Dallin Hilton; Siera Theobald; Janessa Bassett, Dixie State University
In the Zion Canyon Tree Frogs, the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis has been detected in the past. The fungus grows on the frog’s skin, prevents oxygen exchange, and ultimately leads to the death of the frogs. In other studies done a bacteria, Janthinobacterium lividum, has been detected on frogs skin and acts as an anti-fungal. Two metabolites, indole-3-carboxaldehyde and violacein, are produced by the bacteria and thought to be responsible for killing the fungus. We predict that the bacteria is present on the Zion Canyon Tree Frog’s skin, and is killing the chytrid fungus that infects them. We have created an annotated bibliography containing articles in which researchers have tested for this bacterium and found it in amphibian populations where chytrid fungus infection was a problem. In the article “Infection increases vulnerability to climate change via effects on host thermal tolerance”, they discuss studies that were conducted in South America which proved Janthinobacterium lividum provided amphibians with a resistance against Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. The metabolites secreted by Janthinobacterium lividum have been shown to provide ample protection from the fungus. The amphibians living with the bacteria and fungus have significantly lower mortality rates. We plan to use the samples collected from the Zion Canyon Tree Frogs and test them for Janthinobacterium lividum and Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis by using PCR. If our hypothesis is correct we will find samples either containing both the fungus and the bacteria, or the bacteria alone. If our hypothesis is incorrect we will find samples that only contain the fungus or neither the fungus or bacteria. Our prediction is that we will find samples containing both the bacteria and the fungus, and we will be able to conclude that those frogs containing both were able to combat the present fungus. This assumption will be based on the previous studies we have included in our annotated bibliography.