Reservoir‐host amplification of disease impact in an endangered amphibian

Emerging wildlife pathogens are an increasing threat to biodiversity. One of the most serious wildlife diseases is chytridiomycosis, caused by the fungal pathogen, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), which has been documented in over 500 amphibian species. Amphibians vary greatly in their susceptibility to Bd; some species tolerate infection, whereas others experience rapid mortality. Reservoir hosts—species that carry infection while maintaining high abundance but are rarely killed by disease—can increase extinction risk in highly susceptible, sympatric species. However, whether reservoir hosts amplify Bd in declining amphibian species has not been examined. We investigated the role of reservoir hosts in the decline of the threatened northern corroboree frog (Pseudophryne pengilleyi) in an amphibian community in southeastern Australia. In the laboratory, we characterized the response of a potential reservoir host, the (nondeclining) common eastern froglet (Crinia signifera), to Bd infection. In the field, we conducted frog abundance surveys and Bd sampling for both P. pengilleyi and C. signifera. We built multinomial logistic regression models to test whether Crinia signifera and environmental factors were associated with P. pengilleyi decline. C. signifera was a reservoir host for Bd. In the laboratory, many individuals maintained intense infections (>1000 zoospore equivalents) over 12 weeks without mortality, and 79% of individuals sampled in the wild also carried infections. The presence of C. signifera at a site was strongly associated with increased Bd prevalence in sympatric P. pengilleyi. Consistent with disease amplification by a reservoir host, P. pengilleyi declined at sites with high C. signifera abundance. Our results suggest that when reservoir hosts are present, population declines of susceptible species may continue long after the initial emergence of Bd, highlighting an urgent need to assess extinction risk in remnant populations of other declined amphibian species.     

DNA Repair Activity and Resistance to Solar UV-B Radiation in Eggs of the Red-legged Frog

We assessed DNA repair and resistance to solar radiation in eggs of the red-legged frog (Rana aurora) , a species whose populations appear to be in decline. Specifically, we measured the activity of photoreactivating enzyme, photolyase, in R. aurora oocytes. In some species photoreactivation is the most important mechanism for repair of UV-damaged DNA. We also compared the hatching success of R. aurora eggs subjected to ambient levels of UV-B radiation with those shielded from UV-B radiation. We found photolyase levels in R. aurora to be relatively high when compared with other amphibians and hatching success to be unaffected by UV-B radiation. We suggest that UV-B radiation is an unlikely cause for declining populations of red-legged frogs.     

Consequences of Embryonic UV-B Exposure for Embryos and Tadpoles of the Plains Leopard Frog

Abstract: In organisms with complex life cycles, understanding the effects of environmental change requires investigating the possibility that the effect of such change on one stage will have consequences for other stages. We investigated the effects of embryonic exposure to UV-B radiation on embryo and tadpole development of the plains leopard frog (   Rana blairi ). Embryos were exposed to sunlight filtered to provide two levels of UV-B exposure (e.g., at 310 nm: high exposure is approximately 84% transmittance and low exposure is approximately 58% transmittance). Hatching success of embryos exposed to different UV-B levels did not differ. Tadpoles resulting from exposed embryos were raised at three densities. Growth and development were slower in tadpoles exposed to higher UV-B levels as embryos. Density negatively affected growth and development. Survivorship did not differ among UV-B or density treatments. Our results suggest that even if lethal effects are not exhibited at one stage, sublethal effects may manifest themselves at other stages, possibly affecting the long-term success of exposed individuals and populations.     

Ecology of Chytridiomycosis in Rainforest Stream Frog Assemblages of Tropical Queensland

Abstract:  In the wet tropics of Queensland, Australia, eight species of stream-dwelling frogs have experienced population declines. Some declines were associated with an emerging infectious disease of amphibians (chytridiomycosis) caused by the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. We examined the spatial and temporal pattern of infection prevalence in a sample of frog populations. Infected adults and tadpoles of all species were found, and infections occurred at every site. Infection prevalence varied among species and was always < 10.0% in adults but ranged from 0.75 to 76.0% in tadpoles. In this system tadpoles and adults of some species may act as disease reservoirs, experiencing avirulent infections, whereas other hosts (declining species) experience virulent infections. Infection prevalence was higher during the cool, dry winter season (May to September) and at high elevations (600–800 m), suggesting regulation by environmental conditions, including temperature and precipitation. We found no relationships between infection prevalence and mean body condition, fluctuating asymmetry of hind limbs, population density, or the presence of metamorphosing tadpoles and juvenile frogs. Although it is not certain whether chytridiomycosis was responsible for past frog population declines in the wet tropics of Queensland, the pathogen is now endemic. Our data indicate that at the landscape level, environmental conditions have strong effects on host-pathogen dynamics. These effects interact with species-specific behavior or immune function and may be important underlying determinants of chytridiomycosis epizootics and emergence.     

水稻对UV-B辐射响应的敏感性差异

综述了UV-B辐射对水稻（Oryza sativa L.）的影响和水稻对UV-B辐射的抗性机制。UV-B辐射对水稻生长、叶片形态、生物量、产量、光合系统、病害等产生一定的影响。水稻对UV-B辐射的敏感性因子主要有CPD光解酶、UV-B吸收物质、抗氧化酶等。UV-B辐射使水稻叶片中产生了ROS,导致Rubisco酶降解,光合色素含量变化,抑制了光合作用,最终影响水稻籽粒形成和产量。水稻对UV-B辐射响应存在着品种差异,CPD光解酶编码基因的自然突变会引起水稻UV-B敏感性的差异,CPD光解酶活性是水稻对UV-B敏感性的关键因素。通过建立响应指数公式,对水稻UV-B响应敏感性的品种差异进行评估,存在品种差异的原因主要是基因、生长、生理、生育期和环境背景的差异。最后对UV-B辐射对水稻的影响、水稻对UV-B响应的差异及机理有待深入研究的方向进行了展望。     

陆生植物对UV-B辐射增量响应研究进展

大气同温层的臭氧层逐渐被破坏导致太阳辐射中的UV—B辐射部分抵达地球表面增加，对陆生植物产生不同程度的影响,本文讨论了UV—B辐射对陆生植物在分子和器官水平的影响，植物可能通过UV—B光受体吸收低水平UV—B辐射，并通过不同信息途径转导，这包括钙、激酶和活性氧等，UV—B辐射诱致基因活性变化，并改变植物的形态和功能，暴露在UV—B辐射下大量基因表达发生变化，包括调节编码保护色素、DNA修复蛋白的基因和光合基因等．UV—B辐射引起光合作用、生长和生物量降低，极少数植物增加生物产量，整体群体生物量倾向减少．UV—B辐射对热带亚热带森林树种影响的报道甚少，目前增高UV—B辐射对生态系统的影响应得到重视．参45     

增强UV-B辐射对植物的影响

综述了大气臭氧层的减少是影响地面UV-B辐射增强的主要因素,并进一步简述了增强UV-B辐射对陆生植物影响的最新研究进展。UV-B辐射一方面在分子水平上直接或间接地损害植物的DNA分子和蛋白质的结构,从而影响植物的各种生理生化过程影响;另一方面对植物的形态学特征(如叶表皮结构和花的形态结构等)产生广泛的影响。过强的UV-B辐射穿过叶表皮后直接对植物的光合系统、膜系统和植物生长调控激素等方面产生影响,从而会在植株个体、种群和生态系统等层次上表现出来。增强UV-B辐射作为全球变化因子,可导致敏感植物种类的死亡或退化,较能忍耐UV-B辐射的耐荫树种比阳生树种的适应性更强,能竞争到更多的利用资源,因此,在全球UV-B辐射增强下阳生树种可能会提早退出植物群落,这对森林群落的演替更新会起着重要的作用。文章还综述了UV-B辐射与其它污染胁迫因子和环境因子的复合作用共同对植物产生的影响,以及植物对UV-B辐射的防御和修复等防护对策,提出了今后要加强对生态系统的大尺度、长时间的宏观研究,以及开展增强UV-B辐射对地下生态学,对DNA的修复与表达机理,对植物信号接收和传导的新途径等方面的研究。     

Effects of the Interaction between Genetic Diversity and UV-B Radiation on Wood Frog Fitness

Abstract:  Genetic diversity may buffer amphibian populations against environmental vicissitudes. We hypothesized that wood frogs (  Rana sylvatica ) from populations with lower genetic diversity are more susceptible to ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation than those from populations with higher diversity. We used RAPD markers to obtain genetic diversity estimates for 12 wood frog populations. We reared larval wood frogs from these populations and exposed experimental groups of eggs and larvae to one of three treatments: unfiltered sunlight, sunlight filtered through a UV-B-blocking filter (Mylar), and sunlight filtered through a UV-B-transmitting filter (acetate). In groups exposed to UV-B, larval mortality and deformity rates increased significantly, but egg mortality did not. We found a significant negative relationship between genetic diversity and egg mortality, larval mortality, and deformity rates. Furthermore, the interaction between UV-B treatment and genetic diversity significantly affected larval mortality. Populations with low genetic diversity experienced higher larval mortality rates when exposed to UV-B than did populations with high genetic diversity. This is the first time an interaction between genetic diversity and an environmental stressor has been documented in amphibians. Differences in genetic diversity among populations, coupled with environmental stressors, may help explain patterns of amphibian decline.     

增补UV-B辐射下南亚热带森林建群树种叶片对UV-B辐射的防护

研究了我国南亚热带森林5种建群树种UV-B辐射诱导的UV-B吸收物质(在280～320 nm波长下测定)的积累及抗UV-B辐射的可能性保护机制.增补UV-B辐射下,马尾松(Pinus massoniana)针叶的甲醇可溶性提取物和细胞壁的碱提取酚类的含量明显高于正常水平的光辐射下.红椎(Castanopsis hystrix)和厚壳桂(Cryptocarya chinensis)叶片的这些化学物质也升高,意味着增补UV-B辐射刺激UV-B辐射吸收物质的生成,形成抗UV-B辐射的功能性保护结构.然而,自然光下已含有大量细胞壁碱提取酚类的荷木(Schima superba)和藜蒴(Castanopsis fissa),这些化合物在增补UV-B辐射下则见下降,很有可能表皮层细胞壁碱提取酚类被转移到含有较低甲醇可溶性色素的液胞可溶性化合物里,这一现象意示着可能涉及叶肉组织光合机构的保护策略.增补UV-B下,马尾松针叶的叶绿素a和b含量不受影响,而其他4种阔叶树叶片则下降10.7% 到16.8%不等.胡萝卜素对增补UV-B辐射的响应变化不一,红椎和荷木的胡萝卜素水平下降,而马尾松、厚壳桂和藜蒴的胡萝卜素则上升,后者也许与功能性增加激发能耗散有关.结果显示,自然条件下不同树种展示出不同的驯化策略以形成抗UV-B辐射增加的防护机制.表4参29     

The cost of tolerance: sensitivity of stream benthic communities to UV-B and metals.

The ability to tolerate disturbance is a defense strategy that minimizes the effects of damage to fitness and is essential for sustainability of populations, communities, and ecosystems. Despite the apparent benefits of tolerance, there may be an associated cost that results in a deficiency of a system to respond to additional disturbances. Aquatic ecosystems are often exposed to a variety of natural and anthropogenic disturbances, and the effects of these compound perturbations are not well known. In this investigation, we examine whether tolerance to one stressor, metals, results in a cost of increased sensitivity to an additional stressor, ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation. Heavy metal pollution is recognized as a major environmental problem in Rocky Mountain streams. These high-elevation, typically clear streams may be at particular risk to elevated UV-B levels associated with reduced levels of ozone. Microcosm experiments were conducted using natural stream benthic communities collected from a reference site and a site with a long-term history of heavy-metal pollution. Direct and interactive effects of heavy metals and UV-B radiation on structural and functional characteristics of benthic communities were evaluated among four treatments: control, UV-B, metals, and metal and UV-B. Communities from the metal-polluted site were more tolerant of metals but less tolerant to UV-B compared to reference communities. Increased mayfly drift and reduced metabolism in response to metal exposure were observed in reference communities but not in the metal-polluted communities. In contrast to these results, UV-B radiation significantly reduced community metabolism, total macroinvertebrate abundance, and abundances of mayflies, caddisflies, and dipterans from the metal-polluted site, but had no effects on benthic communities from the reference site. ANOSIM results demonstrated that community responses differed among treatments at both sites. Metals had the largest impact on community differences at both sites, while UV-B had greater impacts at the metal-polluted site. This research demonstrates the need to account for potential costs associated with tolerance and that these costs can result in behavioral, structural, and functional impacts to benthic communities.     

番茄某些繁殖特性对增强UV-B辐射的响应

研究了增强UV-B辐射对大田生长的两种番茄(早熟型“同辉”和晚熟型“霞光”)某些繁殖特性(最大开花数、花粉萌发和花粉管伸长、果实产量、果实品质以及子代种子的数量和质量)的影响.结果表明,与对照相比,“同辉”开花数在高辐射下增加,“霞光”开花数在低辐射下减少;“同辉”果实产量在两种辐射下都明显增加,而“霞光”果实产量只在低辐射下增加;辐射抑制了“同辉”的花粉萌发和花粉管伸长,而只是降低了“霞光”的花粉萌发率;强辐射造成两种番茄果实番茄红素下降。经过一季的增强UV-B辐射处理,“同辉”种子数量增加,低辐射下种子明显变小;“霞光”种子数量减少,且明显变小.就开花数、果实产量和种子质量而言,早熟的“同辉”品种更具抗性,而晚熟的“霞光”更敏感.图3表1参29     

紫外辐射增强对玉米地上部分与根系生长的影响比较

在大田试验条件下,运用t检验和紫外线反应指数,分析研究了UV-B辐射增加对玉米(Zea mays L.)地上部分和地下部分生长的影响,结果表明:UV-B辐射增加对玉米成苗期的地上部分和根系都有显著的影响,其中对根系的影响程度显著大于地上部;UV-B辐射增加对玉米苗期(三叶期前)的地上部分有显著的影响,而对根系的生长影响未达到显著水平。对于更全面地了解UV-B辐射增强对农作物的影响及其机理具有一定的参考价值。     

Effects of UV radiation of different wavebands on pigmentation, 15N-ammonium uptake, amino acid pools and adenylate contents of marine diatoms

Three marine diatoms Lauderia annulata Cleve, Odontella sinensis (Greville) Grunow and Thalassiosira rotula Meunier were exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation of different wavebands under controlled laboratory conditions (0.035 vol% CO₂, 18 °C). Several changes in the patterns of pigments in these organisms were seen depending on the waveband of UV radiation and species examined. UV-B and UV-B plus UV-A radiation led to a reduction in the overall pigment content of all three diatoms. The uptake of ¹⁵N-ammonium was less affected by 5-h UV-A (WG 320) but significantly reduced after UV-B and UV-B plus UV-A exposure. The pattern of free amino acid pools varied depending on the applied UV wavebands and the tested diatom. The main protein-bound amino acids of T. rotula decreased after 5-h UV irradiance except leucine. Contents of adenosine 5′-mono-, di-, and triphosphate (AMP, ADP and ATP) were affected differently by UV radiation; ATP values increased at the end of UV-B and UV-B plus UV-A exposure. These results have been discussed with reference to the impact of the different UV sources and the influence on the nitrogen metabolism in connection to pigments and supply with energy. Received: 13 May 1997 / Accepted: 11 October 1997     

植物对UV-B辐射响应的种内差异及机理探讨

综述了在增强UV -B辐射下植物响应存在的种内差异 ,这些差异主要包括生长发育、形态结构、生理生化以及UV -B吸收物质 (即经UV -B辐射后体内诱导产生的保护物质 )等方面 ,并初步探讨了差异形成的DNA基础 ,从而为今后的植物防护研究提供理论基础。     

Environmental refuge from disease-driven amphibian extinction

Species that are tolerant of broad environmental gradients may be less vulnerable to epizootic outbreaks of disease. Chytridriomycosis, caused by the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, has been linked to extirpations and extinctions of amphibian species in many regions. The pathogen thrives in cool, moist environments, and high amphibian mortality rates have commonly occurred during chytridiomycosis outbreaks in amphibian populations in high-elevation tropical rainforests. In Australia several high-elevation species, including the armored mist frog (Litoria lorica), which is designated as critically endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), were believed to have gone extinct during chytridiomycosis outbreaks in the 1980s and early 1990s. Species with greater elevational ranges disappeared from higher elevations, but remained common in the lowlands. In June 2008, we surveyed a stream in a high-elevation dry sclerophyll forest and discovered a previously unknown population of L. lorica and a population of the waterfall frog (Litoria nannotis). We conducted 6 additional surveys in June 2008, September 2008, March 2009, and August 2009. Prevalences of B. dendrobatidis infection (number infected per total sampled) were consistently high in frogs (mean 82.5%, minimum 69%) of both species and in tadpoles (100%) during both winter (starting July) and summer (starting February). However, no individuals of either species showed clinical signs of disease, and they remained abundant (3.25 - 8.75 individuals of L. lorica and 6.5-12.5 individuals of L. nannotis found/person/100 m over 13 months). The high-elevation dry sclerophyll site had little canopy cover, low annual precipitation, and a more defined dry season than a nearby rainforest site, where L. nannotis was more negatively affected by chytridiomycosis. We hypothesize this lack of canopy cover allowed the rocks on which frogs perched to warm up, thereby slowing growth and reproduction of the pathogen on the hosts. In addition, we suggest surveys for apparently extinct or rare species should not be limited to core environments.     

Combined effects of enhanced ultraviolet-B radiation and mineral nutrients on growth, biomass accumulation and yield characteristics of two cultivars of Vigna radiata L

In a field experiment, the effect of enhanced UV-B radiation (simulating 20% ozone depletion at Allahabad, 20 degrees 47' N latitude) was studied on two cultivars of Vigna radiata L. with various levels of mineral nutrients (N and P). Study showed decrease in total biomass accumulation, harvest index, RSR and yield after exposure with enhanced level of UV-B. RGR and CGR also showed decline after exposure with UV-B. Application of recommended dose of mineral nutrients alleviated the deleterious effect of UV-B and increased plant dry matter vis a vis yield. Both cultivars showed sensitivity to UV-B but cultivar Malviya Janpriya was more responsive to UV-B than Malviya Jyoti.     

大田作物对UV-B辐射的响应及其研究方法现状与展望

目前紫外线对作物影响的研究主要从两个方面进行,即人为模拟增强UV-B辐射和去除UV-B.这两个方面采用了不同的实验方法,但都会在很多环节上产生系统误差,本文概述了误差产生的原因及多种控制措施,并讨论了作物对两种处理的响应差异.相对来说,大田植物对去除UV-B实验响应更大,其生长及生物量的变化更明显;而增强的UV-B辐射对农田或自然生态系统的生产力影响较小,但其在调节农田生态系统过程上有更重要的作用,比如种间竞争、物候期的改变以及由于次生代谢产物的变化而导致营养循环和动物采食发生变化等.为了能更加深入了解UV-B的作用机制,研究者应采用增强和减弱并用的方法进行UV-B辐射研究.参43     

Influence of ambient ultraviolet radiation on Bufo calamita egg development in a semiarid zone (Catalonia, Spain)

Several experiments have shown that ambient ultraviolet-B radiation (UV-B) has negative effects on the development of amphibians' embryos. We studied the effects of UV-B radiation on development, survival and frequency of deformity during egg development in the Natterjack toad (Bufo calamita) from a semiarid region of Lleida (Catalonia, Spain). Eggs exposed to ambient levels of UV-B and those protected from UV-B with a filter exhibited similar developmental rate, mortality rate and frequency of developmental anomalies. These experiments show that eggs of Bufo calamita of the studied population are able to develop normally during embryonic period when exposed to current high levels of UV-B observed in Catalonia. These results will be used as reference for future studies on geographic variation in UV-B tolerance in this species.     

Inconclusiveness of Chytridiomycosis as the Agent in Widespread Frog Declines

Abstract:  Although there is considerable evidence to support the hypothesis that the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis is the primary agent responsible for widespread declines in amphibian populations, particularly rainforest frog populations in Australia and Central America, I argue the case has not yet been made conclusively. Few specimens were collected at the time of population declines, so it may never be possible to conclusively determine their cause. It remains unclear whether the pathogen is novel where declines have occurred. Although it is not necessary that the infection be novel for it to be implicated in declines, if a preexisting pathogen has only recently caused extinctions, cofactors must be important. Whether the pattern of outbreaks represents a "wave" of extinctions is unclear, but if it does, the rate of spread in Australia is implausibly high for a waterborne pathogen, given the most likely estimates of epidemiological parameters. Although B. dendrobatidis is an amphibian pathogen according to Koch's postulates, the postulates are neither necessary nor sufficient criteria to identify a pathogen. The following key pieces of information are necessary to better understand the impact of this fungus on frog communities: better knowledge of the means and rate of transmission under field conditions, prevalence of infection among frog populations, as distinct from morbid individuals, and the effect of the fungus on frogs in the wild. It is crucial to determine whether there are strains of the fungus with differing pathogenicity to particular frog species and whether host-pathogen coevolution has occurred or is occurring. Recently developed diagnostic tools bring into reach the possibility of addressing these questions and thus developing appropriate strategies to manage frog communities that may be affected by this fungus.