Focusing Conservation Science Efforts on the Amphibian Decline Crisis: A CRES Symposium

The decline and increased extinction risk for amphibian species has been an ongoing concern. However, within the last ten years, the role of the chytrid fungal intracellular parasite Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis has gained recognition as one of the major causes of rapid disappearance of species of frogs and salamanders within North American, Asian, and Australian bioregions. CRES scientists have played a key role in the identification of chytrid fungal disease and its spread in captive and wild populations. As a leading organization in conservation science research and its application, CRES seeks ways to advance scientific understanding of the infection and spread of chytrid fungal disease, bringing to bear the most powerful tools of scientific research available.

An international conference to focus attention on this issue will be held at CRES in 2007. This conference will focus on bringing together experts on chytrid fungal disease, along with pioneers in the application of studies of parasite and host genomes, in order to advance a coherent strategy to investigate the mechanisms of infection and possibilities for prevention and treatment of both managed-care and wild populations. Novel human parasitic agents such as HIV, Ebola, drug resistant tuberculosis have been the study of massive efforts to advance knowledge of the biology of the parasitic organism and its interaction with susceptible hosts. The framework for this project will be a meeting to discuss strategies for application of a similar approach to the rapid worldwide spread of the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis.