1
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Gray MJ, Carter ED, Piovia-Scott J, Cusaac JPW, Peterson AC, Whetstone RD, Hertz A, Muniz-Torres AY, Bletz MC, Woodhams DC, Romansic JM, Sutton WB, Sheley W, Pessier A, McCusker CD, Wilber MQ, Miller DL. Broad host susceptibility of North American amphibian species to Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans suggests high invasion potential and biodiversity risk. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3270. [PMID: 37277333 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38979-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) is a fungal pathogen of amphibians that is emerging in Europe and could be introduced to North America through international trade or other pathways. To evaluate the risk of Bsal invasion to amphibian biodiversity, we performed dose-response experiments on 35 North American species from 10 families, including larvae from five species. We discovered that Bsal caused infection in 74% and mortality in 35% of species tested. Both salamanders and frogs became infected and developed Bsal chytridiomycosis. Based on our host susceptibility results, environmental suitability conditions for Bsal, and geographic ranges of salamanders in the United States, predicted biodiversity loss is expected to be greatest in the Appalachian Region and along the West Coast. Indices of infection and disease susceptibility suggest that North American amphibian species span a spectrum of vulnerability to Bsal chytridiomycosis and most amphibian communities will include an assemblage of resistant, carrier, and amplification species. Predicted salamander losses could exceed 80 species in the United States and 140 species in North America.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Gray
- Center for Wildlife Health, School of Natural Resources, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA.
| | - Edward Davis Carter
- Center for Wildlife Health, School of Natural Resources, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Jonah Piovia-Scott
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Vancouver, WA, USA
| | - J Patrick W Cusaac
- Center for Wildlife Health, School of Natural Resources, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Anna C Peterson
- Center for Wildlife Health, School of Natural Resources, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Ross D Whetstone
- Biology Department, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Andreas Hertz
- Biology Department, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Molly C Bletz
- Biology Department, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Douglas C Woodhams
- Biology Department, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, USA
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Ancón, Panama
| | - John M Romansic
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Vancouver, WA, USA
| | - William B Sutton
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Wesley Sheley
- Department of Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Allan Pessier
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | | | - Mark Q Wilber
- Center for Wildlife Health, School of Natural Resources, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Debra L Miller
- Center for Wildlife Health, School of Natural Resources, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
- Department of Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, USA
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2
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Nissen BD, Freake MJ, Nolan E, Hardman RH, Sutton WB. Evaluating translocation success of wild eastern hellbenders (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis) in Blue Ridge Ecoregion streams using pre- and post-translocation home range sizes and movement metrics. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0283377. [PMID: 37079593 PMCID: PMC10118149 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0283377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Translocations of freshwater species have become a widespread conservation strategy to mitigate the impacts of habitat fragmentation, yet they are not often rigorously monitored using animal movement data to determine their success. We demonstrate the value of monitoring pre- and post-translocation movements and home-range sizes of a fully-aquatic, benthic stream salamander, the eastern hellbender (Cryptobranchus a. alleganiensis) to determine translocation success. We studied the home range sizes, movements, and habitat use of individuals (n = 27) in two self-sustaining populations (S1 & S2) for one year, and then subsequently collected similar data from a subset of these individuals (n = 17) that were translocated into two nearby streams (T1 & T2) with dam-isolated, declining populations in the Blue Ridge Ecoregion of Tennessee. We collected 1,571 location data points (869 pre-translocation and 715 post-translocation) from four study sites, and evaluated effects of mass, sex, and pre-translocation home range size/sedentariness, as well as habitat covariates on home range size and movements. Hellbender home range sizes increased from pre-translocation estimates at both sites, but response depended primarily on physical characteristics of release sites. Home range and fine-scale movement metrics indicated that hellbenders translocated from S1 to T1 settled in more quickly, had greater site fidelity, and smaller home ranges than hellbenders translocated from S2 to T2. Hellbender movements were influenced by cover rock size and density rather than individual characteristics. Study-long survival rates of translocated hellbenders increased from S1 to T1 (80% to 100%) and decreased from S2 to T2 (76% to 33%). Monitoring pre- and post-translocation movements was a valuable method for evaluating short-term translocation success in a freshwater environment. For future hellbender translocations, managers should prioritize selecting suitable release sites with contiguous boulder-dense areas (1-2 per m2), adequate prey (crayfish) densities (>1/m2), and habitats with low risk of predation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bradley D Nissen
- Wildlife Ecology Laboratory, Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Tennessee State University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Michael J Freake
- Department of Biology, Lee University, Cleveland, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Emilly Nolan
- Wildlife Ecology Laboratory, Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Tennessee State University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Rebecca H Hardman
- Department of Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - William B Sutton
- Wildlife Ecology Laboratory, Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Tennessee State University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
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3
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French SK, Pearl DL, Sutton WB, Peregrine AS, Jardine CM. Environmental factors associated with Baylisascaris procyonis infection from a population of raccoons in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Urban Ecosyst 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s11252-021-01177-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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4
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Cusaac JPW, Carter ED, Woodhams DC, Robert J, Spatz JA, Howard JL, Lillard C, Graham AW, Hill RD, Reinsch S, McGinnity D, Reeves B, Bemis D, Wilkes RP, Sutton WB, Waltzek TB, Hardman RH, Miller DL, Gray MJ. Emerging Pathogens and a Current-Use Pesticide: Potential Impacts on Eastern Hellbenders. J Aquat Anim Health 2021; 33:24-32. [PMID: 33590581 DOI: 10.1002/aah.10117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2019] [Revised: 08/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Populations of the eastern hellbender Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis have been declining for decades, and emerging pathogens and pesticides are hypothesized to be contributing factors. However, few empirical studies have attempted to test the potential effects of these factors on hellbenders. We simultaneously exposed subadult hellbenders to environmentally relevant concentrations of either Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) or a frog virus 3-like ranavirus (RV), a combination of the pathogens, or each pathogen following exposure to a glyphosate herbicide (Roundup). Additionally, we measured the ability of the skin mucosome to inactivate Bd and RV in growth assays. We found that mucosome significantly inactivated RV by an average of 40% but had no negative effects on Bd growth. All treatments that included RV exposure experienced reduced survival compared to controls, and the combination of RV and herbicide resulted in 100% mortality. Histopathology verified RV as the cause of mortality in all RV-exposed treatments. No animals were infected with Bd or died in the Bd-only treatment. Our results suggest that RV exposure may be a significant threat to the survival of subadult hellbenders and that Roundup exposure may potentially exacerbate this threat.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Patrick W Cusaac
- Center for Wildlife Health, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, 37996, USA
| | - Edward Davis Carter
- Center for Wildlife Health, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, 37996, USA
| | - Douglas C Woodhams
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, 02125, USA
| | - Jacques Robert
- University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, 14642, USA
| | - Jennifer A Spatz
- Center for Wildlife Health, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, 37996, USA
| | - Jennifer L Howard
- Center for Wildlife Health and College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, 37996, USA
| | - Carson Lillard
- Center for Wildlife Health, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, 37996, USA
| | - Allison W Graham
- Center for Wildlife Health and College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, 37996, USA
| | - Rachel D Hill
- Center for Wildlife Health, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, 37996, USA
| | | | | | - Bill Reeves
- Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Nashville, Tennessee, 37220, USA
| | - David Bemis
- College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, 37996, USA
| | - Rebecca P Wilkes
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, 47907, USA
| | - William B Sutton
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Tennessee State University, Nashville, Tennessee, 37209, USA
| | - Thomas B Waltzek
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32611, USA
| | - Rebecca H Hardman
- Center for Wildlife Health and College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, 37996, USA
| | - Debra L Miller
- Center for Wildlife Health and College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, 37996, USA
| | - Matthew J Gray
- Center for Wildlife Health, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, 37996, USA
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5
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Alarcón-Elbal PM, Rodríguez-Sosa MA, Newman BC, Sutton WB. The First Record of Aedes vittatus (Diptera: Culicidae) in the Dominican Republic: Public Health Implications of a Potential Invasive Mosquito Species in the Americas. J Med Entomol 2020; 57:2016-2021. [PMID: 32780102 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjaa128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Aedes vittatus Bigot is distributed throughout Africa, tropical Asia, and southern Europe and occurs in sylvatic as well as peridomestic environments where it readily feeds on humans. Although the vectorial capacity of Ae. vittatus is not well understood, this species is known to play a role in the maintenance and transmission of yellow fever, Zika, chikungunya, and dengue virus within its native range. In October 2019, after a routine inspection of mosquito-breeding containers in Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic, two Ae. vittatus females were captured via human landing catch method. After this finding, a CDC miniature light trap was deployed at the point of initial detection from 18:00 to 08:00 h, 2 d/wk from 3 to 31 October 2019. Potential larval habitats were also sampled via traditional dip method once per week spanning a 150 m radius from point of initial detection. In addition to the 2 adult females, 10 female and 2 male Ae. vittatus were captured. One Ae. vittatus larva also was found in a small puddle formed by an animal hoof print. Conventional PCR and Sanger sequencing were used to confirm morphological identification of collected specimens. This is the first detection of Ae. vittatus in the Dominican Republic as well as the Americas. Therefore, enhanced surveillance is needed to better understand the range and public health risks this potential invasive mosquito species may pose in the Dominican Republic, other Caribbean Islands, and/or the Americas.
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Affiliation(s)
- P M Alarcón-Elbal
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical & Salud Global (IMTSAG), Universidad Iberoamericana (UNIBE), Calle Majoma, Los Ríos, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
| | - M A Rodríguez-Sosa
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical & Salud Global (IMTSAG), Universidad Iberoamericana (UNIBE), Calle Majoma, Los Ríos, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
| | - B C Newman
- Wildlife Ecology Laboratory, Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Tennessee State University, John A. Merritt Boulevard, Nashville, TN
| | - W B Sutton
- Wildlife Ecology Laboratory, Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Tennessee State University, John A. Merritt Boulevard, Nashville, TN
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6
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Abstract
We detected Heartland virus (HRTV) in lone star nymphs collected in 2018 in northern Alabama, USA. Real-time reverse transcription PCR selective for the small segment of the HRTV genome and confirmatory sequencing of positive samples showed high identity with HRTV strains sequenced from Tennessee and Missouri.
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7
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Hardman RH, Irwin KJ, Sutton WB, Miller DL. Evaluation of Severity and Factors Contributing to Foot Lesions in Endangered Ozark Hellbenders, Cryptobranchus alleganiensis bishopi. Front Vet Sci 2020; 7:34. [PMID: 32118058 PMCID: PMC7010714 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.00034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2019] [Accepted: 01/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Arkansas populations of Ozark Hellbenders, Cryptobranchus alleganiensis bishopi have declined precipitously over the past few decades and are now limited to a single river. Biologists have also observed an increase of distal limb lesions with unidentified etiology and unknown role in morbidity and mortality of the species in this location. We documented lesions and collected associated individual size class data and pathogen samples in Ozark Hellbenders of Arkansas (n = 73) from 2011 to 2014 with the following two objectives: (1) document spatiotemporal patterns and severity of lesions present in this last remaining Arkansas Ozark Hellbender population, and (2) determine if host factors and infection status are associated with lesion severity. A scoring system was created from 0 to 7 based on lesion observations. Linear mixed model regressions followed by AICc model evaluation were used to determine associations among infection status for amphibian pathogens Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) and Ranavirus as well as individual biometrics on lesion score. We discovered 93.2% of Hellbenders had lesions characterized by digit swelling that often progressed toward toe-tip ulceration. In severe cases we observed digital necrosis progressing to digit loss. Any recaptured individuals had the same or worse lesion score from previous captures. The top predictive model for lesion severity included individual mass and Bd infection status with a significant, positive association of Bd with increased lesion severity (β = 0.87 ± 0.39 S.E., C.I.: 0.11, 1.63). Our findings highlight a widespread and progressive disease that is an important factor to consider for the future of Ozark Hellbenders. This syndrome is presumptively multifactorial, and future studies will benefit from investigating several factors of host, infectious agents, and environment and their roles in disease manifestation for the purpose of developing effective, multi-faceted conservation strategies. A summary of potential etiologies and mechanisms is provided that may explain observed lesion distribution and that will be applicable to future disease and epidemiological investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca H Hardman
- Center for Wildlife Health, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, United States
| | - Kelly J Irwin
- Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Benton, AR, United States
| | - William B Sutton
- Wildlife Ecology Laboratory, Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Debra L Miller
- Center for Wildlife Health, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, United States
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8
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Newman BC, Sutton WB, Wang Y, Schweitzer CJ, Moncayo AC, Miller BT. A standardized method for the construction of a tick drag/flag sampling approach and evaluation of sampling efficacy. Exp Appl Acarol 2019; 79:433-446. [PMID: 31677026 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-019-00429-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2019] [Accepted: 10/22/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Drag sampling and flagging are two of the most effective and widely applied techniques to monitor tick populations. Despite the importance of this sampling strategy, there is a lack of standardized protocols for the construction of an inexpensive tick drag/flag. To this end, we provide a step-by-step protocol that details the construction of a tick drag/flag. We provide evidence of efficacy by comparing results obtained over 3-months at 108 locations within the William B. Bankhead National Forest, Alabama, USA. Overall, our drag/flag sampling approach yielded 1127 larvae, 460 nymphs, and 53 adults for a total of 1640 ticks representing three species. We detected significant patterns in Amblyomma americanum abundance for nymphs and adults with greater counts in June (β = 0.91 ± 0.36, 95% CI 0.55-1.27; β = 2.44 ± 0.63, 95% CI 1.81-3.07, respectively) and July (β = 0.73 ± 0.36, 95% CI 0.37-1.09; β = 1.65 ± 0.66, 95% CI 0.99-2.31, respectively) as compared to August. We also detected a significant difference in tick captures by tick drag/flag fabric type with greater captures when muslin was used as compared to flannel (β = 1.07 ± 0.06, 95% CI 1.01-1.13). Our goal is to provide instructions to assemble a highly effective tick drag/flag using minimal supplies. Evaluation and improvements of sampling techniques is essential to understand impacts of landscape management and larger stressors, such as climate change on tick populations but also for enhancing detection of invasive non-native species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brent C Newman
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN, 37209, USA.
| | - William B Sutton
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN, 37209, USA
| | - Yong Wang
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Alabama A&M University, Huntsville, AL, 35762, USA
| | | | - Abelardo C Moncayo
- Vector-Borne Diseases Program, Division of Communicable and Environmental Diseases and Emergency Preparedness, Tennessee Department of Health, Nashville, TN, 37216, USA
| | - Brian T Miller
- Department of Biology, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN, 37132, USA
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9
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Carter ED, Miller DL, Peterson AC, Sutton WB, Cusaac JPW, Spatz JA, Rollins‐Smith L, Reinert L, Bohanon M, Williams LA, Upchurch A, Gray MJ. Conservation risk of
Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans
to endemic lungless salamanders. Conserv Lett 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/conl.12675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Edward Davis Carter
- Center for Wildlife Health, Department of ForestryWildlife and FisheriesUniversity of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture Knoxville Tennessee
| | - Debra L. Miller
- Center for Wildlife Health, Department of ForestryWildlife and FisheriesUniversity of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture Knoxville Tennessee
- Department of Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary MedicineUniversity of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture Knoxville Tennessee
| | - Anna C. Peterson
- Center for Wildlife Health, Department of ForestryWildlife and FisheriesUniversity of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture Knoxville Tennessee
| | - William B. Sutton
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental SciencesTennessee State University Nashville Tennessee
| | - Joseph Patrick W. Cusaac
- Center for Wildlife Health, Department of ForestryWildlife and FisheriesUniversity of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture Knoxville Tennessee
| | - Jennifer A. Spatz
- Center for Wildlife Health, Department of ForestryWildlife and FisheriesUniversity of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture Knoxville Tennessee
| | - Louise Rollins‐Smith
- Department of PathologyMicrobiology & ImmunologyVanderbilt University Nashville Tennessee
| | - Laura Reinert
- Department of PathologyMicrobiology & ImmunologyVanderbilt University Nashville Tennessee
| | - Markese Bohanon
- Center for Wildlife Health, Department of ForestryWildlife and FisheriesUniversity of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture Knoxville Tennessee
| | - Lori A. Williams
- North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission Raleigh North Carolina
| | | | - Matthew J. Gray
- Center for Wildlife Health, Department of ForestryWildlife and FisheriesUniversity of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture Knoxville Tennessee
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10
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Affiliation(s)
- William B. Sutton
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN 37209, USA
| | - Jeronimo G. Da Silva Neto
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN 37209, USA
| | - Michael J. Freake
- Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Lee University, Cleveland, TN 37311, USA
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11
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeronimo G. Da Silva Neto
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN 37209, USA
| | - William B. Sutton
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN 37209, USA
| | - Michael J. Freake
- Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Lee University, Cleveland, TN 37311, USA
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12
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Earl JE, Chaney JC, Sutton WB, Lillard CE, Kouba AJ, Langhorne C, Krebs J, Wilkes RP, Hill RD, Miller DL, Gray MJ. Ranavirus could facilitate local extinction of rare amphibian species. Oecologia 2016; 182:611-23. [DOI: 10.1007/s00442-016-3682-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2015] [Accepted: 06/14/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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13
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Sutton WB, Gray MJ, Hoverman JT, Secrist RG, Super PE, Hardman RH, Tucker JL, Miller DL. Trends in Ranavirus Prevalence Among Plethodontid Salamanders in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Ecohealth 2015; 12:320-329. [PMID: 25537630 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-014-0994-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2013] [Revised: 11/06/2014] [Accepted: 11/07/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Emerging pathogens are a potential contributor to global amphibian declines. Ranaviruses, which infect ectothermic vertebrates and are common in aquatic environments, have been implicated in die-offs of at least 72 amphibian species worldwide. Most studies on the subject have focused on pool-breeding amphibians, and infection trends in other amphibian species assemblages have been understudied. Our primary study objective was to evaluate hypotheses explaining ranavirus prevalence within a lungless salamander assemblage (Family Plethodontidae) in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA. We sampled 566 total plethodontid salamanders representing 14 species at five sites over a 6-year period (2007-2012). We identified ranavirus-positive individuals in 11 of the 14 (78.6%) sampled species, with salamanders in the genus Desmognathus having greatest infection prevalence. Overall, we found the greatest support for site elevation and sampling year determining infection prevalence. We detected the greatest number of infections in 2007 with 82.5% of sampled individuals testing positive for ranavirus, which we attribute to record drought during this year. Infection prevalence remained relatively high in low-elevation sites in 2008 and 2009. Neither body condition nor aquatic dependence was a significant predictor of ranavirus prevalence. Overall, our results indicate that life history differences among species play a minor role determining ranavirus prevalence compared to the larger effects of site elevation and yearly fluctuations (likely due to environmental stressors) during sampling years.
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Affiliation(s)
- William B Sutton
- Center for Wildlife Health, Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA.
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN, 37209, USA.
| | - Matthew J Gray
- Center for Wildlife Health, Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA
| | - Jason T Hoverman
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Richard G Secrist
- Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont, Townsend, TN, 37882, USA
| | - Paul E Super
- Appalachian Highlands Science Learning Center, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Lake Junaluska, NC, 28745, USA
| | - Rebecca H Hardman
- Center for Wildlife Health, Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA
| | - Jennifer L Tucker
- Center for Wildlife Health, Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA
| | - Debra L Miller
- Center for Wildlife Health, Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA
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14
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Sutton WB, Gray MJ, Hardman RH, Wilkes RP, Kouba AJ, Miller DL. High susceptibility of the endangered dusky gopher frog to ranavirus. Dis Aquat Organ 2014; 112:9-16. [PMID: 25392038 DOI: 10.3354/dao02792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Amphibians are one of the most imperiled vertebrate groups, with pathogens playing a role in the decline of some species. Rare species are particularly vulnerable to extinction because populations are often isolated and exist at low abundance. The potential impact of pathogens on rare amphibian species has seldom been investigated. The dusky gopher frog Lithobates sevosus is one of the most endangered amphibian species in North America, with 100-200 individuals remaining in the wild. Our goal was to determine whether adult L. sevosus were susceptible to ranavirus, a pathogen responsible for amphibian die-offs worldwide. We tested the relative susceptibility of adult L. sevosus to ranavirus (103 plaque-forming units) isolated from a morbid bullfrog via 3 routes of exposure: intra-coelomic (IC) injection, oral (OR) inoculation, and water bath (WB) exposure. We observed 100% mortality of adult L. sevosus in the IC and WB treatments after 10 and 19 d, respectively. Ninety-five percent mortality occurred in the OR treatment over the 28 d evaluation period. No mortality was observed in the control treatment after 28 d. Our results indicate that L. sevosus is susceptible to ranavirus, and if adults in the wild are exposed to this pathogen, significant mortality could occur. Additionally, our study demonstrates that some adult amphibian species can be very susceptible to ranavirus, which has been often overlooked in North American studies. We recommend that conservation planners consider testing the susceptibility of rare amphibian species to ranavirus and that the adult age class is included in future challenge experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- William B Sutton
- Center for Wildlife Health, Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
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15
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Steen DA, McClure CJW, Sutton WB, Rudolph DC, Pierce JB, Lee JR, Smith LL, Gregory BB, Baxley DL, Stevenson DJ, Guyer C. Copperheads are Common when Kingsnakes are Not: Relationships Between the Abundances of a Predator and One of their Prey. HERPETOLOGICA 2014. [DOI: 10.1655/herpetologica-d-13-00064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- David A. Steen
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | | | - William B. Sutton
- School of Agricultural, Forest and Environmental Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - D. Craig Rudolph
- United States Forest Service, Southern Research Station, Nacogdoches, TX 75965, USA
| | - Josh B. Pierce
- United States Forest Service, Southern Research Station, Nacogdoches, TX 75965, USA
| | - James R. Lee
- The Nature Conservancy, CSJFTC-ENV Building 6530, Camp Shelby, MS 39407, USA
| | - Lora L. Smith
- Joseph W. Jones Ecological Research Center, 3988 Jones Center Drive, Newton, GA 39870, USA
| | - Beau B. Gregory
- Coastal and Nongame Resources Division, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Baton Rouge, LA 70808, USA
| | - Danna L. Baxley
- Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, Frankfort, KY 40601, USA
| | - Dirk J. Stevenson
- The Orianne Society, Indigo Snake Initiative, Clayton, GA 30525, USA
| | - Craig Guyer
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
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Steen DA, McClure CJW, Brock JC, Craig Rudolph D, Pierce JB, Lee JR, Jeffrey Humphries W, Gregory BB, Sutton WB, Smith LL, Baxley DL, Stevenson DJ, Guyer C. Snake co-occurrence patterns are best explained by habitat and hypothesized effects of interspecific interactions. J Anim Ecol 2013; 83:286-95. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2013] [Accepted: 07/16/2013] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- David A. Steen
- Joseph W. Jones Ecological Research Center; 3988 Jones Center Drive Newton GA 39870 USA
- Department of Biological Sciences; Auburn University; Auburn AL 36849 USA
| | | | - Jean C. Brock
- Joseph W. Jones Ecological Research Center; 3988 Jones Center Drive Newton GA 39870 USA
| | - D. Craig Rudolph
- United States Forest Service; Southern Research Station; Nacogdoches TX 75965 USA
| | - Josh B. Pierce
- United States Forest Service; Southern Research Station; Nacogdoches TX 75965 USA
| | - James R. Lee
- The Nature Conservancy; CSJFTC-ENV Building 6530 Camp Shelby MS 39407 USA
| | | | - Beau B. Gregory
- Coastal and Nongame Resources Division; Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries; Baton Rouge LA 70808 USA
| | - William B. Sutton
- School of Agriculture; Forestry and Environmental Sciences; Clemson SC 29634 USA
| | - Lora L. Smith
- Joseph W. Jones Ecological Research Center; 3988 Jones Center Drive Newton GA 39870 USA
| | - Danna L. Baxley
- Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources; Frankfort KY 40601 USA
| | | | - Craig Guyer
- Department of Biological Sciences; Auburn University; Auburn AL 36849 USA
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Steen DA, McClure CJW, Brock JC, Rudolph DC, Pierce JB, Lee JR, Humphries WJ, Gregory BB, Sutton WB, Smith LL, Baxley DL, Stevenson DJ, Guyer C. Landscape-level influences of terrestrial snake occupancy within the southeastern United States. Ecol Appl 2012; 22:1084-1097. [PMID: 22827120 DOI: 10.1890/11-1777.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Habitat loss and degradation are thought to be the primary drivers of species extirpations, but for many species we have little information regarding specific habitats that influence occupancy. Snakes are of conservation concern throughout North America, but effective management and conservation are hindered by a lack of basic natural history information and the small number of large-scale studies designed to assess general population trends. To address this information gap, we compiled detection/nondetection data for 13 large terrestrial species from 449 traps located across the southeastern United States, and we characterized the land cover surrounding each trap at multiple spatial scales (250-, 500-, and 1000-m buffers). We used occupancy modeling, while accounting for heterogeneity in detection probability, to identify habitat variables that were influential in determining the presence of a particular species. We evaluated 12 competing models for each species, representing various hypotheses pertaining to important habitat features for terrestrial snakes. Overall, considerable interspecific variation existed in important habitat variables and relevant spatial scales. For example, kingsnakes (Lampropeltis getula) were negatively associated with evergreen forests, whereas Louisiana pinesnake (Pituophis ruthveni) occupancy increased with increasing coverage of this forest type. Some species were positively associated with grassland and scrub/shrub (e.g., Slowinski's cornsnake, Elaphe slowinskii) whereas others, (e.g., copperhead, Agkistrodon contortrix, and eastern diamond-backed rattlesnake, Crotalus adamanteus) were positively associated with forested habitats. Although the species that we studied may persist in varied landscapes other than those we identified as important, our data were collected in relatively undeveloped areas. Thus, our findings may be relevant when generating conservation plans or restoration goals. Maintaining or restoring landscapes that are most consistent with the ancestral habitat preferences of terrestrial snake assemblages will require a diverse habitat matrix over large spatial scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Steen
- Joseph W. Jones Ecological Research Center, 3988 Jones Center Drive, Newton, Georgia 39870, USA.
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