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#           Low prevalence of chytrid fungus (*Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis*) in amphibians of U.S. headwater streams      

      January 1, 2010    

Many declines of amphibian populations have been associated with chytridiomycosis, a disease caused by the aquatic fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). Despite the relatively high prevalence of chytridiomycosis in stream amphibians globally, most surveys in North America have focused primarily on wetland-associated species, which are frequently infected. To better understand the distribution and prevalence of Bd in headwater amphibian communities, we sampled 452 tailed frogs (Ascaphus truei and Ascaphus montanus) and 304 stream salamanders (seven species in the Dicamptodontidae and Plethodontidae) for Bd in 38, first- to third-order streams in five montane areas across the United States. We tested for presence of Bd by using PCR on skin swabs from salamanders and metamorphosed tailed frogs or the oral disc of frog larvae. We detected Bd on only seven individuals (0.93%) in four streams. Based on our study and results from five other studies that have sampled headwater- or seep-associated amphibians in the United States, Bd has been detected on only 3% of 1,322 individuals from 21 species. These results differ strongly from surveys in Central America and Australia, where Bd is more prevalent on stream-breeding species, as well as results from wetland-associated anurans in the same regions of the United States that we sampled. Differences in the prevalence of Bd between stream- and wetland-associated amphibians in the United States may be related to species-specific variation in susceptibility to chytridiomycosis or habitat differences.

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#### Blake  Hossack, Ph.D.

##### Research Zoologist

Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center

blake_hossack@usgs.gov

406-243-4495

#### Michael J Adams

##### Supervisory Research Ecologist

Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

mjadams@usgs.gov

541-750-0980

#### Evan Grant, Ph.D.

##### Research Wildlife Biologist

Eastern Ecological Science Center

ehgrant@usgs.gov

413-863-3823

#### William Barichivich

##### Wildlife Biologist

Wetland and Aquatic Research Center 

wbarichivich@usgs.gov

352-264-3491

## Related Content

#### Blake  Hossack, Ph.D.

##### Research Zoologist

Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center

blake_hossack@usgs.gov

406-243-4495

#### Michael J Adams

##### Supervisory Research Ecologist

Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

mjadams@usgs.gov

541-750-0980

#### Evan Grant, Ph.D.

##### Research Wildlife Biologist

Eastern Ecological Science Center

ehgrant@usgs.gov

413-863-3823

#### William Barichivich

##### Wildlife Biologist

Wetland and Aquatic Research Center 

wbarichivich@usgs.gov

352-264-3491

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####               Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center (NOROCK) Headquarters          

2327 University WaySuite 2Bozeman, MT59715United States

406-994-7544

406-994-6556

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