The devastating chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), is a known scourge of amphibian populations worldwide, thriving in moist conditions and when frogs experience temperatures outside their optimal range. Research of lab collaborators conducted in Brazil's Atlantic Forest explored a new vulnerability: the reproductive habitat mismatch hypothesis. This suggests frogs become more susceptible to Bd when found outside the type of habitat (aquatic or terrestrial) they require for breeding. Analyzing nearly 3,500 frogs across 44 species, scientists confirmed that while high rainfall increased Bd prevalence and intensity overall, this negative impact was significantly worse for individuals captured in habitats mismatched from their species' breeding requirements.
These findings carry worrying implications, especially considering environmental changes. Increased rainfall, potentially driven by climate change, will likely elevate Bd risk in tropical areas. Crucially, this risk will be particularly acute for amphibian populations forced out of their preferred reproductive habitats due to factors like habitat destruction or thermal stress. Protecting amphibians effectively means not just conserving space, but ensuring they have access to the correct environments needed for breeding, thereby minimizing stress and bolstering their defense against this deadly fungus.

Citation: Gilbert N.A., R.C. Bell, A. Catenazzi, R.A. Martins, S. Buttimer, W.J. Neely, C. Lambertini, V. Saenz Calderon, C.F.B. Haddad, C.G. Becker, G.V. DiRenzo. 2025. Reproductive habitat mismatch influences chytrid infection dynamics in a tropical amphibian community. Global Ecology and Conservation 60: e03599. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03599

To cap off a busy week of proposal defense and seminars for the lab, Gustavo presented his dissertation proposal on amphibian-bromeliad interactions. Congratulations!

Isabel gave her proposal seminar on the demographic effects of chytrid infection in a diverse tropical frog community. Congratulations!!

Rachel successfully defended her dissertation today! She examined the behavioral response of the strawberry poison-dart frog, Oophaga pumilio, to infection with the virulent amphibian chytrid fungus, using sensorial physiology and mate choice experiments. Congratulations Rachel!!

Several lab members received awards recently. Jon Adamski received a Carl Gans Traveling Fellowship to attend the Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists in St. Paul next July with his presentation Elucidating the Role of Shed Skins in the Persistence of Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola in Soil. Gustavo Ruano algo received the same Carl Gans Traveling Fellowship to present Bromeligenous Amphibians in Suboptimal Habitats: A Case Study of Phyllodytes gyrinaethes and its Environmental Interactions. Gustavo will also give a talk during the Symposium on herp diseases, titled Amphibian Population Status Across an Altitudinal Gradient in Southwestern Guatemala: Insights from the San Marcos Transect. And Cara Giordano is the recipient of a SSAR Roger Conant Grant-in-Herpetology for 2025 in the Conservation Category with her proposal Investigating skin secretions in Typhlonectes natans , a non-native and potentially invasive amphibian of South Florida. Congratulations everyone!

In a remarkable discovery, a team of collaborators from the Museo de Historia Natural in Lima has rediscovered the Rio Santa Rosa Mushroomtongue Salamander (Bolitoglossa digitigrada) in the Ayacucho region of Peru, 43 years after it was first described. This elusive amphibian, known from only a few specimens, was found during a recent expedition in the Amazonian Andean Forest. The rediscovery of Bolitoglossa digitigrada is significant because the species was previously known from only a handful of specimens collected near the Rio Santa Rosa.

The new discovery provides valuable insights into its ecology and evolutionary relationships. "This rediscovery is incredibly exciting for us," said Valia Herrera, the lead researchers on the project. "Finding these salamanders after so many years highlights the importance of continued fieldwork in under explored regions." 

The research team found four individuals of Bolitoglossa digitigrada in a corn and banana field near the community of San Jose, approximately 2.7 km from the type locality. This discovery suggests that the species may be able to persist in disturbed habitats, offering hope for its conservation in the face of ongoing habitat loss. 
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In addition to the rediscovery, the researchers also conducted a molecular phylogenetic analysis of Bolitoglossa digitigrada using a mitochondrial 16S rRNA sequence. This analysis allowed them to clarify the evolutionary relationships of the species within the Bolitoglossa adspersa group, providing further insights into the evolutionary history of these fascinating amphibians.
The rediscovery of Bolitoglossa digitigrada underscores the importance of continued research and conservation efforts in the Andean region. The area is a biodiversity hotspot facing increasing pressure from human activities. By studying and protecting species like Bolitoglossa digitigrada, researchers can gain a better understanding of the unique ecosystems and work to ensure their preservation for future generations.

Citation: ​Herrera-Alva, V., A. Catenazzi, E. Castillo-Urbina, L. Fajardo, K. Ñaccha, C. Aguilar-Puntriano. 2025. Lost in the Amazon: Rediscovery of a species of amphibian from Peru. Zootaxa 5594: 559-566.

Gustavo presented a poster at the FIU 2025 Biosymposium!

Ponencia magistral el dia domingo 16 de febrero en el Museo de Historia Natural de San Marcos en Av. Arenales, Lince.

A new study and lab collaboration published today in Zootaxa provides the most comprehensive genetic analysis of Harlequin frogs (genus Atelopus) to date. This critically endangered group has suffered dramatic declines, with many species facing extinction. The research, conducted by an international team of scientists led by Stefan Lötters, analyzed genetic data from 152 samples representing 104 populations across the entire geographic range of the genus. 

The study identified four major evolutionary lineages of Harlequin frogs and revealed significant cryptic diversity, meaning that species that appear similar externally may be genetically distinct. The findings have important implications for the conservation of these threatened amphibians. By improving our understanding of Harlequin frog taxonomy, researchers and conservationists can better prioritize conservation efforts and develop effective strategies to protect these unique and valuable animals. The study also describes two new species of Harlequin frogs from Departamento Loreto in Peru, Atelopus harlequin and Atelopus histrionicus, highlighting the continued importance of taxonomic research in understanding and conserving biodiversity. 

Citation: Lötters, S., P. Böning, S. Bailon, J. D. Barros Castañeda, R. Boistel , A. Catenazzi, et al. 2025. A roadmap for harlequin frog systematics, with a partial revision of Amazonian species related to Atelopus spumarius. Zootaxa 5571: 1-76. ​