Identifying species conservation strategies to reduce disease-associated declines
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Abstract
Emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) are a salient threat to many animal taxa, causing local and global extinctions, altering communities and ecosystem function. The EID chytridiomycosis is a prominent driver of amphibian declines, which is caused by the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). To guide conservation policy, we developed a predictive decision-analytic model that combines empirical knowledge of host-pathogen metapopulation dynamics with expert judgment regarding effects of management actions, to select from potential conservation strategies. We apply our approach to a boreal toad (Anaxyrus boreas boreas) and Bd system, identifying optimal strategies that balance tradeoffs in maximizing toad population persistence and landscape-level distribution, while considering costs. The most robust strategy is expected to reduce the decline of toad breeding sites from 53% to 21% over 50 years. Our findings are incorporated into management policy to guide conservation planning. Our online modeling application provides a template for managers of other systems challenged by EIDs.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Identifying species conservation strategies to reduce disease-associated declines |
| Series title | Conservation Letters |
| DOI | 10.1111/conl.12393 |
| Volume | 11 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Year Published | 2018 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Society for Conservation Biology |
| Contributing office(s) | Coop Res Unit Seattle |
| Description | e12393; 10 p. |
| First page | 1 |
| Last page | 10 |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |