Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in Peru

The amphibian chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), has been well-studied in Australia, North and Central America, and Europe, but relatively little information is available concerning the status of this pathogen in South America. This is especially disturbing given that South America contains the highest diversity of amphibian species in the world (Vié et al. 2009). \ud In Peru, sampling for Bd has been especially sparse, with only six studies in localized regions conducted to date (Table 1). The first record of Bd in Peru came from several dead Atelopus patazensis collected in 1999 (Venegas et al. 2008). Although recent surveys have shown that this species continues to persist, it is currently listed as critically endangered by the IUCN due to the combined effects of Bd and water pollution (IUCN 2011). Reliable data are not available on the status of other Atelopus species in Peru, though many appear to be declining (Venegas et al. 2008; von May et al. 2008), a trend seen throughout the range of this genus (La Marca et al. 2005). Population surveys for A. pulcher in northern Peru have not detected any adults in localities where they were once abundant, and one of the last individuals seen was found dead and later tested Bd-positive (Lötters et al. 2005). Another study in northern Peru failed to detect Bd in 23 individuals tested using histopathological analysis (Enciso et al. 2008). In southern Peru, the first record of Bd came from 3 of 4 Telmatobius marmoratus collected in 2002 in the Cordillera Vilcanota (Seimon et al. 2005). A later study in this region reported a range expansion in Bd to the highest altitude yet recorded (5348 m), which Seimon et al. (2007) posit might be due to the recent deglaciation and subsequent host population expansion in the region. Additionally, it appears Bd might be contributing to declines in one of the two host species in this study (Seimon et al. 2007). Most recently, Catenazzi et al. (2011) discovered dramatic declines in montane amphibian species richness and abundance in southern Peru between surveys from 1999 and 2008–2009. They attributed these declines to chytridiomycosis rather than habitat loss because Bd is widespread in the region and declines occurred within the well-protected zone of Manu National Park