FreeMi · Using FREshwater organisms to MItigate the pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis
Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Duration
- 2015-06-01 → 2017-05-31
- EU contribution
- €171,461
- Participants
- 1
- Scheme
- MSCA-IF-EF-ST
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
Using FREshwater organisms to MItigate the pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis
Amphibians are currently the most threatened vertebrates on the planet. Their declines have many causes, from overharvesting to habitat destruction. Chytridiomycosis, the disease caused by the emerging fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), has been identified as a major driver of amphibian declines worldwide. However, to date, no efficient disease mitigation strategy is available to protect amphibians against Bd in nature. The global loss of amphibians through fatal outbreaks of chytridiomycosis has catastrophic long-lasting consequences for the functioning of ecosystems, as amphibians are keystone species in many habitats. They impact nutrient dynamics, influence the cycling of energy flows between freshwater and terrestrial systems and control populations of pest insects. It is therefore of paramount importance for ecosystem functioning to develop and implement disease mitigation strategies for the conservations of amphibians. The main scientific objective of the project FreeMi was to pave the road to the development of a safe and effective mitigation strategy targeting Bd at the habitat level, by natural augmentation of zooplankton able to consume zoospores of Bd and to lower the risk of infection of the amphibian hosts. The main training objective of the project FreeMi was to move from pure fundamental research to more applied research by training-through research, take more responsibilities in management and leadership, and make my work and my expertise more visible to the academic researchers, in order to reinforced my position in the scientific community and improve my career opportunities for the future.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
Amphibians are currently suffering severe worldwide declines caused by chytridiomycosis, an emerging infectious disease caused by the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). So far, disease mitigation strategies have taken a host-level approach, in which only the host-pathogen interactions have been considered. However, recent results have shown that disease dynamics can be affected by pathogen-environment interactions and underscored the importance of the host-pathogen-environment interplay. Indeed, in the field and laboratory, freshwater zooplankton was found to trigger Bd infection in two amphibian species by directly consuming Bd zoospores. This study raises the hope that chytridiomycosis outbreaks could be controlled in nature by natural augmentation of zooplankton. The project FreeMi aims at developing a safe and effective mitigation strategy targeting Bd at the habitat level. To achieve this aim, I will first identify whether amphibians are protected by the species richness, the overall abundance and/or a few key zooplankton organisms able to consume a high number of Bd zoospores. The samples will be collected from two regions: the Pyrenees and Germany. Then, I will identify the local species that are the most efficient at consuming zoospores. I will isolate these species and establish self-maintaining cultures in outdoor microcosms. Finally, I will test the efficiency of the cultures, in single as well as community trials, under biologically relevant conditions. Compared to other approaches, this highly innovative approach lacks the downsides associated with introducing non-native biocontrol agents (such as antifungal chemicals or non-native skin bacteria) in the environment. Moreover, it would allow to treat all amphibian individuals present at a site, of all species and from larvae to adults directly in the field, and therefore would be more cost-effective than individual treatment strategies.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- HELMHOLTZ-ZENTRUM FUR UMWELTFORSCHUNG GMBH - UFZ · LeipzigCoordinatorGermany
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union