Abstract
BackgroundWhite-nose syndrome (WNS) has devastated bat populations in North America, with millions of bats dead. WNS is associated with physiological changes in hibernating bats, leading to increased arousals from hibernation and premature consumption of fat reserves. However, there is evidence of surviving populations of little brown myotis (Myotis lucifugus) close to where the fungus was first detected nearly ten years ago.ResultsWe examined the hibernation patterns of a surviving population of little brown myotis and compared them to patterns in populations before the arrival of WNS and populations at the peak of WNS mortality. Despite infection with Pseudogymnoascus destructans, the causative fungal agent, the remnant population displayed less frequent arousals from torpor and lower torpid body temperatures than bats that died from WNS during the peak of mortality. The hibernation patterns of the remnant population resembled pre-WNS patterns with some modifications.ConclusionsThese data show that remnant populations of little brown myotis do not experience the increase in periodic arousals from hibernation typified by bats dying from WNS, despite the presence of the fungal pathogen on their skin. These patterns may reflect the use of colder hibernacula microclimates by WNS survivors, and/or may reflect differences in how these bats respond to the disease.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12983-016-0143-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Highlights
White-nose syndrome (WNS) has devastated bat populations in North America, with millions of bats dead
To better understand the survival of free-ranging little brown myotis, we examined the hibernation patterns of a remnant population in New York and compared them to both pre-WNS hibernation patterns and patterns expressed in bats that died from WNS
Our results show that WNS-survivors appear to be showing some pre-WNS hibernation patterns, and more energy-conserving thermoregulation patterns, which may slow down Pd growth in these infected bats [5]
Summary
White-nose syndrome (WNS) has devastated bat populations in North America, with millions of bats dead. There is evidence of surviving populations of little brown myotis (Myotis lucifugus) close to where the fungus was first detected nearly ten years ago. White-nose syndrome (WNS) is an epizootic disease that has caused mass mortality in hibernating North American bats since 2006 [1]. Population levels of highly susceptible species such as the little brown myotis (Myotis lucifugus) have plummeted in the areas affected by WNS, with predictions of regional extirpation in northeastern North America by 2026 [6, 7]. Surviving populations of little brown myotis have been documented at sites where Pd was first detected nearly ten years ago [8], the mechanisms that support survival are not known
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