Meeting Abstract
Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is a fungus that is causing extinctions and extirpations of amphibians around the world. Bd is an aquatic fungus that attacks the keratin in the skin of amphibians and the carapace of some freshwater invertebrates, like crayfish. Bd metabolites have been shown to damage the gills of crayfish in the absence of live Bd, but little research is done in this field. Here, we investigated the effects of Bd metabolites, in the absence of Bd, on developing mosquitos and the bioindicator Daphnia magna . There is a negative relationship between Bd metabolite concentration (measured as the concentration of Bd removed from the inoculant) and Daphnia survival (p= <0.01), but there was no effect of Bd metabolites on mosquito mortality. The presence of Bd metabolites induced molting in Daphnia and mosquito larvae, which may have an impact on their development. Our findings indicate exposure to Bd contaminated water, even in the absence of direct contact with Bd may adversely affect some freshwater invertebrates.
