Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Laboratory

01 Aug, 01 PM - 15 Sep, 03 AM

In Yosemite National Park, the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis is ubiquitous in Rana sierrae populations and appears to be an important cause of frog population extinctions observed during the last decade. Concurrent with these extinctions, at a few sites R. sierrae populations are persisting despite ongoing chytridiomycosis (chytridiomycosis is the disease caused by Bd). One explanation for the extinction of some populations and the persistence of others is that frog populations could differ in their susceptibility to Bd. During summer 2010 we propose a field experiment in Yosemite National Park to investigate the two mechanisms for differential susceptibility among populations (and species) that have received the largest amount of research attention: (1) differences in antimicrobial skin peptides, and (2) differences in the community of symbiotic bacteria that inhabit frog skin. Skin peptides and symbiotic bacteria are both known to be important components of the amphibian innate immune system, and their effectiveness against chytridiomycosis remains the focus of an ongoing global research effort.

Visit #20636 @Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Laboratory

Approved

Under Project # 21262 | Research

An Experimental Study of the Role of Skin Peptides and Symbiotic Bacteria in Allowing the Persistence of Rana sierrae Populations Infected with Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis

faculty - University of California, Santa Barbara

Reservation Members(s)

Cherie Briggs Aug 1 - Sep 15, 2010 (46 days)
Group of 2 Undergraduate Student Aug 1 - Sep 15, 2010 (46 days)

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Dorm 3 Aug 1 - Sep 15, 2010