Chytridiomycosis and Seasonal Mortality of Tropical Stream‐Associated Frogs 15 Years after Introduction of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis

Chytridiomycosis continues to significantly impact the survival of tropical stream-associated frogs, even 15 years after the introduction of the pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. A study on the threatened common mist frog (Litoria rheocola) in Queensland's Wet Tropics revealed that infection prevalence was the best predictor for apparent survival probability, with seasonal variations ranging from 0% to 65%. Survival probabilities were lowest during winter months (approximately 70%), while annual survival rates were very low (12-15%). Despite this, high recruitment rates (71-91%) led to fluctuating population growth. The research used an intensive capture-mark-recapture study across seasons and years, highlighting the ongoing threat of chytridiomycosis to amphibian populations, which may also render them vulnerable to other threatening processes affecting recruitment success.

PHILLOTT, A. D., GROGAN, L. F., CASHINS, S. D., MCDONALD, K. R., BERGER, L., & SKERRATT, L. F. (2013). Chytridiomycosis and Seasonal Mortality of Tropical Stream‐Associated Frogs 15 Years after Introduction of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. Conservation Biology, 27(5), 1058–1068. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.12073