Determining Ranavirus Susceptiblity in Endangered Gopher Frogs

The Mississippi gopher frog, or dusky gopher frog, is the most endangered frog in North America; fewer than 200 adults remain. Previous research with closely related species indicated this species may be very susceptible to ranavirus, a deadly pathogen that is emerging across the globe in amphibian, reptile and fish populations. To test the susceptibility of the endangered dusky gopher frog to ranavirus, they will measure the susceptibility of these frogs during four amphibian developmental stages (egg, hatchling, larva and metamorph). This informtion will then be used to build a stage-structured model that will predict the likelihood of extinction if ranavirus was introduced into the last wild dusky gopher frog population. This work will determine the threat of ranaviruses to the dusky gopher frog and help researchers develop strategies to thwart ranavirus emergence if this species is highly susceptible.