Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oregon, 2001. / Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 93-104). Also available for download via the World Wide Web; free to University of Oregon users.

Thèse--Strasbourg. / "Bibliographie": p. [181]-186.

Chytridiomycosis is an emerging infectious disease of amphibians caused by the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). Chytridiomycosis has caused declines and extinctions of amphibian species worldwide. Although the disease can be highly virulent, there are large differences both within and between amphibian species in response to Bd infection. Environmental factors are increasingly shown to be critical in the outcome of Bd-infection and emergence of the disease, although these factors remain poorly defined. Using a series of mesocosm experiments, I examine the influence of different environmental and ecological factors on the outcome of exposure to Bd in red-legged frog (Rana aurora) tadpoles, a species in decline in British Columbia. First, I tested the hypothesis that Daphnia, a keystone genus of zooplankton in shallow freshwater ecosystems, consume Bd zoospores in the water column to decrease the transmission of Bd infection in tadpoles. Although Daphnia are nearly always included in amphibian mesocosm experiments, their effects in these systems are overlooked. As such, I also examined the effect of Daphnia on R. aurora in general. I found that Daphnia had dramatic beneficial effects on tadpoles, that ostensibly herbivorous tadpoles consumed large numbers of Daphnia, and that Daphnia interacted with the presence of Bd to influence tadpole survival, with tadpole survival highest in the absence of Bd and presence of Daphnia. Although Daphnia consumed Bd zoospores in the laboratory, they had no discernible effect on transmission in mesocosms. These results have broad implications for the interpretation of mesocosm studies in general. Climate change has been implicated as a trigger of outbreaks of chytridiomycosis, yet, paradoxically, high temperatures are lethal to Bd. Climate change has also impacted amphibian communities by uncoupling the phenology of interacting species. I manipulated the temperature in mesocosms to test the effects of small temperature changes on the outcome of Bd-exposure in R. aurora. I also tested the effect of the presence of the sympatric Boreal chorus frog (Pseudacris regilla) on R. aurora at different temperatures, and in the presence and absence of Bd. I found that negative effects of Bd on tadpole body condition increased with temperature, although when Bd was absent tadpoles benefitted at higher temperatures. Furthermore, both Bd and temperature increased the development rates of P. regilla but not R. aurora, uncoupling the phenology of the species. Increased temperatures thus favoured P. regilla at the expense of R. aurora. In general, slightly higher and more variable temperatures shifted the host-pathogen balance to the detriment of the R. aurora, helping to explain a mechanism by which increasing temperatures may trigger chytridiomycosis outbreaks in susceptible. Together, these experiments clearly demonstrated the importance of ecological context in the outcome of Bd exposure in tadpoles. / Graduate / 0472

Zugl.: Konstanz, Univ., Diss., 2005

Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 72-82). Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (M. Phil.)--Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available in electronic version. Access restricted to campus users.

Universiẗat, Diss., 2003--München.

University, Diss., 2004--München.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available in electronic version.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available in electronic version.