Interaction between invasive species and chytridiomycosis in amphibians under climate change: guidelines for conservation strategies

• Grant number: 25/00823-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: September 01, 2025
• End date: August 31, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Applied Zoology
• Principal Investigator: Cinthia Aguirre Brasileiro
• Grantee: Luisa de Pontes Ribeiro
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Ambientais, Químicas e Farmacêuticas (ICAQF). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus Diadema. Diadema , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Human activity has accelerated environmental degradation, leading to a global biodiversity crisis. Climate change has emerged as a key driver of this crisis, particularly affecting more vulnerable groups like amphibians. Multiple factors currently threaten amphibians in a synergistic manner. Chytridiomycosis, caused by the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), poses a significant threat to these animals, altering their population dynamics and eco-physiological responses to climatic variations. Invasive amphibian species can exacerbate disease dynamics by acting as vectors of Bd to native species. Therefore, understanding how both Bd and invasive species respond to climate change is crucial for predicting threats and informing conservation strategies. We aim to investigate the thermal ecology of Bd and invasive amphibian species in Brazil, as well as their interaction with Bd. We hypothesize that different Bd genotypes will exhibit variations in thermal tolerance, influencing virulence and geographical distribution, and that invasive amphibian species will show greater resilience to Bd infection due to their adaptation to a broader thermal range, facilitating the fungus's spread. To test these hypotheses, we will conduct experiments in controlled laboratory conditions to evaluate the effects of thermal variations on the survival and thermal tolerance of different Bd genotypes. To assess the resistance and resilience of invasive amphibian species to Bd infection and climate change, we will conduct experiments to evaluate the effects of Bd infection on the thermal ecology of amphibians, combining measurements of selected temperature, thermal tolerance, metabolism, and locomotor performance. Finally, using empirical data obtained from thermal ecology experiments, we will perform mechanistic modelling to predict the distribution of species and Bd genotypes under future climate scenarios, and conduct spatial and risk analyses to identify priority areas for amphibian conservation in Brazil. With this project, we hope to provide a comprehensive and integrative view of the behavior and physiology of invasive amphibian species in a changing climate, offering crucial insights into the interaction between climate change, Bd infection, and their impacts on amphibians in Brazil. The results should guide the implementation of targeted conservation policies and management strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of these factors on biodiversity, contributing to the sustainability of ecosystems in a global context of environmental change. (AU)