Occurrence of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in amphibian populations of Okomu National Park, Nigeria

Amphibian declines are frequently due to a complex array of causative agents, many of which are poorly understood (Kiesecker et al. 2001; Garner et al. 2006). Although habitat destruction is the primary driver of biodiversity loss, infectious diseases have been identified as an important cause of some of the observed amphibian declines and mass mortalities (Skerratt et al. 2007). In particular chytridiomycosis caused by the amphibian chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), has been associated with amphibian mass mortality events throughout the world (Berger et. al. 1998; Bosch et. al 2001; Lips 1998).