Tourism may threaten wildlife disease refugia

0558444 - ÚBO 2023 RIV GB eng J - Journal Article
Kok, P. J. R. - Laking, A. - Smith, Carl - Berti, A. - Martel, A. - Pasmans, F.
Tourism may threaten wildlife disease refugia.
Conservation Letters. Roč. 15, č. 4 (2022), č. článku e12902. ISSN 1755-263X. E-ISSN 1755-263X
Institutional support: RVO:68081766
Keywords : Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis * Boana angelica * Boana tepuiana * chytridiomycosis * human impact * Oreophrynella quelchii * Pantepui * prevalence * Scinax exiguus * tepui
OECD category: Biodiversity conservation
Impact factor: 8.5, year: 2022
Method of publishing: Open access
https://conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/conl.12902

The remoteness and isolation of South American tabletop mountain (tepui) summits may protect against infections that underpin global amphibian declines. Increases in recreational pressure in such unspoiled destinations, and in isolated ecosystems globally, pose a poorly understood risk of wildlife disease introduction, especially in supposedly immunologically naive communities. We here report the first observed chytrid infections in the Pantepui biogeographical region. Infections significantly correlate with proximity to the nearest basic tourist infrastructure in four endemic amphibians occurring on tepui summits and their slopes. Phylogenetic relationships and environmental context suggest a high risk of severe and irreversible population declines in unique, early branching amphibians. These findings advocate for an urgent control of recreational pressure in isolated, highly vulnerable ecosystems.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0332086