Amphibian survey and current absence of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) in Ivoloina Park, Toamasina (Madagascar)

Angelica Crottini, An Bollen, Che Weldon, Desire Dalton, Antoinette Kotze, Jean Noel, Bernard Iambana, Franco Andreone

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Amphibians are threatened globally by the chytridiomycete fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), which is still expanding in range. Madagascar, rich in amphibian
diversity, remains one of the few places that the fungus has not invaded. Herein, we present
results from a pilot survey for Bd in conjunction with a rapid amphibian survey conducted at
Ivoloina Park, a forestry station near Toamasina, eastern Madagascar. This park is located on
the south-western side of the Ivoloina River in a former lowland rainforest now predominantly
covered by plantations of exotic trees. Our amphibian survey confirmed the presence of 12
anuran species identified by both morphology and molecular barcoding and revealed the
presence of four candidate species. Real-time polymerase chain reaction screening for the
presence of Bd showed that all 59 samples tested negative, thus confirming the absence of the
pathogen in this area. Our survey of Ivoloina provides the first species list for a suburban park
in Madagascar complemented with chytridiomycosis screening
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)70-78
JournalAfrican Journal of Herpetology
Volume63
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - 8 Oct 2014

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