How plants affect amphibian populations.

Descriptions of amphibian habitat, both aquatic and terrestrial, often include plants as characteristics but seldom is it understood whether and how those plants affect amphibian ecology. Understanding how plants affect amphibian populations is needed to develop strategies to combat declines of some amphibian populations. Using a systematic approach, we reviewed and synthesized available literature on the effects of plants on pond-breeding amphibians during the aquatic and terrestrial stages of their life cycle.

Host size influences the effects of four isolates of an amphibian chytrid fungus.

Understanding factors that influence host-pathogen interactions is key to predicting outbreaks in natural systems experiencing environmental change. Many amphibian population declines have been attributed to an amphibian chytrid fungus, (). While this fungus is widespread, not all positive populations have been associated with declines, which could be attributed to differences in pathogen virulence or host susceptibility.