How Relevant is Opportunistic Bd Sampling: Are We Ready for the Big Picture?

Abstract/Summary

Understanding the distribution of chytridiomycosis, both at global and local scales, is important to controlling its impacts on host species (e.g., biocontrol or eradication) and to managing host amphibian populations (e.g., reintroduction and habitat management). In response to this, efforts to map observations of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) are underway to better understand its distribution and impact on amphibian populations. (e.g www.spatialepidemiology.net\Bd).
While there are many legitimate reasons to sample opportunistically for this pathogen, we question the validity of continuing this sort of exercise without a more cohesive and directed effort to apply the information to management of Bd. We use a recent example (Scalera et al. 2008) and some additional data from Denmark to discuss this question.