An interdisciplinary approach to safeguarding threatened frogs from a deadly fungal pathogen: creating long-lasting resistance through tadpole immunisation

Amphibians are the most threatened vertebrates, primarily due to a deadly fungal disease (chytridiomycosis) that affects nearly half of all species and is pushing 10% of species toward extinction. As the disease cannot be eradicated in the wild, traditional conservation methods like species reintroduction often fail due to post-release mortality. My project will test whether reintroduction success can be improved by immunising tadpoles before release. I will trial cost-effective immunisation on tadpoles of the threatened green and golden bell frog (Litoria aurea), assessing whether it boosts disease resistance across life stages, particularly through metamorphosis. I will also evaluate the impact of immunisation on cognitive function, survival and reproduction, and investigate potential sex differences in response. These sex-specific life-history data will be incorporated into demographic models to assess population viability. My goal is to identify strategies that improve reintroduction outcomes and support amphibian conservation in the face of emerging pathogens.