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Effects of ophidiomycosis on movement, survival, and reproduction of eastern foxsnakes (Pantherophis vulpinus).
Dillon, Rachel M; Paterson, James E; Manorome, Pilar; Ritchie, Kyle; Shirose, Leonard; Slavik, Emily; Davy, Christina M.
Afiliación
  • Dillon RM; Environmental and Life Sciences Program, Trent University, Peterborough, ON, K9H 7B8, Canada. Rachel.Dillon@carleton.ca.
  • Paterson JE; Wildlife Research and Monitoring Section, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, 2Nd Flr DNA Building, 2140 East Bank Dr., Peterborough, ON, K9L 1Z8, Canada. Rachel.Dillon@carleton.ca.
  • Manorome P; Wildlife Preservation Canada, 5420 Highway 6 North, Guelph, ON, N1H 6J2, Canada. Rachel.Dillon@carleton.ca.
  • Ritchie K; Department of Biology, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada. Rachel.Dillon@carleton.ca.
  • Shirose L; Environmental and Life Sciences Program, Trent University, Peterborough, ON, K9H 7B8, Canada.
  • Slavik E; Institute for Wetland and Waterfowl Research, Ducks Unlimited Canada, Stonewall, MB, Canada.
  • Davy CM; Ontario Parks, Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation, and Parks, 300 Water Street, 3Rd Floor S, Peterborough, ON, K9J 8M5, Canada.
Sci Rep ; 14(1): 4948, 2024 02 28.
Article en En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38418485
ABSTRACT
Ophidiomycosis (snake fungal disease) is caused by the fungal pathogen Ophidiomyces ophidiicola, which causes dermal lesions, occasional systemic infections, and in some cases, mortality. To better understand potential conservation implications of ophidiomycosis (i.e., population-level effects), we investigated its impacts on individual fitness in a population of endangered eastern foxsnakes (Pantherophis vulpinus). We tracked 38 foxsnakes over 6 years and quantified body condition, movement patterns, oviposition rates, and survival. Body condition, distance travelled, and oviposition rates were similar between snakes with and without ophidiomycosis. Interestingly, snakes that tested positive for the pathogen travelled farther, suggesting that movement through a greater diversity of habitats increases risk of exposure. Ophidiomycosis did not negatively affect survival, and most apparently infected snakes persisted in a manner comparable to snakes without ophidiomycosis. Only one mortality was directly attributed to ophidiomycosis, although infected snakes were overrepresented in a sample of snakes killed by predators. Overall, our results suggest that ophidiomycosis may have sublethal effects on eastern foxsnakes, but do not suggest direct effects on survival, ovipositioning, or viability of the study population.
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Texto completo: 1 Colección: 01-internacional Base de datos: MEDLINE Asunto principal: Colubridae / Micosis Límite: Animals / Female / Humans Idioma: En Revista: Sci Rep Año: 2024 Tipo del documento: Article País de afiliación: Canadá Pais de publicación: Reino Unido
Texto completo
Añadir a Mi BVS
Imprimir
XML
PubMed Links
Buscar en Google

Texto completo: 1 Colección: 01-internacional Base de datos: MEDLINE Asunto principal: Colubridae / Micosis Límite: Animals / Female / Humans Idioma: En Revista: Sci Rep Año: 2024 Tipo del documento: Article País de afiliación: Canadá Pais de publicación: Reino Unido