Progress 10/01/10 to 09/30/13
Outputs
Target Audience: The PD has been consulted by, and has participated in meetings with the units in the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation responsible for bat biology and conservation. This activity included participation in the recent committee activity on "Species of Greatest Concern," a group making recommendations used by the state and federal authorities to consider listing of bat species in the IUCN guidelines or federal endangered species list. Our data have proven quite relevant to these discussions. Additionally, the PD has just presented results of our three year study at the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology meetings in Austin, Texas. The PD has worked with local school and museum groups for public outreach designed to provide education about bat conservation and biology. Lectures on bat biology for the Mammalogy course at Cornell University, as well as community groups allows us to learn about new potential roosting sites that can be incorporated into current or previous studies. Additionally, these talks allow us to inform the community about the work we have been seen conducting at various roost sites in central New York. Changes/Problems: We extended our study to include examination of roost biology of big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) in central New York during the summer of 2013. We noted two things. Firstly, there was a competitive replacement of little brown bats by big brown bats in two locations. This suggests major shifts in the community ecology of bats in New York. Secondly, we noted a significant mortality event in neonatal big brown bats that could have been caused chemical environmental factors (toxic agents in the food of lactating females) or physical environmental factors (thermal stress caused by several consecutive days of high temperatures in the roosts). We are continuing this study and plan to submit requests for grant funding from other sources in the coming year. Otherwise we followed a steady course of work over the three year span of this effort, focused on the roost biology of little brown bats during the summer months in New York State. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? In year 3, as well as prior years, this project has allowed 6 veterinary students to gain experience in field biology study design and implementation. The project has included significant interactions between the scientists and the stake holders (landowners or other interested conservation groups). Students gained technical experience in working with video and computational equipment and were allowed to evaluate alternative methods of censuring wild animal populations. One of the students from year 1 has continued her training to include potential internship positions in wildlife disease, zoo medicine and conservation biology as she enters the work force. That student is also entering a PhD program of studies as part of her education. Students from year 2 and 3 have indicated continuing interest in conservation biology and field biology. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Public lectures, including presentations at the Science Center (Ithaca NY), Cayuga Nature Center (Ulysses, NY), and the Depot science and art series (Newark Valley, NY) reflect the PD's participation in local outreach. Most recently the work was presented at the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology with good response. The core of that presentation is presently being written as a manuscript for submission and publication. In the words of Carl Herzog, the chief biologist responsible for bat conservation and study with the NY DEC, this study has generated the most significant data on the current status of bats in New York, particularly in terms of the summer biology of these bats. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus) exhibited a 92% reduction of population size averaged across 8 roost sites in 2013 as compared to observations from years prior to the outbreak of White-nosed Syndrome (WNS), or prior to 2007. Over the course of our three year study, we noted a progressive worsening of the status of little brown bats in our study area, spanning throughout central New York but at least 100 km from the initial outbreak area of WNS. While year 1 was dedicated to reestablishing our relationships with land owners where these maternity roost sites were located and gathering initial insight, year 2 and year 3 were important for recognizing the impact of WNS and assessing whether the disease was progressing or regressing. Our yearly population loss of 86%, 89% and 93%, respectively, indicates that the mortality caused by WNS in little brown bats is progressing in the summer maternity roosts in our area. One hypothesis was that central New York may be spared from the initial mortality event because of our distance from known hibernation sites (where the fungal agent for WNS is known to thrive in the cold of winter). This hypothesis was rejected, suggesting that our bats may hibernate in infected caves and mines in eastern New York, or that the fungus has spread to any of the hibernation sites known in closer proximity (Jamesville, NY or Watertown, NY). A second hypothesis was generated by our observations (and supported by DEC biologists) that the mortality may spread a bit like a wave, extending outwards from the initial WNS sites in eastern and northeastern New York. This hypothesis is still being considered: our northern and eastern study sites had few or no bats during year 1, whereas our southern sites (close the Pennsylvania border) had successful maternity roosts. By year 3, the northern and eastern roosts had bats (although reduced in number from years prior to WNS) whereas the southern roosts had no successful maternity roosts). We conclude that WNS has had a profound influence on reducing the numbers of female bats in summer maternity roosts, and that this reduction was caused by mortality by WNS during winter months wherever these bats were hibernating. We have documented a shift in selection of specific locations of maternity roost sites: whereas pregnant little brown bats occupied a range of sites (human constructed sites such as barns, houses and other outbuildings) prior to the outbreak of WNS, we are finding that these bats selectively roost in bat boxes, human constructed boxes that are small and more easily warmed by the mass of the pregnant females. This strongly suggests a shift in where pregnant females may choose to undergo pregnancy, birth and lactation compared to the pre-WNS era. We have also documented a replacement of little brown bats by the larger bats, big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) in two of our study sites. These data also incorporate observations from the pre- and post-WNS eras, and have been supported by anecdotes provided to us by biologists at the NYS DEC. This could reflect a significant change in the community structure of bats in New York and in the North American continent as a whole. We have obtained environmental data from the skin of bats, and from around and within the bat maternity roosts that have failed to demonstrate the occurrence of the causative agent of WNS, Pseudogymnoascus destructans). This is consistent with observations that this is a cold-loving fungus that does not thrive at warm ambient temperatures.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Hermanson, JW, C. McDonald, L. MacAyeal-Kasten, G. Gary, L. Waxman, P. Rooney, M. Stone, E. Buckles, P. Curtis, and B. Laniewicz. 2014. Summer bat populations in the wake of White-nosed Syndrome. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology. Annual meeting. January 2014, Austin, Texas. poster presentation.
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Progress 10/01/11 to 09/30/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Activities: field studies were conducted between May 1, 2012 and September 15, 2012 in central and western New York. We revisited 7 bat roosts that were censused in 2011, as part of the current project. In addition, we conducted outreach to look at new or interesting sites, including roosts at the Chautauqua Institute in western New York. We are seeking population estimates obtained in the early 1990s by a group from York University (Canada) to base assessments of bat population stability or loss as a result of the introduction of White-nosed Syndrome to these bat populations. Few bats were present in the larger roost locations at Chautauqua, however, bats were present in bat boxes albeit in small numbers. Events: several presentations were made to scientific as well as to lay audiences at locations such as Newark Valley Historical Society and the Cayuga Nature Center, and to student groups at Cornell University. Products: 2 students in the professional DVM program were involved in the field research as well as in data analysis and interpretation. One of these students worked in a research lab performing PCR analysis of environmental samples obtained from maternity roosts to assess presence or absence of Geomyces destructans, the fungal agent responsible for White-nosed Syndrome. Dissemination: research manuscript in review currently summarizing two year's of data. PARTICIPANTS: Lindsey Waxman. veterinary student at Cornell University. Interested in wildlife biology and conservation, as well as wildlife pathology. Lindsey learned techniques appropriate for sampling fungal and bacterial agents present on the skin of bats as well as in the roost environment. She participated in all evenings of field study and learned our video monitoring strategies and protocols. Michael Freifeld. veterinary student at Cornell University. Interested in exotic species. Michael was present for many evenings of field study, learning our video monitoring protocols and assisting with data extraction and interpretation. He learned how to work with live bats and may spend this summer working with endangered Hawiian hoary bats on a new project. Michael is a professional photographer and produced images of many of our study sites. Gretchen Gary. technician and writer for the cooperative extension unit on campus. Gretchen learned how to work with bats on our project, for which this was her second season. She participated in many of our evening study sessions, and assisted with data acquisition and interpretation. Gretchen has worked with me in writing the first manuscript coming out of this study. John Hermanson, Elizabeth Buckles and Paul Curtis. PI's on the project. TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences include (1) scientific community for interpretation of population data about bats in the pre- and post- White-nosed Syndrome era for little brown bats; (2) lay populations including the homeowners and farmers who nominally interact with bats by providing structures that are used for maternity roosts, and (3) educators who work with the K-12 audience of students who are inquisitive about bat biology and about the conservation of wildlife species. Efforts to cause a change in action are directed at all of the above target audiences in the hopes that summer maternity roosts are not destroyed by uninformed landowners, or by people fearful about zoonotic disease where the risk is not significant. Changes of action include guidance to landowners about bat boxes, their benefits, and their positioning in order to make the boxes effective. We also seek to learn more about the presence or absence of Geomyces destructans in the summer environment. This fungus, the agent of white-nosed syndrome, is a cold-loving fungus that does not seem to flourish in the warm temperature environment of central New York during the summer. Yet, this agent is also killing little brown bats during the winter hibernation period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: This summer we propose to study microclimates within bat boxes compared to adjacent larger structures (i.e. barns) and to investigate why the bats seem to be selecting the smaller bat boxes within which to give birth and raise their young. We are seeing profound decreases in bat populations sizes, but, where present, the bats are occupying bat boxes during the summer months. We will continue monitoring summer bat populations to determine if there is a continued pattern of population decrement during the third year of the project, but will do so with more focus on microclimate and insect abundance.
Impacts
Change in knowledge: we are assessing an hypothesis that bat boxes are providing a refugia, of sorts, for bats in the post White-nosed Syndrome era. We note that more bats are present in bat boxes at several of our study sites, while adjacent structures (larger subvolumes of space available for roosting) are going unused by the pregnant bats. With this knowledge, and with dissemination of ideas through our participation in local (central New York) forums to talk about bats and this disease, we are encouraging people to sustain existing bat boxes, to erect new bat boxes, where possible, and to avoid exterminating summer populations of little brown bats. Change in actions: this would include construction and maintaining bat boxes as appropriate, and allowing bats to give birth and to wean juvenile bats in situations where extermination or alteration of a structure is deemed necessary. We convey this information consistent with biosafety issues that surround potential for rabies exposure or any other problems associated with large populations of bats living in or around human-inhabited structures. Communication of our data with the scientific community will include one or two peer-reviewed publications about (1) population declines in summer populations of little brown bats and (2) association of specific fungal species with maternity roosts of little brown bats.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 10/01/10 to 09/30/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Activities included visitations to a number of roost sites that were studied by the PI (Hermanson) starting in the 1990, by the PI and the Cornell Community Bat Project (1995 to 1996), and by Brian Laniewicz (2001 to 2004) as part of his graduate studies at Cornell University. We were able to secure owner's permission to access 5 of Laniewicz's sites, one of the Community Bat Project Sites, and one of Hermanson's sites with repeated visits during the summer of 2011. We also advertised with on-line sites and newspaper classified to seek new study locations. As a result of the advertising, we visited at least 8 new sites that were deemed suitable for current or future study. Study sites had to allow access by our research group and had to demonstrate existing populations of little brown bats. Services included counseling or advice provided to landowners or stakeholders at all roost locations. In some instances, the bats have little impact on human activities, whereas in others (such as a church) bats could have significant impacts on human health and welfare. Dissemination of results includes newsletter type material distributed to landowners regarding their own bat populations, and overall summary of data for bat populations and strategic external housing of existing bat populations. PARTICIPANTS: Leigh MacAyeal is a third year veterinary student (DVM program) who studied bat flight while at Brown University. Her comfort and experience with bats made her a suitable candidate for our summer field studies. Leigh was instrumental in early phases of the program in vetting suitable study sites. Caitlin McDonald is a second year veterinary student, dual enrollment in PhD program. She learned local field techniques and protocols and developed protocols for enumerating bat populations using visual and video techniques. Gretchen Gary joined the program in late July and brings a strong writing background to the group for public outreach. Brian Laniewicz studied local bat populations about a decade ago and provided baseline data for pre-White nose Syndrome population sizes. He works with the NYS Health Department and has provided integration of our group with activities in the NY Rabies Lab and others in the Department of Health and Division of Environmental Conservation. Paul Curtis works with wildlife-human interactions and has started new outreach research programs that we will develop in 2012. Elizabeth Buckles is a DVM/pathologist with expertise in wildlife. She is teaming with us to develop field-based studies to document presence of White-nose Syndrome fungus. John Hermanson is PI and conducted most of the field studies in conjunction with our students and with Gretchen Gary. TARGET AUDIENCES: We seek to develop data relevant to agriculture activities in terms of real impact of reduced bat populations in central New York. Prior to our study, documentation of bat populations reductions was limited to anecdotal evidence, or was conjectured from data obtained in eastern New York and in New England. We will conduct outreach activities this year (2012) in schools and museum settings. For example, Hermanson will speak at the Newark Valley Museum in June specifically on impacts of white-nosed syndrome in local bats. We will also target the at large community of biologists regarding an outbreak of disease in wildlife and its vectors for spread. The first phase will be publication of our data for the 2011 field season. During 2012 we hypothesize that bat populations will continue to decline, which would be evidenced by a significant reduction over the 85% loss of bats we noted in 2011. The alternative hypothesize would be that bats are showing some resistant to the disease, evidenced by stable or increasing numbers of female bats at the maternity roosts. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: No major changes are required. We will provide more emphasis in 2012 on including big brown bat maternity roosts in our sample, as these were not studied in detail in 2011. Reasons why this could be of interest include the thought that big brown bats appear to show inherent resistance to white-nosed syndrome. The species has had positive cases of the disease, but not nearly to the extent seen in little brown bats. Questions about the physiologic basis of this resistance could be of interest if saving the little brown bats from extinction seems important.
Impacts
We developed protocols for enumeration of bat population size at all locations, improving on the instrumentation and data handling practiced most recently by Laniewicz in 2004. Moving forward, we have established baseline estimates of bat population sizes in central New York roosts, demonstrated an 85% (approximate) reduction of maternity roost populations compared to estimates obtained from the pre-White nose Syndrome era in our bats. Establishment of accessible roosts and baseline population data will allow us to proceed cautiously, in year 2, with medical assessment of the bats (presence or absence of fungal spores related to White nosed syndrome) and overall immunological status. We will also be better positioned to estimate the impact of the reduced bat populations on insect populations that are nuisances or are actual agricultural pest species. We have a publication ready for submission at present that is being reviewed by authors and colleagues. One impact of the program in 2011 was the training of two veterinary students, Caitlin McDonald and Leigh MacAyeal. Caitlin is a DVM/PhD student who used the summer experience as one of her required rotations in gaining "field experience" as well as lab techniques. MacAyeal is a veterinary student who already had published experience with bat flight. We will be conducting outreach activities in 2012 providing information about bat populations to several lay groups.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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