preventing the next amphibian apocalypse · thanks to nsf for funding field and lab research on...
TRANSCRIPT
Preventing the Next Amphibian Apocalypse!Karen R. Lips, Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742!
[email protected]; @kwren88!
Threats from Live Animal Trade!
• ~4 million amphibians imported annually"• Salamander chytrid in wild Asian newts & newts in trade"• 70% of pet store animals infected with chytrid"
Acknowledgments!Thanks to NSF for funding field and lab research on chytrid fungi and on amphibians’ role in ecosystems (DEB 081531, 1120249; 0234386, 0213851, 0130273; IBN 9977073)."
US Amphibians Threatened by Disease!
Chytrid fungi have caused dieoffs, population declines & extinctions"
California mountain yellow legged frog declined by 93% from chytrid (Joel Sartore)"
• New salamander chytrid discovered"• Salamander chytrid NOT present in
US – yet!• Some native salamanders very
susceptible"• #1 priority: keep it out"• Chytrids persist in environment"• No effective treatment for wild
populations"• Strains can hybridize, create new
strains"
Why do we care if we lose Frogs & Salamanders?!
They are Useful!• Amphibians eat bugs (disease vectors)"• Amphibian skin produces anti-microbial
chemicals"• Amphibians demonstrate how to
regenerate limbs"
They Regulate Ecosystems!• Food for birds, mammals, snakes"• Transfer energy and nutrients"
Species Recovery is Expensive!US amphibians declining at 3.7% per year"
2 western Amphibians recently listed under ESA because of population declines from disease"
Recovery costs under ESA for 3 declining amphibians with chytid are $39,000−147,000 per year"Costs are perpetual"
How to protect US salamanders from invasive chytrids?!
No existing policy directly monitors or regulates diseases and parasites of live animal imports of wildlife"
But pending legislation: Invasive Fish and Wildlife Prevention Act (S.1153 & H.R. 996): “To establish an improved regulatory process for injurious wildlife to prevent the introduction and establishment of nonnative wildlife and wild animal pathogens and parasites likely to cause harm.”"
USFWS has authority under Lacey Act to regulate Injurious Wildlife"
25% of the world’s 655 species of salamanders occur in North America"
100 species of salamanders in Appalachians"
USA: The global salamander biodiversity hotspot!
Dying European fire salamander infected with new salamander chytrid (F. Pasmans)!