Amphibians continue to experience worldwide declines and remain the most threatened vertebrate class. Nearly 30 years of research has shown that pathogens, in particular chytridiomycete fungi and ranaviruses, are responsible for infectious diseases that cause catastrophic population and host community declines on all continents where amphibians exist. While our understanding of the conditions required for amphibian-host decline has grown significantly, our ability to convert this knowledge into practical strategies for managing amphibian pathogens lags far behind. In contrast, the pathogens are moving quickly, and beginning to emerge as mixed infections, causing even greater declines.
This two-day symposium is the first international event to approach chytrids and ranaviruses as a combined threat to amphibians. It will draw on key research communities, as well as on-the-ground conservationists, to aid the process of moving beyond single pathogen research and management, into managing mixed infections and potentially competing pathogens. Speakers will outline the conservation issues amphibians face and how disease figures in these, provide background on the threat posed by single versus mixed pathogen dynamics, and the outcomes of field mitigation strategies. This symposium will bring together the amphibian research and conservation communities to develop 21st century strategies for combating rapidly emerging mixed infections that are already threatening global amphibian biodiversity.
Full Symposium Programme and Abstract Book (1.08 MB)
Full Symposium Programme (no abstracts) (170.2 KB)
Registration for tickets and submitting poster proposals is now closed
Please contact eleanor.darbey@zsl.org (Tel: +44 (0)20 7449 6227) if you have any questions
Confirmed Speakers
Phil Bishop, Amphibian Survival Alliance, Amphibian Specialist Group & University of Otago
Molly Bletz, University of Massachusetts
Cherie Briggs, University of California, Santa Barbara
Stefano Canessa, Ghent University
Matthew Fisher, Imperial College London
Trent Garner, Zoological Society of London
Matthew Gray, University of Tennessee
Richard Griffiths, Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology & University of Kent
Reid N. Harris, Amphibian Survival Alliance & James Madison University
Xavier Harrison, University of Exeter
Jason Hoverman, Purdue University
Pieter Johnson, University of Colorado
Roland Knapp, University of California, Santa Barbara & Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Laboratory
Ana V. Longo, University of Florida
An Martel, Ghent University
Erin Muths, U.S. Geological Survey
Deanna H. Olson, USDA Forest Service
Frank Pasmans, Ghent University
Stephen Price, Zoological Society of London & University College London
Corinne Richards-Zawacki, University of Pittsburgh
Jacques Robert, University of Rochester Medical Center
Ben Scheele, Australian National University
Benedikt R. Schmidt, Info Fauna Karch & University of Zurich
Annemarieke Spitzen, RAVON
Organisers
Trent Garner, Zoological Society of London
Matthew Fisher, Imperial College London
Andy Fenton, University of Liverpool
Xavier Harrison, University of Exeter
Directions
-
This symposium will take place in the Huxley Lecture Theatre, Main Meeting Rooms, Zoological Society of London, Outer Circle, Regents Park, NW1 4RY
-
Nearest underground station: Camden Town
-
Nearest bus stop: Number 274
-
Please find further information on directions here
Enquiries
- Contact Eleanor Darbey: eleanor.darbey@zsl.org; 0207 449 6227
- For press enquiries please contact the ZSL Press Office: press.office@zsl.org
- Sign up to receive email updates about forthcoming ZSL Science and Conservation Events
