Philips, Annie
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            NameFull: Carver, Scott
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            – D: 01
              M: 03
              Text: Mar2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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