Amphibian Chytrid Fungus in Missouri
For the past several years, Tyson Associate Director Kevin Smith and
Tyson/Washington U undergraduate research fellows have been studying
the amphibian chytrid fungus in Missouri. In many parts of the
world, amphibian chytrid causes amphibian disease, population
declines, and even extinctions. But no mortality has been observed
in eastern Missouri, despite the fact that chytrid occurs in about
40% of the amphibian populations that have been surveyed by Tyson
researchers. The goal of the research is to identify patterns of
occurrence of chytrid in Missouri ponds with respect to habitat,
water chemistry, and biodiversity, which may help better understand
outbreaks of chytrid in other areas.
