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Citizen Scientists Monitor a Deadly Fungus Threatening Amphibian Communities in Northern Coastal California, Usa

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Citizen Scientists Monitor a Deadly Fungus Threatening Amphibian Communities in Northern Coastal California, Usa DOI: 10.7589/2015-10-280 Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 52(3), 2016, pp. 516–523 Wildlife Disease Association 2016 CITIZEN SCIENTISTS MONITOR A DEADLY FUNGUS THREATENING AMPHIBIAN COMMUNITIES IN NORTHERN COASTAL CALIFORNIA, USA 1 2 3 4 Ecoclub Amphibian Group, Karen L. Pope, Greta M. Wengert, Janet E. Foley, Donald T. 5 1,6,7 Ashton, and Richard G. Botzler 1 Bilingual McKinleyville Ecoclub, 1363 Whitmire Ave., McKinleyville, California 95519, USA 2 US Forest Service Pacific Southwest Research Station, Redwood Sciences Laboratory, 1700 Bayview Dr., Arcata, California 95521, USA 3 Integral Ecology Research Center, 431 1st Ave., Blue Lake, California 95525, USA 4 School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, 1320 Tupper Hall, Davis, California 95616, USA 5 McBain Associates, 980 7th Street, Arcata, California 95521, USA 6 Professor emeritus, Department of Wildlife, Humboldt State University, 1 Harpst St., Arcata, California 95521, USA 7 Corresponding author (e-mail: [email protected]) ABSTRACT: Ecoclub youth and supervising family members conducted citizen science to assess regional prevalence and distribution of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) among amphibians at Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) and Redwood National and State Parks (Parks), Humboldt County, California, US, May 2013 through December 2014. Using quantitative real-time PCR, 26 (17%) of 155 samples were positive for Bd. Positive samples occurred in four frog and toad species: foothill yellow-legged frog (Rana boylii), northern red-legged frog (Rana aurora), Pacific chorus frog (Pseudacris regilla), and western toad (Anaxyrus [Bufo] boreas); no salamanders or anuran larvae were positive. Except for R. aurora, all infected anurans were first-time species reports for coastal northern California. At the Refuge, significantly fewer (6/71) postmetamorphic amphibians were positive compared to the Parks (20/69; P¼0.0018). We assessed the association of being PCR-positive for Bd, season of sampling, and age of sampler (child, teen, or adult). The full model with season, species, and sampler age had the greatest support. Frogs tested in winter or spring were more likely to be positive than those tested in summer or fall; foothill yellow-legged frogs, northern red-legged frogs, and western toads were more likely to be positive than were Pacific chorus frogs; and the probability of being positive nearly doubled when a child (<12 yr old) collected the sample compared to a teen or adult. Our results support other chytrid studies that found amphibians are more susceptible to Bd when temperatures are cool and that species differ in their susceptibility. The Ecoclub’s findings provide new information important to conservation of northern California’s coastal amphibians and demonstrate the value of involving children in citizen science. Key words: Amphibian disease, amphibian monitoring, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, Bd, chytrid fungus, Northern California, youth citizen science. INTRODUCTION fungus infects keratinized tissue of amphibi­ ans including the skin of postmetamorphic Spread of the deadly amphibian disease, animals and mouthparts of larvae (Berger et chytridiomycosis, has become a prominent al. 1998, 2005). In postmetamorphic animals, threat to amphibian biodiversity worldwide Bd compromises osmotic regulation and can (Skerratt et al. 2007; Olson et al. 2013; Botzler lead to mortality from cardiac arrest (Voyles et and Brown 2014). Chytridiomycosis, caused al. 2009). by the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobati­ Citizen science projects increasingly are dis (Bd; class Chytridiomycetes), commonly making important contributions to conserva­ referred to as the chytrid fungus, has caused tion science (Citizen Science Association decline or extinction of .200 amphibian 2016). Although many projects focus on species (Skerratt et al. 2007). It affects a participation by adults, the inclusion of broad range of amphibian hosts and has been children in citizen science can be beneficial reported in 516 (42%) of 1,240 amphibian because children are enthusiastic and curious species evaluated (Olson et al. 2013). The observers. For example, Minnesota school 516 ECOCLUB AMPHIBIAN GROUP ET AL.—CITIZEN SCIENTISTS MONITOR CHYTRID FUNGUS 517 children discovered a high proportion of Health Organization 2013). We had two malformed frogs in a local pond, leading to a objectives. Firstly, we used citizen science to wide-scale investigation into the scope and understand the status and distribution of Bd cause of amphibian malformations (Vanden­ within local amphibian communities. Second­ langenberg et al. 2003). Incorporating chil­ ly, we evaluated whether citizen science with dren in scientific research also enhances their children could provide viable research on a teamwork skills to accomplish common goals significant wildlife disease problem. In addi­ and further develops awareness of conserva­ tion to the conservation importance of the tion issues, providing science education project, studying the prevalence and distribu­ through direct experience. tion of Bd in local amphibian populations Youth of the Bilingual McKinleyville Eco- seemed an appropriate project for Ecoclub club in Humboldt County, California, US, youth because 1) frogs and salamanders are searched the literature about chytridiomycosis relatively easy and safe to catch; 2) testing for and learned that severe declines were occur­ Bd involves a simple skin swab that youth can ring in frog populations in California’s moun­ be trained to do correctly; and 3) Bd causes no tains (Rachowicz et al. 2006; Fellers et al. harm to humans. 2008; Piovia-Scott et al. 2014). California, and the north coast in particular, has a rich MATERIALS AND METHODS diversity of amphibians with 27 species of frogs and toads (order Anura) and at least 43 Study areas salamanders (order Caudata; Stebbins and We surveyed sites at the Humboldt Bay McGinnis 2012), yet information about the National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) (408420 5900 N, status of many of the species found in coastal 1248130 0400 W) and Redwood National and State 0 0 0 northern California is lacking. Nieto et al. Parks (Parks) (41804 –41849 N, 123853 – 0 (2007) reported a Bd prevalence of 6.4% 124810 W). Both locations are in coastal Hum­ boldt County and support a diversity of protected among 6,830 northern red-legged frog (Rana freshwater habitats where red-legged frogs have aurora) tadpoles in 13 ponds associated with been found infected with Bd (Nieto et al. 2007; Redwood National Park, Humboldt County. Sun 2012). The Refuge includes 1,619 ha in the In a follow-up study of the same sites, Sun southern part of the County and is used during (2012) found a 5% prevalence among 81 red- the year by .260 species of birds, 50 species of legged frog tadpoles and a 14% prevalence mammals, 95 species of fish, 15 species of reptiles, and eight species of amphibians (US Fish and among 42 metamorphosed red-legged frogs. Wildlife Service 2009). The Parks are a World Adams et al. (2010) reported the presence of a Heritage Site about 85 km north of the Refuge northern red-legged frog infected with Bd on along the coast and are jointly managed by the a map in the vicinity of Humboldt Bay National Park Service and the California Depart­ National Wildlife Refuge, Humboldt County; ment of Parks and Recreation (US National Park Service 2001). The Parks include 53,420 ha of no methods or other pertinent information is temperate rainforest coast redwood (Sequoia given for this report. These are the only sempervirens) set among several perennial known reports of Bd in coastal northern streams and coastal freshwater ponds. Both the California. Refuge and Parks support a high diversity of With volunteer help from local scientists, amphibians. Species sampled by the Ecoclub Amphibian Group included foothill yellow-legged the Bilingual McKinleyville Ecoclub members frog (Rana boylii), northern red-legged frog (R. designed a monitoring program to assess the aurora), Pacific chorus frog (Pseudacris regilla), status and distribution of Bd in amphibians in western toad (Anaxyrus [Bufo] boreas), coastal protected habitats of Humboldt County. The tailed frog (Ascaphus truei), Ensatina (salaman­ club is part of an international organization, der; Ensatina eschscholtzii), California slender Ecoclubs International, promoting youth lead­ salamander (Batrachoseps attenuatus), coastal giant salamander (Dicamptodon tenebrosus), and ership development with a special focus on rough-skinned newts (Taricha granulosa). Am­ healthy and sustainable natural environments phibians known to occur in similar aquatic and human communities (Pan American habitats in the Refuge and Parks, but not found 518 JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE DISEASES, VOL. 52, NO. 3, JULY 2016 by the Ecoclub, include northwestern salamander an infected to uninfected amphibian within a (Ambystoma gracile) and southern torrent sala­ site, hands were rinsed in the ponds or streams mander (Rhyacotriton variegatus). between captures in an effort to physically We sampled three sites at the Refuge: Cattail remove chytrids from the hands so the next Marsh (408400 4600 N, 1248120 0600 W) comprises a captured frog would have no more exposure to riparian forest at its eastern edge, freshwater, and chytrids than already was present in the natural then a brackish water slough. Frog City waters. Most samples were collected by Ecoclub (408410700 N, 1248120 3000 W) and Wildwing Dock youth (<16 yr); adults primarily supervised youth (408410900 N, 12481203300 W)
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