Abstract
The pandemic disease chytridiomycosis, caused by the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), is a major threat to amphibian biodiversity. For most species, the exact mechanisms of chytridiomycosis that lead to negative population dynamics remain uncertain, though mounting evidence suggests that sublethal effects could be an important driver. In this review, we propose that tree frog attachment is a promising case to study the sublethal effects of a Bd infection on amphibians. A synthesis of the current knowledge on the functional morphology of the adhesive toe pads of tree frogs, on the underlying mechanisms of tree frog attachment, and on the epidermal pathology of chytridiomycosis substantiates the hypothesis that Bd-induced epidermal alterations have the potential to disrupt tree frog attachment. We highlight a series of (biomechanical) experiments to test this hypothesis and to shed some light on the sublethal disease mechanisms of chytridiomycosis. The knowledge generated from such an approach could contribute to future research on Bd epidemiology and ultimately to the conservation of the biodiversity of arboreal anurans.
Highlights
The fungal disease chytridiomycosis is a global threat to amphibian biodiversity [1,2,3,4].This pandemic disease has been linked to population declines of hundreds of species, among which many are hylid tree frog species [3]
To substantiate our biomechanical view on studying the sublethal effects of chytridiomycosis, we present here an overview of the current knowledge on the functional morphology of tree frog toe pads and on the skin alterations caused by chytridiomycosis
We highlight experiments that will be crucial to unravel the sublethal effects of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) on tree frog attachment, and we elaborate how insights resulting from these experiments could contribute to developing conservation strategies for arboreal anurans
Summary
The fungal disease chytridiomycosis is a global threat to amphibian biodiversity [1,2,3,4]. As chytridiomycosis is a cutaneous disease, pathologic alterations of the skin morphology are a likely cause of sublethal effects This may apply to tree frogs; the intricate morphology of their toe epidermis enables these animals to securely grip various substrates, facilitating an arboreal lifestyle. As Bd is known to heavily infect the ventral side of anuran toes [9,23], we hypothesize that Bd has the potential to disrupt the functional morphology of tree frog toe pads, negatively affecting the attachment performance and fitness of these animals This proposed novel, biomechanical perspective renders tree frogs an interesting model to study the sublethal effects of Bd, and may help to unravel previously overlooked sublethal disease mechanisms. We highlight experiments that will be crucial to unravel the sublethal effects of Bd on tree frog attachment, and we elaborate how insights resulting from these experiments could contribute to developing conservation strategies for arboreal anurans
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