Isabel Diaz attended the Applied Hierarchical Modeling workshop at the University of Michigan from July 22-26. The workshop was led by experts Ken Kellner, Marc Kéry, Andy Royle, and Josh Twining, who provided valuable tools and techniques for applying Bayesian techniques to demographic analyses. These insights will aid in studying the montane frog communities in Peru. We are excited to see the results of her work following this training.

A new study and lab contribution published today in Plos Biology offers a significant leap forward in our understanding of the world's tetrapods, a group encompassing amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. These creatures are crucial models for studying global biodiversity, but research has been hampered by incomplete and inconsistent data.

The challenge lies in the vast number of species – over 33,000 – combined with ongoing changes in how they are classified and limited standardization of data collection. This has led to missing information and potential biases in ecological and conservation studies. To address this issue, researchers led by Dr. Mario Moura developed TetrapodTraits 1.0.0, a comprehensive database that integrates information on various aspects of tetrapod biology, including: body size, activity patterns, habitat preferences, ecosystem type, threat status, geographic distribution, sensitivity to island environments, environmental preferences, and human impact.

Citation: Moura, M. R. , K. Ceron, J. J. M. Guedes, R. Chen-Zhao, Y. V. Sica, J. Hart, W. Dorman, J. M. Portmann, P. Gonzalez-del-Pliego, A. Ranipeta, A. Catenazzi, F. P. Werneck, L. F. Toledo, N. S. Upham, J. F. R. Tonini, T. J. Colston, R. Guralnick, R. C. K. Bowie, R. A. Pyron, W. Jetz. 2024. A phylogeny-informed characterization of global tetrapod traits addresses data gaps and biases. Plos Biology 22(7):  e3002658. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3002658

The lab contributed to the latest version of the Amphibian Conservation Action Plan (ACAP) by co-authoring chapter six on infectious disease. Emerging infectious diseases pose a critical threat to amphibian biodiversity, driving population declines and extinctions. The chapter of the ACAP synthesizes recent advancements in understanding these diseases, focusing on pathogen characteristics, host responses, and environmental influences. We examine current diagnostic tools, explore ecological factors relevant to effective management, and evaluate proposed intervention strategies. Additionally, we address the human dimensions of amphibian disease, including management and policy actions needed to mitigate disease-driven declines at local and global scales, ultimately emphasizing the urgent need for integrated conservation efforts. 

Citation: ​Bletz, M. C., B. Gratwicke, A. M. Belasen , A. Catenazzi, , A. L. J. Duffus, M. Lampo, D. H. Olson , F. Toledo, K. Vasudevan. 2024. Infectious diseases: Advances and challenges in addressing emerging pathogens. Pages 149-179 in: Wren, S., A. Borzée, R. Marcec-Greaves, A. Angulo. Amphibian conservation action plan : a status review and roadmap for global amphibian conservation. Occasional Paper of the IUCN Species Survival Commission, International Union for the Conservation of Nature, Gland, Switzerland, 354 pp. doi: https://doi.org/10.2305/QWVH271