White nose syndrome

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White nose syndrome is a poorly understood condition associated with the deaths of thousands of bats. The condition, named for a distinctive ring of fungal growth around the muzzles of many affected animals, was first identified in several caves near Albany, New York in January 2007^[1] but has spread to other New York caves and into Vermont and Massachusetts in 2008.^[2]

1 Possible causes
2 Impact
3 References
4 External links

[edit] Possible causes

The fungus involved in white nose syndrome has been identified as belonging to the genus Fusarium, usually associated with plants. The fungal growth may be an opportunistic infection, rather than the actual cause of the condition. A loss of winter fat stores^[3], pneumonia,^[4] and the disruption of hibernation and feeding cycles caused by warm and variable winter weather^[5] have all been suggested as causes or contributing factors.

Because no one yet knows how the condition spreads, cave management and preservation organizations have been requesting that cavers limit their activities and disinfect clothing and equipment that has been used in possibly infected caves.^[6] In some cases, access to caves is being closed entirely.^[5] Despite these efforts, the spread of the disease to Aeolus Cave, New England's largest hibernaculum, which has had limited human access since 2004, "complicates" the theory that human activity is directly contributing to the condition.^[7] As of March 2008, the disease has spread to western Massachusetts and northwestern Connecticut. The migratory nature of bats also threatens to spread the malady throughout the northeastern United States.^[8]

[edit] Impact

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation expert Alan Hicks has described the impact as "unprecedented" and "the gravest threat to bats ... ever seen."^[9] The mortality rate in some caves has exceeded 90 percent.^[10]^[11] At greatest risk is the endangered Indiana bat, whose primary hibernaculum in New York has been affected.^[12] Deaths of eastern pipistrelles, northern long-eared myotis and little brown bats have also been attributed to the condition.^[13] The long-term impact of the reduction in bat populations may be an increase in insects, possibly even leading to crop damage or other economic impact in New England.^[10]

Comparisons have been raised to colony collapse disorder, another poorly-understood phenomenon resulting in the abrupt disappearance of Western honey bee colonies.^[1]^[14]