Chemical disinfection as a simple and reliable method to control the amphibian chytrid fungus at breeding points of endangered amphibians
Abstract Chytridiomycosis caused by the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is pushing amphibians towards extinction. Whilst mitigation methods were suggested a decade ago, we lack field trials testing their efficacy. We used the agrochemical fungicide, tebuconazole, to treat Bd infe...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-55946-1 |
| _version_ | 1827310301287022592 |
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| author | Barbora Thumsová Emilio González-Miras Ángel Rubio Ignacio Granados Kieran A. Bates Jaime Bosch |
| author_facet | Barbora Thumsová Emilio González-Miras Ángel Rubio Ignacio Granados Kieran A. Bates Jaime Bosch |
| author_sort | Barbora Thumsová |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Chytridiomycosis caused by the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is pushing amphibians towards extinction. Whilst mitigation methods were suggested a decade ago, we lack field trials testing their efficacy. We used the agrochemical fungicide, tebuconazole, to treat Bd infected breeding waterbodies of an endangered species that is highly susceptible to the fungus. Just two applications of tebuconazole led to a significant reduction in infection loads in the vast majority of sites, and at six sites the disinfection remained one/two-years post-application. Tebuconazole values drastically decreased in the waterbodies within a week after application, with no significant effects on their hydrochemical and hydrobiological characteristics. Although the use of chemicals in natural populations is undesirable, the growing existential threat to amphibians all over the world indicates that effective interventions in selected populations of endangered species are urgently needed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:11:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-dab6bb9b0779440b9c569c1bdb37df7d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T19:58:37Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-dab6bb9b0779440b9c569c1bdb37df7d2024-03-24T12:15:18ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-03-011411810.1038/s41598-024-55946-1Chemical disinfection as a simple and reliable method to control the amphibian chytrid fungus at breeding points of endangered amphibiansBarbora Thumsová0Emilio González-Miras1Ángel Rubio2Ignacio Granados3Kieran A. Bates4Jaime Bosch5Asociación Herpetológica Española (AHE)Agencia de Medio Ambiente y Agua de Andalucía, Consejería de Sostenibilidad, Medio Ambiente y Economía Azul, Junta de AndalucíaCentro de Investigación, Seguimiento y Evaluación, Parque Nacional Sierra de GuadarramaCentro de Investigación, Seguimiento y Evaluación, Parque Nacional Sierra de GuadarramaCentre for Immunobiology, The Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of LondonIMIB-Research Unit of Biodiversity (University of Oviedo, CSIC, Principality of Asturias)Abstract Chytridiomycosis caused by the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is pushing amphibians towards extinction. Whilst mitigation methods were suggested a decade ago, we lack field trials testing their efficacy. We used the agrochemical fungicide, tebuconazole, to treat Bd infected breeding waterbodies of an endangered species that is highly susceptible to the fungus. Just two applications of tebuconazole led to a significant reduction in infection loads in the vast majority of sites, and at six sites the disinfection remained one/two-years post-application. Tebuconazole values drastically decreased in the waterbodies within a week after application, with no significant effects on their hydrochemical and hydrobiological characteristics. Although the use of chemicals in natural populations is undesirable, the growing existential threat to amphibians all over the world indicates that effective interventions in selected populations of endangered species are urgently needed.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-55946-1 |
| spellingShingle | Barbora Thumsová Emilio González-Miras Ángel Rubio Ignacio Granados Kieran A. Bates Jaime Bosch Chemical disinfection as a simple and reliable method to control the amphibian chytrid fungus at breeding points of endangered amphibians Scientific Reports |
| title | Chemical disinfection as a simple and reliable method to control the amphibian chytrid fungus at breeding points of endangered amphibians |
| title_full | Chemical disinfection as a simple and reliable method to control the amphibian chytrid fungus at breeding points of endangered amphibians |
| title_fullStr | Chemical disinfection as a simple and reliable method to control the amphibian chytrid fungus at breeding points of endangered amphibians |
| title_full_unstemmed | Chemical disinfection as a simple and reliable method to control the amphibian chytrid fungus at breeding points of endangered amphibians |
| title_short | Chemical disinfection as a simple and reliable method to control the amphibian chytrid fungus at breeding points of endangered amphibians |
| title_sort | chemical disinfection as a simple and reliable method to control the amphibian chytrid fungus at breeding points of endangered amphibians |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-55946-1 |
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