Corrigendum to ‘‘Distribution and environmental limitations of an amphibian pathogen in the Rocky Mountains, USA’’ [Biological Conservation 141 (2008) 1484–1492]

The author regrets that in the above published paper the following error occurred: In our recently published paper, ‘‘Distribution and environmental limitations of an amphibian pathogen in the Rocky Mountains, USA’’, we erroneously included the paper by J. Bosch et al. (2006), ‘‘Climate change and outbreaks of amphibian chytridiomycosis in a montane area of Central Spain: is there a link?’’ in a list of studies from the tropics. Clearly Dr. Bosch and colleagues worked in the temperate zone at a latitude very similar to that in our study suggesting that further investigation of additional similarities between the two sites might be useful

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

Distribution and environmental limitations of an amphibian pathogen in the Rocky Mountains, USA

Amphibian populations continue to be imperiled by the chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis). Understanding where B. dendrobatidis (Bd) occurs and how it may be limited by environmental factors is critical to our ability to effectively conserve the amphibians affected by Bd. We sampled 1247 amphibians (boreal toads and surrogates) at 261 boreal toad (Bufo boreas) breeding sites (97 clusters) along an 11° latitudinal gradient in the Rocky Mountains to determine the distribution of B. dendrobatidis and examine environmental factors, such as temperature and elevation, that might affect its distribution. The fungus was detected at 64% of all clusters and occurred across a range of elevations (1030– 3550 m) and latitudes (37.6–48.6°) but we detected it in only 42% of clusters in the south (site elevations higher), compared to 84% of clusters in the north (site elevations lower). Maximum ambient temperature (daily high) explained much of the variation in Bd occurrence in boreal toad populations and thus perhaps limits the occurrence of the pathogen in the Rocky Mountains to areas where climatic conditions facilitate optimal growth of the fungus. This information has implications in global climate change scenarios where warming temperatures may facilitate the spread of disease into previously un- or little-affected areas (i.e., higher elevations). This study provides the first regional-level, field-based effort to examine the relationship of environmental and geographic factors to the distribution of B. dendrobatidis in North America and will assist managers to focus on at-risk populations as determined by the local temperature regimes, latitude and elevation

Corrigendum to ‘‘Distribution and environmental limitations of an amphibian pathogen in the Rocky Mountains, USA’’ [Biological Conservation 141 (2008) 1484–1492]

The author regrets that in the above published paper the following error occurred: In our recently published paper, ‘‘Distribution and environmental limitations of an amphibian pathogen in the Rocky Mountains, USA’’, we erroneously included the paper by J. Bosch et al. (2006), ‘‘Climate change and outbreaks of amphibian chytridiomycosis in a montane area of Central Spain: is there a link?’’ in a list of studies from the tropics. Clearly Dr. Bosch and colleagues worked in the temperate zone at a latitude very similar to that in our study suggesting that further investigation of additional similarities between the two sites might be useful

Recent northward range expansion of the parthenogenetic lizard Aspidoscelis tesselatus in Colorado and the distributional enigma posed by pattern-classes C and D at the northern range periphery

The range of the parthenogenetic lizard Aspidoscelis tesselatus extends from eastern Chihuahua, Mexico, to southeastern Colorado, USA. In Colorado, pattern-class D, source of the neotype of the species, is syntopic with the more widely distributed pattern-class C only in Ninemile Valley of the Purgatoire River, beyond which, in all directions, these pattern classes are allopatric. We identify a recent northward range expansion of pattern-class C to the same northern latitude attained by pattern-class D, thereby establishing a latitudinal baseline for the species. The two northern arrays of pattern-class C, reported herein, occupied open habitats of sparsely distributed shrubs on rocky slopes, whereas the northernmost arrays of pattern-class D were using juniper woodland. Although this allopatric arrangement suggests ecological segregation of pattern classes, we provide an example of pattern-class C in juniper woodland only ca. 11 km south of the new records, which suggests that other factors could be involved

Michelle\u27s Lizard: Identity, relationships, and ecological status of an array of parthenogenetic Lizards (Genus Aspidoscelis: Squamata: Teiidae) in Colorado, USA

Using a shared photograph, we identified a lizard captured by a young naturalist in 1995 in La Junta, Otero County, Colorado, USA, to either triploid parthenogenetic Colorado Checkered Whiptail (Aspidoscelis neotesselata) or diploid parthenogenetic Common Checkered Whiptail (A. tesselata). On 12 August 1997, LJL located the species in question near the original La Junta location. The parthenogenetic species at La Junta represents a new pattern class, A. neotesselata D, identity and distinctiveness of which were verified by both univariate and multivariate statistics. We used other triploid lizards from sites ~100 km apart (i.e., A. neotesselata D from La Junta and A. neotesselata A from Pueblo, Pueblo County, Colorado) to verify skin histocompatibility, indicating that each group was derived from the same hybridization event. We also identified a tetraploid hybrid of A. neotesselata x A. sexlineata viridis from La Junta. Of the several small patches of habitat that support A. neotesselata D and Prairie Racerunner (A. sexlineata viridis) at La Junta, only a few are elevated above the flood zone of the adjacent Arkansas River. An unusual characteristic of flat parts of La Junta involves the life cycle of Kochia (Kochia scoparia). This tall-growing annual constitutes ~100% of the vegetative structure on these flats from germination in the spring until die-off in the fall/winter. Searches to increase the known range of A. neotesselata D beyond 1 km of La Junta were unsuccessful. We regard the La Junta array of A. neotesselata D as a naturally occurring peripheral isolate. © 2012. James M. Walker. All Rights Reserved

Experimental exposures of boreal toads (Bufo boreas) to a pathogenic Chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis)

One of the major causes of worldwide amphibian declines is a skin infection caused by a pathogenic chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis). This study documents the interactions between this pathogen and a susceptible amphibian host, the boreal toad (Bufo boreas). The amount of time following exposure until death is influenced by the dosage of infectious zoospores, duration of exposure, and body size of the toad. The significant relation between dosage and the number of days survived (dose-response curve) supports the hypothesis that the degree of infection must reach a particular threshold of about 107–108 zoosporangia before death results. Variation in air temperature between 12°C and 23°C had no significant effect on survival time. The infection can be transmitted from infected to healthy animals by contact with water containing zoospores; no physical contact between animals is required. These results are correlated with observations on the population biology of boreal toads in which mortalities associated with B. dendrobatidis have been identified