Heritability of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis burden and its genetic correlation with development time in a
Gemma Palomar1,2, Jaime Bosch3,4, José Manuel Cano5,6
1Research Unit of Biodiversity (UO-CSIC-PA), Edificio de Investigación, Gonzalo Gutiérrez Quirós s/n, 33600, Mieres, Spain. gemma.palomar@yahoo.es.
Abstract:
Despite the important threat that emerging pathogens pose for the conservation of biodiversity as well as human health, very little is known about the adaptive potential of host species to withstand infections. We studied the quantitative genetic architecture responsible for the burden of the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in a population of common toads in conjunction with other life-history traits (i.e., body size and development rate) that may be affected by common selective pressures. We found a significant heritable component that is associated with fungal burden, which may allow for local adaptation to this pathogen to proceed. In addition, the high genetic correlation found between fungal burden and development time suggests that both traits have to be taken into account in order to assess the adaptive response of host populations to this emerging pathogen.
More Related Videos
06:49Reduced Itraconazole Concentration and Durations Are Successful in Treating Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis Infection in Amphibians
Published on: March 14, 2014
07:10At-Risk Butterfly Captive Propagation Programs to Enhance Life History Knowledge and Effective Ex Situ Conservation Techniques
Published on: February 11, 2020
Related Concept Videos
02:27Background and Environment Affect Phenotype
An example of how genetic background affects phenotype can be seen in horses. The Extension gene in horses is responsible for their coat color. A wild-type gene (EE) produces black pigment in the coat, while a mutant gene (ee) produces red pigment. A...
01:35Pedigree Analysis
01:49Probability Laws