Journal article
Natural Stressors and Ranavirus Susceptibility in Larval Wood Frogs (Rana sylvatica)
EcoHealth, Vol.10(2), pp.190-200
06/2013
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/101720
PMID: 23579812
Abstract
Chronic exposure to stressors has been shown to suppress immune function in vertebrates, making them more susceptible to pathogens. It is less clear, however, whether many natural stressors are immunosuppressive. Moreover, whether stressors make disease more likely or more severe in populations is unclear because animals respond to stressors both behaviorally and physiologically. We tested whether chronic exposure to three natural stressors of wood frog tadpoles—high-densities, predator-cues, and low-food conditions—influence their susceptibility to a lethal ranavirus both individually in laboratory experiments, and collectively in outdoor mesocosms. Prior to virus exposure, we observed elevated corticosterone only in low-food treatments, although other treatments altered rates of growth and development as well as tadpole behavior. None of the treatments, however, increased susceptibility to ranavirus as measured by the proportion of tadpoles that became infected or died, or the time to death compared to controls. In fact, mortality in the mesocosms was actually lower in the high-density treatment even though most individuals became infected, largely because of increased rates of metamorphosis. Overall we find no support for the hypothesis that chronic exposure to common, ecologically relevant challenges necessarily elevates corticosterone levels in a population or leads to more severe ranaviral disease or epidemics. Conditions may, however, conspire to make ranavirus infection more common in metamorphosing amphibians.
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Details
- Title
- Natural Stressors and Ranavirus Susceptibility in Larval Wood Frogs (Rana sylvatica)
- Creators
- Brooke Reeve - Department of Environmental and Forest Biology State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY-ESF) Syracuse NY USAErica Crespi - School of Biological Sciences Washington State University P.O. Box 644236 Pullman WA 99164 USAChristopher Whipps - Department of Environmental and Forest Biology State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY-ESF) Syracuse NY USAJesse Brunner - School of Biological Sciences Washington State University P.O. Box 644236 Pullman WA 99164 USA
- Publication Details
- EcoHealth, Vol.10(2), pp.190-200
- Academic Unit
- Biological Sciences, School of
- Publisher
- Springer-Verlag; New York
- Identifiers
- 99900546637801842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article