Additional Projects

A complete understanding of disease and its role in amphibian declines is lacking (Daszak et al. 1999). In the western U.S., chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) has features of an introduced, lethal infectious disease to which amphibian populations have no resistance and which has been associated with population declines in several species (Green et al. 2002). Information on the distribution of chytrid, the susceptibility of populations to chytridiomycosis, and the role of chytrid in amphibian population declines is critically needed. The proposed research will provide some of this information by addressing 2 objectives:

Effects Of Prescribed And Wildland Fire On Aquatic Ecosystems In Western Forests

The goal of the project is to understand how fire in upland and riparian
forests influences stream communities and determine whether prescription
burning mimics the ecological function of fire in a watershed. The project
has two components: wildland fire and prescribed fire.

Wildland Fire Effects
To document the range of biotic and abiotic responses to wildland fires, we
are comparing stream communities and habitat conditions in watersheds that
burned, at varying intensities, to streams in unburned forests (fires
absent for 50-70 yrs).

Prescribed Fire Effects
To determine whether prescription burning restores the “ecological
integrity” of forests, we are monitoring stream communities and habitat
conditions before and after prescription burn treatments and comparing
observed responses to unburned reference streams during the same time
periods.

Effects of Fire Suppression and Exclusion on Boreal Toad (Bufo boreas) Populations

Evaluate the hypothesis that fire suppression and exclusion could cause decline of the boreal toad in the northern Rocky Mountains.

Additional Projects

Chytrid Fungus in the Rocky Mountains: Establishing Distribution & Evaluating Threat to Boreal Toads

Effects Of Prescribed And Wildland Fire On Aquatic Ecosystems In Western Forests

Effects of Fire Suppression and Exclusion on Boreal Toad (Bufo boreas) Populations

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ARMI > Additional Projects Additional Projects Chytrid Fungus in the Rocky Mountains: Establishing Distribution & Evaluating Threat to Boreal Toads A complete understanding of disease and its role in amphibian declines is lacking (Daszak et al. 1999). In the western U.S., chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) has features of an introduced, lethal infectious disease to which amphibian populations have no resistance and which has been associated with population declines in several species (Green et al. 2002). Information on the distribution of chytrid, the susceptibility of populations to chytridiomycosis, and the role of chytrid in amphibian population declines is critically needed. The proposed research will provide some of this information by addressing 2 objectives: 1. Document the distribution of chytrid fungus in boreal toad (Bufo boreas) populations in the Rocky Mountain region of WY and MT (data exist for CO, L. Livo, unpubl. data). 2. Establish 3 apex sites at robust boreal toad populations in CO, WY, and MT to: A. Monitor the status of and threats (e.g. potential immunosuppression related to the presence of contaminants and risk of chytrid infection) to these populations and use the data to develop conservation measures to protect these unique populations on a regional scale. B. Use capture-recapture population data for boreal toads and data on chytrid and contaminants to develop predictive models to examine possible interactions of disease and other stressors on amphibian population dynamics and persistence. for more information click here Effects Of Prescribed And Wildland Fire On Aquatic Ecosystems In Western Forests The goal of the project is to understand how fire in upland and riparian forests influences stream communities and determine whether prescription burning mimics the ecological function of fire in a watershed. The project has two components: wildland fire and prescribed fire. Wildland Fire Effects To document the range of biotic and abiotic responses to wildland fires, we are comparing stream communities and habitat conditions in watersheds that burned, at varying intensities, to streams in unburned forests (fires absent for 50-70 yrs). Prescribed Fire Effects To determine whether prescription burning restores the “ecological integrity” of forests, we are monitoring stream communities and habitat conditions before and after prescription burn treatments and comparing observed responses to unburned reference streams during the same time periods. for more information click here Effects of Fire Suppression and Exclusion on Boreal Toad (Bufo boreas) Populations Evaluate the hypothesis that fire suppression and exclusion could cause decline of the boreal toad in the northern Rocky Mountains. for more information click here Back To Top
Introduction \| Research Team \| Methods \| Apex Sites \| Additional Projects \| Species List \| Amphibian Disease \| Collaborators \| Products
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