Interaction between breeding habitat and elevation affects prevalence but not infection intensity of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in Brazilian anuran assemblages

Chytridiomycosis, an infectious disease of amphibians, is caused by the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) and has been linked to declining amphibian populations worldwide. the susceptibility of amphibians to chytridiomycosis-induced population declines is potentially influenced by many factors, including environmental characteristics, differences among host species and the growth of the pathogen itself. We investigated the effects of elevation and breeding habitat on Bd prevalence and individual infection intensity (zoospore loads) in 3 anuran assemblages of the Atlantic Coastal Forest of Brazil. Bd infection intensity was strongly influenced by elevation and breeding habitat, but we found no evidence of an interaction between those 2 variables in explaining the number of zoospores sampled from individual frogs. in contrast, Bd infection odds were predicted by elevation and by an interaction between elevation and breeding habitat, such that frogs had a higher probability of Bd infection in lotic habitats at low elevations. Our results indicate that Bd persists across a wide variety of habitats and elevations in the Atlantic Coastal Forest. Prevalence and infection intensity of Bd are highest at high elevations where overall environmental conditions for Bd are most favorable. in addition, at low elevations amphibian host habitat choice is also an important determinant of infection. Our study highlights the need to investigate interacting variables of host ecology and the environment simultaneously.Research and Analysis Network for AmphibiansUC-MEXUSConselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)National Science FoundationCornell Univ, Dept Ecol & Evolutionary Biol, Ithaca, NY 14853 USAUniv Estadual Campinas, Museu Zool Prof Dr Adao Jose Cardoso, BR-13083863 Campinas, SP, BrazilUniv Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Inst Biol, Mexico City 04510, DF, MexicoUniv Estadual Paulista, Dept Zool, BR-13506970 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Ciencias Biol, BR-09972270 São Paulo, BrazilUniv Estadual Paulista, Dept Morfol & Fisiol Anim, BR-14884900 São Paulo, BrazilUniv Estadual Paulista, Dept Biol Aplicada, BR-14884900 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Ciencias Biol, BR-09972270 São Paulo, BrazilResearch and Analysis Network for Amphibians: NSF DEB-0139273UC-MEXUS: 022043Web of Scienc