CEE DOG
Well-Known Member
http://www.aamu.edu/news/2011/Pages/Bats.aspx
Huntsville, Ala. ---- When a team of surveyors from Alabama A&M University and the National Park Service, coordinated by the Alabama Bat Working Group, conducted a bat survey in Russell Cave on March 1, they saw numerous bats that displayed signs of white-nose syndrome (WNS), a disease that has killed millions of bats throughout eastern North America.
Dr. William E. Stone of AAMU’s Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences photographed the infected bats and collected tissue samples that were sent to the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study unit for testing. Tests confirmed the presence of the deadly disease, thus linking Stone’s discovery in the Russell Cave Complex in Jackson County (Ala.) to the arrival of the disease in Alabama.
“White-nose syndrome had been confirmed in several counties in Tennessee, but had yet to be discovered in Alabama until this year,†admits Keith Hudson, a wildlife biologist with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. “This disease is likely one of the most significant disease threats to Alabama wildlife, due to its potential to affect multiple bat species and the devastating nature of the affliction.â€
Although scientists have yet to fully understand WNS, research has demonstrated the disease is caused by a newly discovered fungus, Geomyces destructans, which often grows into white tufts on the muzzles of infected bats, giving the disease its name, according to Stone. White-nose syndrome was first detected in New York state in 2006 and has killed more than 5.5 million cave-dwelling bats in eastern North America. Mortality rates of bats have reached almost 100% in multi-year infected caves, notes Dr. Stone. With the discovery of WNS in Alabama, a total of 17 states and four Canadian Provinces have now been confirmed to have the disease among its bat population.
Wildlife biologist Hudson says a lot of research is being conducted on the fungus and the mechanism through which it affects the bats. Hudson says the final impact on the bats is one of virtual starvation. For example, explains Hudson, the fungus gets on the bats, irritates them in their hibernation cycle to the point of causing them to constantly wake up when they shouldn’t and then ultimately leading them to burn up all of their fat reserves.
“We have worked closely with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Alabama Bat Working Group to prepare for white-nose syndrome,†said Mike Armstrong, USFWS regional WNS coordinator. “Now that it is confirmed here, we will continue to work with the state in their research and management of the disease.†The Alabama Bat Working Group developed a plan in 2010 to guide the State’s response to the potential arrival of WNS. The Plan is available on the ABWG’s website http://alabamabatwg.wordpress.com/.
WNS is known to be transmitted primarily from bat to bat, but fungal spores may be inadvertently carried to caves by humans on clothing and caving gear. Cave visitors are encouraged to check with landowners before entering any caves or mines, and to follow U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decontamination protocols to reduce the risk of human assisted transport of fungal spores.
Huntsville, Ala. ---- When a team of surveyors from Alabama A&M University and the National Park Service, coordinated by the Alabama Bat Working Group, conducted a bat survey in Russell Cave on March 1, they saw numerous bats that displayed signs of white-nose syndrome (WNS), a disease that has killed millions of bats throughout eastern North America.
Dr. William E. Stone of AAMU’s Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences photographed the infected bats and collected tissue samples that were sent to the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study unit for testing. Tests confirmed the presence of the deadly disease, thus linking Stone’s discovery in the Russell Cave Complex in Jackson County (Ala.) to the arrival of the disease in Alabama.
“White-nose syndrome had been confirmed in several counties in Tennessee, but had yet to be discovered in Alabama until this year,†admits Keith Hudson, a wildlife biologist with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. “This disease is likely one of the most significant disease threats to Alabama wildlife, due to its potential to affect multiple bat species and the devastating nature of the affliction.â€
Although scientists have yet to fully understand WNS, research has demonstrated the disease is caused by a newly discovered fungus, Geomyces destructans, which often grows into white tufts on the muzzles of infected bats, giving the disease its name, according to Stone. White-nose syndrome was first detected in New York state in 2006 and has killed more than 5.5 million cave-dwelling bats in eastern North America. Mortality rates of bats have reached almost 100% in multi-year infected caves, notes Dr. Stone. With the discovery of WNS in Alabama, a total of 17 states and four Canadian Provinces have now been confirmed to have the disease among its bat population.
Wildlife biologist Hudson says a lot of research is being conducted on the fungus and the mechanism through which it affects the bats. Hudson says the final impact on the bats is one of virtual starvation. For example, explains Hudson, the fungus gets on the bats, irritates them in their hibernation cycle to the point of causing them to constantly wake up when they shouldn’t and then ultimately leading them to burn up all of their fat reserves.
“We have worked closely with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Alabama Bat Working Group to prepare for white-nose syndrome,†said Mike Armstrong, USFWS regional WNS coordinator. “Now that it is confirmed here, we will continue to work with the state in their research and management of the disease.†The Alabama Bat Working Group developed a plan in 2010 to guide the State’s response to the potential arrival of WNS. The Plan is available on the ABWG’s website http://alabamabatwg.wordpress.com/.
WNS is known to be transmitted primarily from bat to bat, but fungal spores may be inadvertently carried to caves by humans on clothing and caving gear. Cave visitors are encouraged to check with landowners before entering any caves or mines, and to follow U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decontamination protocols to reduce the risk of human assisted transport of fungal spores.
