Wednesday, August 8, 2007: 1:30 PM-5:00 PM
Blrm Salon III, San Jose Marriott
OOS 32 - Disease emergence and amphibian declines: Using ecology to understand patterns and promote restoration
Our organized oral session is designed to synthesize information on the growing field of disease ecology and restoration. We focus on amphibians because they have become increasingly threatened worldwide and a growing number of studies have identified the importance of disease in contributing to this pattern. However, despite progress in understanding the ecology of disease in nature, potential pathways toward recovery have received surprisingly little attention. Here we aim to identify critical pieces of missing information necessary to developing applied restoration strategies to reduce or reverse ongoing population losses. Participants will present new research results that help to meet the following objectives: 1. Identify pathogens that threaten amphibian populations, directly or indirectly. How do the consequences of diseases extend beyond amphibians to affect other trophic levels or ecosystem properties? Focus will be restricted to infectious pathogens, such as helminths (e.g., Ribeiroia), bacteria (e.g., Aeromonas), viruses, and fungal groups (e.g., Batrachochytrium and Saprolegnia). 2. Examine the physical and biological factors linked to pathogen emergence, with a particular focus on the contributing roles of habitat alteration (e.g., pollution, deforestation), climate shifts, and biotic change (e.g., addition or loss of species). What common lessons and patterns can be identified by examining a broad range of pathogens affecting different taxa, regions, and ecosystems? 3. Given the patterns identified above, how can this information be synthesized into effective strategies for predicting and preventing disease spread? What missing pieces of information are needed before progress is possible in this arena? Discussion will focus on possible strategies for (a) the control of the pathogen, (b) control or reduction of the environmental co-factor, and (c) treatment or selection within the amphibian population (including captive breeding). 4. Determine research priorities for future efforts, with the aim of developing interdisciplinary teams capable of integrating epidemiology, ecology, parasitology and herpetology. How can ecological theory guide practical solutions, and on what timeline can trial runs of prescribed solutions be applied?
Organizer:	Pieter TJ Johnson, University of Colorado
Co-organizers:	Vance T. Vredenburg, University of California Andrew R. Blaustein, Oregon State University
Moderator:	Pieter TJ Johnson, University of Colorado
1:30 PM	OOS 32-1		Wetland characteristics associated with trematode infections in amphibians: Implications for conservation and restoration Anna M. Schotthoefer, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Jason R. Rohr, Penn State University, Rebecca A. Cole, USGS, BRD National Wildlife Health Center, Catherine M. Johnson, Monongahela National Forest, Lucinda B. Johnson, Natural Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota-Duluth, Val R. Beasley, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
1:50 PM	OOS 32-2		Amphibian chytrid fungus in a rain-forest frog assemblage 30 years after invasion: Does chytridiomycosis still kill frogs? Kris A. Murray, University of Queensland, Rick Speare, James Cook University, Hamish McCallum, University of Tasmania
2:10 PM	OOS 32-3		Pesticides as cofactors in ranavirus emergence Jacob Kerby, Washington State University, Andrew Storfer, Washington State University, Cristina Dressel, Washington State University, Diane Forson, Washington State University
2:30 PM	OOS 32-4		Human land use and patterns of parasitism in amphibian hosts Valerie J. McKenzie, University of Colorado
2:50 PM	OOS 32-5		Diversity loss and disease emergence: Insights from amphibian malformations and parasite infection Pieter TJ Johnson, University of Colorado, Richard B. Hartson, Center for Limnology, Donald Larson, University of Wisconsin
3:10 PM			Break
3:20 PM	OOS 32-6		Emergent disease or compromised immunity: Pesticides as immuno-suppressants in amphibians Tyrone Hayes, University of California, Laura Meehan, University of California, Young Kim-parker, University of California
3:40 PM	OOS 32-7		Factors influencing recovery of boreal toads from mass population mortalities in the Colorado Rockies Cynthia Carey, University of Colorado
4:00 PM	OOS 32-8		An emerging disease and non-native fish predation illustrate complexity of restoration efforts for endangered amphibians Vance T. Vredenburg, University of California
4:20 PM	OOS 32-9		Effects of environment and microhabitat on susceptibility to the amphibian chytrid fungus Ross A. Alford, James Cook University, Jodi J. L. Rowley, James Cook University
4:40 PM	OOS 32-10		Do ancient behaviors increase host exposure to lethal pathogens? Andrew R. Blaustein, Oregon State University, Betsy A. Bancroft, Oregon State University, Barbara A. Han, Oregon State University

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