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<br />amphibian pathogen in Colorado's boreal load populations, We can't count on finding dead
<br />toads or toads that look sick to determine whether a population is affected by chytrid fungus, j
<br />
<br />Currently, a genetic (PCR) test is under development that should allow us to determine
<br />whether very small tissue samples from toads contain any chytrid fungus, During this field
<br />season Lauren Livo has been taking samples from.boreal toads, which are then released, To
<br />date,she has collected samples from 91 toads at 17 sites throughout the state, In addition, a
<br />small number of samples from other amphibian species have been collected,
<br />
<br />These samples can be compared to an undeveloped roll of film in a camera, When the PCR
<br />test becomes available, we can "develop" the samples which have been collected, This will
<br />help us to create a "snapshot" that shows which boreal toad populations are affected by the
<br />chytrid fungus,
<br />
<br />A dead toad, picked up in the Conundrum Creek drainage, in Pitkin County, was sent to Dr.
<br />Allan Pessier for examination, and was confirmed to be infected with chytrid fungus, In the
<br />mid 1990s, a dead toad from that area was diagnosed as having died of a fungus infection,
<br />indicating that the chytrid fungus may have been present in the Conundrum drainage for
<br />some time,
<br />
<br />A dead toad, found in Chaffee County, tested negative for chytrid fungus,
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<br />Acquisition of Stock for Captive Propagation and Rearing
<br />
<br />Due to the threat from chytrid fungus, and the possibility that certain populations of boreal
<br />toads could be completely eliminated by this pathogen, an effort was initiated to collect and
<br />secure eggs, and some toads, from various populations throughout the southern Rocky
<br />Mountain area, This effort has been largely successful, resulting in captive stock from at
<br />least seven populations (Cottonwood Creek, Henderson, RMNP, Winter Park area, Mineral
<br />County, and two locations in Routt County) being established at the CDOW's Native Aquatic
<br />Species Restoration Facility (NASRF), near Alamosa, and some additional animals being
<br />provided to existing captive stock at Sybille, 'NY, and at the Henry Doorly Zoo, in Omaha,
<br />NB,
<br />
<br />At this time, there are over 13,000 tadpoles and/or metamorphs and approximately 90 adult
<br />and sub-adult toads in captivity at various locations, Every effort has been made to handle
<br />and house these animals in a manner that will minimize any chance of tfansfer of pathogens,
<br />and to keep different genetic stock in separate, identifiable lots, The large majority of the
<br />larvae and metamorphs are from the Henderson site, in Clear Creek County, and most of
<br />these will be released back to that site as metamorph toadlets in the near future, as there are
<br />now more animals in captivity than we have need for or resources to maintain, A
<br />considerable number will be retained in captivity for development of brood stock, banking of
<br />genetic diversity, and research purposes,
<br />
<br />Some zoos, including the Toledo Zoo (OH) and the Cheyenne Mtn, Zoo (CO) have
<br />expressed interest in participating in the captive propagation and rearing efforts for boreal
<br />toads, As needed facilities and funding become available at these zoos, some of the captive
<br />toads from the NASRF may be moved to these other facilities,
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