Thermoregulatory behaviour affects prevalence of chytrid fungal infection in a wild population of Panamanian golden frogs

摘要: Predicting how climate change will affect disease dynamics requires an understanding of the environment affects host-pathogen interactions. For amphibians, global declines and extinctions have been linked to a pathogenic chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. Using combination body temperature measurements assays conducted before after arrival B. dendrobatidis, this study tested hypothesis that prevalence infection in wild population Panamanian golden frogs (Atelopus zeteki). The timing first detection fungus was consistent with wave epidemic infections spreading south eastward through Central America. During epidemic, many modified their thermoregulatory behaviour, raising temperatures above normal set point. Odds decreased increasing temperature, demonstrating even slight environmental or behavioural changes potential individual's vulnerability infection. thermal dependency relationship between dendrobatidis its amphibian hosts demonstrates progression can be influenced by complex interactions host pathogen phenotypes environments which they are found.