The effects of the amphibian chytrid fungus, insecticide exposure, and temperature on larval anuran development and survival

Chytridiomycosis, a disease caused by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis ( Bd ), has been implicated as a cause of amphibian declines. Susceptibility may be influenced by environmental factors that suppress the immune response. The authors conducted a laboratory study to examine the effect of temperature, insecticide exposure, and Bd exposure during larval anuran development. The authors examined the consequences of exposure to Bd , an insecticide (carbaryl or malathion), and static or fluctuating temperature (15 °C, 20 °C, 25 °C, or 15 °C to 25 °C 72‐h flux) on larval development through metamorphosis of the Pacific treefrog ( Pseudacris regilla ). High and fluctuating temperature had negative effects on survival in the presence of Bd . Insecticides inhibited the effects of Bd ; time to tail resorption of Pacific treefrogs decreased when tadpoles were exposed to carbaryl. The present study indicates that abiotic factors may play a role in the host–pathogen interactions in this system. Environ Toxicol Chem 2014;33:2545–2550 . © 2014 SETAC