October General Meeting, Amy Kinsley, DVM, PhD, University of Minnesota

Surveillance and control of Chytrid fungi in Minnesota amphibians

Chytrid fungi are microscopic pathogens that have caused severe declines in amphibian populations worldwide. In Minnesota, the emerging chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) is of particular concern for salamander conservation. This talk introduces MN-SNAPS, Minnesota’s amphibian chytrid surveillance program, which combines field sampling, education, and risk-based surveillance to support prevention and early detection. We’ll discuss how chytrid fungi spread, what we are learning about their distribution in Minnesota, and how surveillance and risk modeling can help protect amphibian populations.

Amy Kinsley, DVM, PhD, is an Assistant Professor at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine and a Research Fellow with the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center. Her research uses epidemiologic and modeling approaches to understand and prevent the spread of invasive species and wildlife diseases in aquatic ecosystems. She co-leads MN-SNAPS, a statewide program focused on surveillance and early detection of amphibian chytrid fungi.