Chytridiomycosis has been a key driver of global frog declines and extinctions, particularly for high‐altitude populations across Australia and the Americas. While recent evidence shows some species are recovering, the extent of such recoveries and the mechanisms underpinning them remain poorly resolved. We surveyed the historical latitudinal and elevational range of four Australian rainforest frogs that disappeared from upland sites between 1989 and 1994 to establish their contemporary distribution and elevational limits, and investigate factors affecting population recovery. Five rainforest streams were surveyed from mountain‐base to summit (30 sites in total), with swabs collected from the target species (Litoria dayi, L. nannotis, L. rheocola, and L. serrata) to determine their infection status, and data loggers deployed to measure microclimatic variation across the elevational gradient. Infection probability increased with elevation and canopy cover as it was tightly and inversely correlated with stream‐side air temperature. Occupancy patterns suggest varying responses to this disease threat gradient. Two species, L. rheocola and L. serrata, were found over their full historical elevational range (≥1,000 m above sea level [asl]), while L. dayi was not detected above 400 m (formerly known up to 900 m asl) and L. nannotis was not detected above 800 m (formerly known up to 1,200 m asl). Site occupancy probability was negatively related to predicted infection prevalence for L. dayi, L. nannotis, and L. rheocola, but not L. serrata, which appears to now tolerate high fungal burdens. This study highlights the importance of environmental refuges and connectivity across disease risk gradients for the persistence and natural recovery of frogs susceptible to chytridiomycosis. Likewise, in documenting both interspecific variation in recovery rates and intraspecific differences between sites, this study suggests interactions between disease threats and host selection exist that could be manipulated. For example, translocations may be warranted where connectivity is poor or the increase in disease risk is too steep to allow recolonization, combined with assisted selection or use of founders from populations that have already undergone natural selection.

中文翻译：

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疾病风险梯度上的连通性使雨林蛙得以恢复。

壶菌病一直是全球青蛙数量减少和灭绝的主要动力，特别是对于澳大利亚和美洲的高海拔人群而言。尽管最近的证据表明某些物种正在恢复，但这种恢复的程度及其基础机制仍然难以解决。我们调查了1989年至1994年从高地消失的四只澳大利亚雨林蛙的历史纬度和海拔范围，以确定它们的当代分布和海拔极限，并调查了影响人口恢复的因素。从山底到山顶，共调查了五种雨林溪流（总共30个地点），并从目标物种（Litoria dayi，L。nannotis，L。rheocola和L. serrata）以确定其感染状况，并部署数据记录器以测量整个海拔梯度上的小气候变化。感染几率随海拔和冠层覆盖度的增加而增加，因为它与溪流侧气温密切相关且成反比。占用模式表明对该疾病威胁梯度的反应不同。在其整个历史海拔范围内（海拔高度≥1,000 m [asl]）发现了两个物种，rhoeocola和serrata L.，而在400 m以上（以前已知为900 m asl）未检测到大日乳酸杆菌。和L. nannotis不高于800米（原名高达1,200 m左右）检测。站点占用率与预计感染率呈负相关L. dayi，L. nannotis和L. rheocola，但不是L. serrata，现在看来可以耐受较高的真菌负担。这项研究强调了环境庇护所和疾病风险梯度之间的连通性对于易患乳糜菌的青蛙的持久性和自然恢复的重要性。同样，在记录种间恢复率的种间差异和部位间种间差异的同时，这项研究表明，疾病威胁和宿主选择之间的相互作用是可以控制的。例如，在连通性较差或疾病风险增加过大而无法重新定殖的情况下，可能需要进行易位，再加上从已经进行过自然选择的人群中辅助选择或使用创始人的组合。