Abstract

Chytrid fungi, Bd (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) and Bsal (Batrachochytrium salamandivorans), are one of the largest threats to amphibian populations worldwide. Research has shown that the amphibian's skin microbiome can inhibit Bd/Bsal infection, but that microbial composition can vary drastically with host and environmental factors. In addition, habitat-wide mitigation methods that capitalize on the thermal mismatch between Bd/Bsal and their hosts (e.g., warming the host or environment) have been proposed to combat infection. These methods have proven successful so far, but do not consider the indirect effects that warming has on the microbiome. Synthetic microbial communities of ten core members to simulate the Ambystoma laterale skin microbiome were exposed to Bd/Bsal at five different temperatures, reflecting mitigation methods and a climate change scenario. Microbial community composition and gene expression were assessed via high-throughput amplicon sequences and metatranscriptomics. It was found that time plays a larger role in shaping community composition than temperature, and that although temperature affects Bd/Bsal inhibition in vitro, it is not to a large degree, potentially suggesting that the host is a key player in temperature-pathogen interactions. When examined at the transcript level, temperature influences gene expression in these bacteria, resulting in a clear response to mitigation methods and Bd/Bsal infection.

Publication Date

4-22-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Student Type

Graduate

Degree Name

Environmental Science (MS)

Department, Program, or Center

Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences

College

College of Science

Advisor

Elle Barnes

Advisor/Committee Member

Elizabeth Dicesare

Advisor/Committee Member

Elena Lopez Peredo

Campus

RIT – Main Campus

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