Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis is a fungal pathogen that is receiving attention around the world for its role in amphibian declines. Study of its occurrence patterns is hampered by false negatives: the failure to detect the pathogen when it is present. Occupancy models are a useful but currently underutilized tool for analyzing detection data when the probability of detecting a species is <1. We use occupancy models to evaluate hypotheses concerning the occurrence and prevalence of B. dendrobatidis and discuss how this application differs from a conventional occupancy approach. We found that the probability of detecting the pathogen, conditional on presence of the pathogen in the anuran population, was related to amphibian development stage, day of the year, elevation, and human activities. Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis was found throughout our study area but was only estimated to occur in 53.4% of 78 populations of native amphibians and 66.4% of 40 populations of nonnative Rana catesbeiana tested. We found little evidence to support any spatial hypotheses concerning the probability that the pathogen occurs in a population, but did find evidence of some taxonomic variation. We discuss the interpretation of occupancy model parameters, when, unlike a conventional occupancy application, the number of potential samples or observations is finite.
Citation Information
| Publication Year | 2010 |
|---|---|
| Title | Using occupancy models to understand the distribution of an amphibian pathogen, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis |
| DOI | 10.1890/08-2319.1 |
| Authors | M. J. Adams, Nathan Chelgren, David M. Reinitz, Rebecca A. Cole, L.J. Rachowicz, Stephanie Galvan, Brome McCreary, Christopher A. Pearl, Larissa L. Bailey, Jamie B. Bettaso, Evelyn L. Bull, Matthias Leu |
| Publication Type | Article |
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Series Title | Ecological Applications |
| Index ID | 70034148 |
| Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
| USGS Organization | Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center; National Wildlife Health Center |
Related Content
Michael J Adams
Supervisory Research Ecologist
Nathan D Chelgren
Wildlife Biologist
Stephanie K Galvan
Ecologist/Science Data Coordinator
Brome McCreary
Wildlife Biologist
Christopher A Pearl
Wildlife Biologist
Related Content
- Connect
Michael J Adams
Supervisory Research EcologistEmailPhoneNathan D Chelgren
Wildlife BiologistEmailPhoneStephanie K Galvan
Ecologist/Science Data CoordinatorPhoneBrome McCreary
Wildlife BiologistEmailPhoneChristopher A Pearl
Wildlife BiologistPhone