Occurrence of the Fungal Pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis among Eastern Hellbender Populations (Cryptobranchus a. alleganiensis) within the Allegheny-Ohio and Susquehanna River Drainages, Pennsylvania, USA

摘要

In North America, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) has been detected among numerous anuran and salamander species in the northwest (Pearl et al. 2007), west (Muths et al. 2003), southeast (Grant et al. 2008; Rothermel et al 2008), northeast (Longcore et al. 2007), and Canada (Ouellet et al. 2005) (see also www.Bd-maps.net). Efforts to describe the taxonomic and geographic extent of Bd occurrence are comparatively limited in Pennsylvania. Three studies, examining two ranid, two hylid, two plethodontid, and one salamandrid species, detected the presence of Bd on two species, the Red-spotted Newt (Notophthalmus viridescens) in central and northwestern Pennsylvania and the Green Frog (Lithobates clamitans) in the northwestern region of the state (Glenney et al. 2010; Groner and Relyea 2010; Raffel et al. 2010). Representatives of families Bufonidae, Pelobatidae, Ambystomatidae, Proteidae, and Cryptobranchidae have not been tested for Bd in Pennsylvania.