Amphibian Head Start Programs| Comparisons of Dermal Microbiomes of Oregon Spotted Frogs (Rana pretiosa) Reared under Traditional and "Mesocosm" Conditions

• Main Author: Borek, Alyssa
• Language: EN
• Published: Hofstra University 2019
• Subjects: Biology|Zoology
• Online Access: http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=13859618

<p> Woodland Park Zoo (WPZ) participated with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and other partners in the Oregon Spotted Frog (<i> Rana pretiosa</i>; OSF herein) species recovery program from 2008&ndash;2015. This species, listed as federally Threatened in 2014, and Endangered in Washington in 1997, is declining throughout its range. For this study, dermal microbiomes were compared between frogs reared in traditional &ldquo;zoo sterile&rdquo; environments, more naturalistic mesocosm environments, frogs reared at a correctional facility, as well as wild caught frogs. Additional comparisons were made before and after Itraconazole treatments when one cohort of frogs was treated for an infection of amphibian chytridiomycosis. Over 10 million sequences of DNA data were analyzed in collaboration with the University of Colorado. Not surprisingly, there were differences in microbiomes between each group tested. More surprising, were the actual differences- all WPZ samples were more similar to wild samples, and samples from the correctional facility were less similar to WPZ and the wild samples. Of the comparisons between wild and captive samples, and the comparisons between pre and post-Itraconazole samples, both captive and post- Itraconazole samples exhibited higher species richness, higher alpha diversity, and higher OTU evenness. Unplanted (planted vs. unplanted treatments) showed higher species richness but no significant differences in alpha diversity or OTU evenness, possibly due to contamination between stock tanks.</p><p>