Chytridiomycosis in amphibian populations in the Western Cape, South Africa

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dc.contributor.advisorChanning, Alan
dc.contributor.authorHopkins, Samantha
dc.date.accessioned2015-10-19T15:03:20Z
dc.date.accessioned2024-10-30T11:28:30Z
dc.date.available2015-10-19T15:03:20Z
dc.date.available2024-10-30T11:28:30Z
dc.date.issued2002
dc.descriptionMagister Scientiae (Biodiversity and Conservation Biology) - MSc (Biodiv and Cons Biol)en_US
dc.description.abstractThere have been many cases reported of amphibian populations declining. These are often due to anthropogenic factors such as habitat destruction and pollution. However, some declines have not had an obvious cause and many of these have been investigated and found to be due to pathogenic disease. Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis is a recently described pathogen of frogs. The population declines that have been associated with chytridiomycosis have occurred in relatively undisturbed areas such as national parks. The declines tend to occur at higher altitudes or in colder climates. This is thought to be because of the frog immune system being slower at lower temperatures. Chyt1id fungus has been found in frog populations throughout the world. Little research has been carried out in Africa although, chytridiomycosis has already been seen in Kenya and South Africa. In this project frogs were sampled from selected transects in the Western Cape and three sites in the Northern Cape. The effect of altitude on the occurrence of infection was tested in the Western Cape. It was found that 18 frogs were infected in the Western Cape and the effect of altitude was not significant. Large numbers of dead and dying frogs were found in two of the Northern Cape sites and the incidence of chytridiomycosis was high in these populations. Chytrid was found in two Bufogariepensis from the Eastern Cape and in Xenopus petersii from Kasanka National Park, Zambia. More research is needed on chytridiomycosis in these populations. The frogs in the Western Cape seem to survive with chytrid fungus infection whereas, the frogs in the Northern Cape are dying. This suggests another factor acting on the Northern Cape frog populations.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10566/16808
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherUniversity of the Western Capeen_US
dc.rights.holderUniversity of the Western Capeen_US
dc.subjectAmphibian declineen_US
dc.subjectHabitat destructionen_US
dc.subjectBatrachochytrium dendrobatidisen_US
dc.subjectChytridiomycosisen_US
dc.subjectSouth Africaen_US
dc.subjectZambiaen_US
dc.subjectFrogsen_US
dc.subjectWestern Capeen_US
dc.titleChytridiomycosis in amphibian populations in the Western Cape, South Africaen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US

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Magister Scientiae (Biodiversity and Conservation Biology) - MSc (Biodiv & Cons Biol)