Abstract

Amphibians are excellent indicators of ecosystem health and represent important management targets for National Parks and Refuges. Catoctin Mountain Park in north-central Maryland, USA provides a rich habitat for amphibian species in a region where disease occurrence among wild amphibian and reptile populations has been reported in recent years. Objectives of this study were to determine the presence of the amphibian pathogens, Ranavirus and Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, in Catoctin Mountain Park, to determine whether overt disease occurs among amphibians related to these pathogens, and to identify potential environmental variables (i.e., contaminants) correlated with either pathogen. In 2014, ten stream and five pond sites within the park were sampled for pathogens and contaminants. External swab and tissue specimens from multiple species of adult or larval amphibians were analyzed for the presence of the two amphibian pathogens and pesticide residues. Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis was identified in larval amphibians collected from two pond sites, and Ranavirus was identified in specimens collected from four pond sites and one stream site. No evidence of concurrent disease was observed at any site. Eight pesticides were detected in the tissue samples collected concurrently, with the fungicide fenbuconazole detected most frequently. Management related implications of these findings include disinfection of gear between sites and follow-up monitoring of amphibian population health and contaminant occurrence within the park.

* Presenting author