Ljubisavljević, K., A. Martel, F. Pasmans & T. D. Vukov

Pathogen load and body condition correlate with conservation status of syntopic and closely related frogs. pp. 187-192.

Abstract. Mitigating global amphibian declines requires a thorough understanding of stressors that differentially impact amphibian populations. We compared body condition and occurrence of the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) in syntopic frogs, belonging either to the small range, vulnerable species Pelophylax shqipericus or the widespread P. ridibundus. Bd was detected more frequently in P. shqipericus than in P. ridibundus (15.6% and 2.9%, p < 0.05, respectively). Infections were characterized by low infection intensity, absence of clinical signs and lack of any obvious impact on body condition. However, body condition in P. shqipericus was significantly lower than in P. ridibundus. Relatively high pathogen prevalence and poor body condition in the threatened P. shqipericus is worrying and urges the need for close monitoring, risk analysis and population assessment.

Key words. Amphibia, Anura, Ranidae, Pelophylax shqipericus, P. ridibundus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, Montenegro.