Habitat split may impact disease risk in amphibians and other vertebrates

Habitat split may impact disease risk in amphibians and other vertebrates

Habitat split is a common event in the environment that occurs when different classes of natural habitats, such as forests and water, are disconnected. As a consequence, the movement of organisms between these environments is disrupted, which can be particularly harmful to species with both an aquatic and terrestrial life stage, like amphibians.

Habitat split may impact disease risk in amphibians and other vertebrates

Habitat split limits movement of organisms between environments. According to new research, this environmental fragmentation impacts amphibian disease immunity, likely due to changes in the composition of skin microbial communities, disruptions to normal immune system development, and increased stress.