Abstract
A fungal disease caused by the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) has since 2010 for the first time been found infecting amphibian species in Sweden. Here we propose to study the occurrence of the disease, disease susceptibility and immunogenetic variation of selected Swedish amphibian species. We do this by a combination of field research, molecular screening of the disease and laboratory research by which we use experimental infections and molecular studies of immunogenetic variation. We focus on four main questions. 1. What is the prevalence of Batrachochytrium in Sweden? 2. How susceptible are Swedish amphibians to Bd? 3. Is there a latitudinal gradient in immunogenetic variation? 4. Is immunogenetic variation reduced in small fringe populations? We will study variation among populations of two common (common frog Rana temporaria, common toad Bufo bufo) and three rare (pool frog R. lessonae, green toad B. viridis and natterjack toad B. calamita) amphibian species to answer these questions.
Sweden