Environmental determinants of recent endemism of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis infections in amphibian assemblages in the absence of disease outbreaks.

摘要: The inconsistent distribution of large-scale infection mediated die-offs and the subsequent population declines several animal species, urges us to understand how, when, why species are affected by disease. It is often unclear when or under what conditions a pathogen constitutes threat host. Often, variation environmental plays role. Globally Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) causes amphibian declines; however, host responses this fungus appears equally capable reaching state endemism co-existence with native assemblages. We sought identify temporal factors that facilitate host-pathogen coexistence in northern Europe. To do this, we used molecular diagnostics examine archived wild amphibians for general linear mixed models explore relationships between variables prevalence 5 well-sampled species. first detected animals collected 1999, was ubiquitous, but rare, throughout study period (2008-2010). Prevalence exhibited significant annual fluctuations. Despite extremely rare cases lethal chytridiomycosis A. obstetricans, Bd uncorrelated species' growth. Our results suggest context dependent species-specific susceptibility. Thus, believe recent coincides environmentally driven fluctuations preclude build-up beyond critical threshold mortality crashes.