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Occurrence and prevalence of chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) in amphibian species of Alberta

Description

Infectious diseases are one of a suite of factors implicated in the declines and extinctions of amphibians worldwide. One such disease, chytridiomycosis, is caused by the chytrid fungus... More ≫

Description

Infectious diseases are one of a suite of factors implicated in the declines and extinctions of amphibians worldwide. One such disease, chytridiomycosis, is caused by the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). Chytrid fungus was discovered in Alberta in 1999 from necropsies of several specimens of boreal toads and northern leopard frogs collected near Caroline. In late 2006, a pilot-study was conducted to determine whether Bd was present at northern leopard frog sites in southern Alberta. The detection of Bd at multiple sites, and in a provincially Threatened species, led to the expansion of Bd surveillance to other areas of the province, and to other amphibian species between 2007 and 2010. The results, reported in this study, provide a base-line for the occurrence and prevalence of Bd in Alberta. This information is required for the effective conservation and management of a broad suite of amphibian species, many of which are of high conservation concern in Alberta.

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Habitat suitability index for the northern leopard frog in Alberta : model derivation and validation

Description

Alberta's northern leopard frog recovery plan identifies habitat modelling as an action item. A habitat model could aid in predicting location sites that support previously unknown populations and... More ≫

Description

Alberta's northern leopard frog recovery plan identifies habitat modelling as an action item. A habitat model could aid in predicting location sites that support previously unknown populations and as a tool in the assessment of reintroduction sites. In 2005, a detailed population survey was undertaken to document the distribution and abundance of current northern leopard frog populations in Alberta. That data provided background for a number of management and research initiatives listed in the recovery plan, and was instrumental in the development of the northern leopard frog Habitat Suitability Index (HIS) model, which is reported here. Two data sets were used to test the model and it was found that the model appears to have some predictive power. In hopes of locating new populations, the model will be applied in the 2010 northern leopard frog provincial survey, to target specific areas in sub-drainages that have received little attention in the past.

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Alberta northern leopard frog recovery plan 2005-2010

Description

The northern leopard frog, once locally abundant in the Grassland, Foothills and Parkland natural regions of central and southern Alberta and in the extreme northeastern region of the province, is... More ≫

Description

The northern leopard frog, once locally abundant in the Grassland, Foothills and Parkland natural regions of central and southern Alberta and in the extreme northeastern region of the province, is now listed as Threatened in Alberta. The goal of the recovery plan is to achieve well-distributed and self-sustaining populations of the northern leopard frog throughout their historical range in Alberta. The plan provides background information on the frog, describes the threats facing the species, outlines proposed strategies to address these threats, and presents an action plan that lists priority actions required to maintain and recover the species.

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