Livestock grazing, climatic variation, and breeding phenology jointly shape disease dynamics and survival in a wild amphibian

Barrile, Gabriel M.; Chalfoun, Anna D.; Walters, Annika W.

doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2021.109247

Cited by 8 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 76 publications

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“…Our results document substantial demographic differences between Bd ‐positive boreal toad populations in Colorado (this study) and Wyoming (Barrile et al, 2021; Muths et al, 2011). We also illustrate how a mechanism of population persistence (compensatory recruitment) may be elevationally context dependent.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 70%

“…and Wyoming (Barrile et al, 2021;. We also illustrate how a mechanism of population persistence (compensatory recruitment) may be elevationally context dependent.…”

Section: Con Clus Ionsmentioning

confidence: 92%

“…clutch size) with increased elevation in temperate species (Morrison & Hero, 2003). Within our own region, trends of increased adult apparent survival with increased elevation have been documented in boreal toads (Barrile et al, 2021;Muths et al, 2018). But the trade-off in fecundity or recruitment has rarely been investigated until now (but see Pilliod et al, 2022).…”

Section: Elevational Trade-offs In Vital Ratesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Compensatory recruitment unlikely in high‐elevation amphibian populations challenged with disease

Hardy

Muths

Lambert

et al. 2022

Journal of Applied Ecology

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Understanding the causes of population variation in host response to disease, and the mechanisms of persistence, can serve as vital information for species conservation. One such mechanism of population persistence that has gained support is the demographic process of compensatory recruitment. Host populations may persist by increasing recruitment to compensate for reduced survival due to infection, thus limiting the negative effects of the disease on population trajectories. However, high‐elevation populations are inherently vulnerable to stochastic processes and may be limited in their ability to exhibit compensatory recruitment relative to lower elevation populations. We use long‐term mark–recapture data from five populations of boreal toads Anaxyrus boreas boreas, across an elevational gradient in Colorado, before and after pathogen arrival to assess whether populations can persist with Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) via compensatory recruitment. Prior to pathogen arrival, we found a life‐history trade‐off between survival and recruitment across elevations, where high‐elevation toads have high survival but lower recruitment and vice versa at lower elevations. Pathogen arrival had a strong negative effect on apparent annual survival and recruitment leading to negative population growth rates and dramatically reduced host abundances. The data did not support the occurrence of compensatory recruitment. Synthesis and applications. Our unique dataset indicates that demographic responses to pathogens may be environmentally (i.e. elevationally) context dependent and highlights the value of long‐term monitoring. We recommend that practitioners verify that potential persistence mechanisms occur across multiple populations and relevant environmental gradients to counter any assumptions of the mechanism existing species‐wide. Quantifying variation in population responses to disease will aid in understanding the bounds of such persistence mechanisms and identify particularly vulnerable populations where mechanisms are nonexistent.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 70%

“…and Wyoming (Barrile et al, 2021;. We also illustrate how a mechanism of population persistence (compensatory recruitment) may be elevationally context dependent.…”

Section: Con Clus Ionsmentioning

confidence: 92%

Section: Elevational Trade-offs In Vital Ratesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Compensatory recruitment unlikely in high‐elevation amphibian populations challenged with disease

Hardy

Muths

Lambert

et al. 2022

Journal of Applied Ecology

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“…Nonetheless, survival was best explained by mountain range (Wyoming Range vs. Wind River Range), which likely was due to regional differences in climatic regimes and disease prevalence. The influence of climate and disease on boreal toad survival was examined previously (Barrile, Chalfoun, & Walters, 2021a) and fell outside of the scope of this study. Climate can influence how animals respond to disease and wildfire (Cohen et al, 2019; Crowther et al, 2018), however, and interactions among wildfire, climate, and disease would comprise an intriguing line of future inquiry.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Boreal toad populations also display greater genetic connectivity near the areas affected by wildfire than the populations farther from burned areas (Murphy et al, 2010), suggesting wildfire may increase landscape connectivity and facilitate dispersal between subpopulations. Furthermore, boreal toads are challenged with Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis ( Bd ) in and near our study area (Barrile, Chalfoun, & Walters, 2021a; Pilliod et al, 2010), a fungal pathogen implicated in global amphibian declines (Scheele et al, 2019). Following wildfire, boreal toads found in warmer, recently burned areas (Hossack et al, 2009) were significantly less likely to be infected with Bd than toads in cooler, unburned areas (Hossack, Lowe, Ware, & Corn, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wildfire influences individual growth and breeding dispersal, but not survival and recruitment in a montane amphibian

et al. 2022

Self Cite

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Global wildfire regimes are changing rapidly, with widespread increases in the size, frequency, duration, and severity of wildfires. Whereas the effects of wildfire on ecological state variables such as occupancy, abundance, and species diversity are relatively well documented, changes in population vital rates (e.g., survival, recruitment) and individual responses (e.g., growth, movement) to wildfire are more limited because of the detailed information needed on the same individuals both pre-and post-fire. We capitalized on the 2018 Roosevelt wildfire, which occurred during our 6-year (2015-2020) capture-mark-recapture study of boreal toads (Anaxyrus boreas boreas; n = 1415) in the Bridger-Teton National Forest, USA, to evaluate the responses of population vital rates and individual metrics to wildfire. We employed robust design capture-recapture models to compare the growth, dispersal, survival, and recruitment of adult boreal toads pre-and post-fire at burned versus unburned sites. At burned locations, growth increased 2 years post-fire compared with the year directly following wildfire and was higher 2 years post-fire than any other interval during our study period.Boreal toads dispersed to alternative breeding patches more at burned sites than unburned sites and dispersal increased 2 years post-fire compared with the year directly following wildfire. Annual survival and recruitment neither differed between pre-and post-fire years nor among pre-fire years, the year following wildfire, and 2 years post-fire. We demonstrate that, in certain contexts, dispersal can play a major role in changes to state variables (e.g., abundance) after wildfire, as opposed to other vital rates such as survival and recruitment. Our study represents

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Amphibians and Reptiles

Pilliod,

Esque

2023

Rangeland Wildlife Ecology and Conservation

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Amphibians and reptiles are a diverse group of ectothermic vertebrates that occupy a variety of habitats in rangelands of North America, from wetlands to the driest deserts. These two classes of vertebrates are often referred to as herpetofauna and are studied under the field of herpetology. In U.S. rangelands, there are approximately 66 species of frogs and toads, 58 salamanders, 98 lizards, 111 snakes, and 27 turtles and tortoises. Herpetofauna tend to be poorly studied compared with other vertebrates, which creates a challenge for biologists and landowners who are trying to manage rangeland activities for this diverse group of animals and their habitats. Degradation of habitats from human land use and alteration of natural processes, like wildfire, are primary threats to herpetofauna populations. Disease, non-native predators, collection for the pet trade, and persecution are also conservation concerns for some species. Properly managed livestock grazing is generally compatible with herpetofauna conservation, and private and public rangelands provide crucial habitat for many species. Climate change also poses a threat to herpetofauna, but we have an incomplete understanding of the potential effects on species. Dispersal and adaptation could provide some capacity for species to persist on rangelands as climates, disturbance regimes, and habitats change. However, inadequate information and considerable uncertainty will make climate mitigation planning difficult for the foreseeable future. Planning for and mitigating effects of climate change, and interactions with other stressors, is an urgent area for research. Maintaining large, heterogeneous land areas as rangelands will certainly be an important part of the conservation strategy for herpetofauna in North America.

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Livestock grazing, climatic variation, and breeding phenology jointly shape disease dynamics and survival in a wild amphibian

Cited by 8 publications

References 76 publications

Compensatory recruitment unlikely in high‐elevation amphibian populations challenged with disease

Compensatory recruitment unlikely in high‐elevation amphibian populations challenged with disease

Wildfire influences individual growth and breeding dispersal, but not survival and recruitment in a montane amphibian

Amphibians and Reptiles

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