Long-Term Population Responses to Bsal in Fire Salamanders

This set of flashcards covers key terms and concepts related to the study of Long-Term Population Responses to Bsal in Fire Salamanders, focusing on the impacts of Bsal on salamander populations, demographic changes, and ecological dynamics.

Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal)

A chytrid fungus that emerged in Europe and is highly lethal to salamanders, causing significant population declines.

Chytrid fungi

Fungi that cause major declines in amphibian populations worldwide, including species like Bd and Bsal.

Infection prevalence

The measure of how many individuals in a population are infected with a specific pathogen.

Local extirpation

The disappearance of a species from a specific local area, potentially due to factors like disease or habitat loss.

Demographic shifts

Changes in the population structure, including age, size, or reproductive ability, often as a response to environmental pressures or disease.

Genetic bottleneck

A sharp reduction in the size of a population, leading to a loss of genetic diversity.

Persistence (in population ecology)

The continued existence of a population in a particular habitat over time.

Reservoir spillover

The transmission of a pathogen from one species (often a reservoir species) to another, potentially leading to outbreaks.

Environmental refugia

Areas that provide a safe habitat with conditions that allow for the survival of species during adverse environmental changes.

Transmission avoidance

Behavioral adaptations where organisms modify their behavior to reduce the likelihood of contracting a disease.