Term
| what is amphibian decline? |
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Definition
| recent mass die off of amphibian species |
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Term
| what pathogen plays a huge role in amphibian decline? |
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Definition
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Term
| what are the 2 alternative life stages of the chytrid fungus. how does this make it even more potent? |
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Definition
| saprophytic soil stage, infectious amphibian stage. 2 stages make this fungus dangerous bc it can persist even when its host is no longer there. this allows the fungus to rapidly spread to new regions and decrease chances of fading out. |
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Term
| what species of frog was the source of the global chytrid epidemic and why? |
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Definition
| xenopus laevis (african clawed frog). it was shipped all over the globe when its use as a pregnancy indicator was discovered. |
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Term
| what affects the severity of infection by the chytrid fungus? |
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Definition
| multiple host and environmental factors. fungus needs low temps and high altitude and population without prior exposure to pathogen |
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Term
| name another pathogen driver in amphibian decline |
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Definition
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Term
| why are amphibians particularly susceptible to these pathogens? |
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Definition
| moist skin is hospitable to pathogen |
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Term
| what is a reservoir host? |
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Definition
| host that can carry a pathogen bc the pathogen has little or no negative effect on it. allows the pathogen to persist even when normal host is absent |
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Term
| how is climate change affecting avian malaria? why? |
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Definition
| global warming allows mosquitos carrying avian malaria to live at higher elevations and thereby restricting the habitat available to native birds |
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Term
| what is a 'hidden danger of ecotourism'? |
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Definition
| primates are very susceptible to human pathogens so close contact with them has introduced many new diseases, hurting primate populations |
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