Local phenotypic variation in the amphibian-killing fungus predicts infection dynamics

• Grant number: 12/04160-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: June 01, 2012
• End date: March 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology
• Principal Investigator: Luis Felipe de Toledo Ramos Pereira
• Grantee: Carolina Lambertini
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Declines and extinctions of amphibian populations and species are associated with several causative agents, which one of the mains is the chytridiomycosis. This emerging infectious disease, caused by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, is already reported to all continents. Declines appear to be intensified in elevated areas, such as in the Andes (South America), the mountain ranges of Central America, and the Sierra Nevada (USA, North America). In Brazil several cases of infection were reported in the Atlantic forest, from the sea level up to 2000 meters. So far only one study evaluated the effect of altitude in Brazil. However, this study was based on different species at different elevations; therefore, specific differences, such as susceptibility to infection and microhabitat uses, were not considered. Thus, I selected Hylodes phyllodes as model for our study of prevalence in an altitudinal gradient, from the sea level to about 1000 m, occupying the very same microhabitat (rivulets within forests). I will also evaluate factors that may influence rates of infection, such as morphology and growth rates of the different strains of each altitude. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

LAMBERTINI, CAROLINA; GUILHERME BECKER, C.; JENKINSON, THOMAS S.; RODRIGUEZ, DAVID; LEITE, DOMINGOS DA SILVA; JAMES, TIMOTHY Y.; ZAMUDIO, KELLY R.; TOLEDO, LUIS FELIPE. Local phenotypic variation in amphibian-killing fungus predicts infection dynamics. Fungal Ecology, v. 20, p. 15-21, APR 2016. (12/04160-0, 11/51694-7)

BECKER, C. GUILHERME; RODRIGUEZ, DAVID; FELIPE TOLEDO, L.; LONGO, ANA V.; LAMBERTINI, CAROLINA; CORREA, DECIO T.; LEITE, DOMINGOS S.; HADDAD, CELIO F. B.; ZAMUDIO, KELLY R.. Partitioning the net effect of host diversity on an emerging amphibian pathogen. PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES, v. 281, n. 1795, NOV 22 2014. (12/04160-0, 11/51694-7, 08/50928-1)

VALENCIA-AGUILAR, ANYELET; RUANO-FAJARDO, GUSTAVO; LAMBERTINI, CAROLINA; LEITE, DOMINGOS DA SILVA; TOLEDO, LUIS FELIPE; MOTT, TAMI. Chytrid fungus acts as a generalist pathogen infecting species-rich amphibian families in Brazilian rainforests. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS, v. 114, n. 1, p. 61-67, MAY 11 2015. (12/04160-0, 11/51694-7)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

LAMBERTINI, Carolina. Local phenotypic variation in amphibian-killing fungus predicts. 2014. Master's Dissertation - Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Instituto de Biologia.