Changes in Capture Rates in a Community of Bats in New Hampshire during the Progression of White-Nose Syndrome

Moosman, Paul R.; Veilleux, Jacques Pierre; Pelton, Gary W.; Thomas, Howard H.

doi:10.1656/045.020.0405

Cited by 39 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 13 publications

(16 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…However, long-term acoustic monitoring programs can be used to characterize how WNS-associated mortality and colony declines observed within hibernacula translate into activity declines outside the hiber nation period (e.g. Moosman et al 2013, Pettit & O'Keefe 2017, Nocera et al 2019, Hicks et al 2020. Acoustic monitoring is an efficient method for collecting data at large spatial scales and can be conducted in areas where bat capture is not possible (Duffy et al 2000, Flaquer et al 2007, Kunz et al 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seven-year impact of white-nose syndrome on tri-colored bat (Perimyotis subflavus) populations in Georgia, USA

Perea¹,

Yearout²,

Ferrall³

et al. 2022

Endang. Species. Res.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

White-nose syndrome (WNS) has emerged as the most serious threat to North American cave-dwelling bat species, with an estimated mortality of over 6 million since it was first documented in the USA in 2006. Tri-colored bat Perimyotis subflavus is one of the species most affected, with hibernaculum counts at caves in WNS-positive regions reduced by >90% from previous counts. While declines have been documented in hibernaculum surveys, long-term monitoring programs during active seasons provide a unique opportunity to examine population trends and impact of population declines post-WNS. We developed generalized linear mixed models using data from a state-wide, long-term (2011-2020) mobile bat acoustic monitoring program in Georgia, USA, to better understand P. subflavus population trends before and after disease detection and between WNS-negative and WNS-positive regions. We recorded 5046 P. subflavus passes across all acoustic routes during the 10 yr time period. We detected a significant decrease in activity 2 yr after disease detection in the WNS-positive region, whereas activity in the WNS-negative region remained stable over time. Understanding changes in bat populations as WNS spreads and measuring the magnitude of population declines to assess disease impacts is crucial for providing appropriate guidance for management. Our results provide evidence of the critical status of P. subflavus in the southernmost WNS-positive region, but also emphasize the importance of monitoring WNS spread to new regions, as those that remain WNS-free could provide refugia for the species and a potential source of recolonization to WNS-affected areas.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seven-year impact of white-nose syndrome on tri-colored bat (Perimyotis subflavus) populations in Georgia, USA

Perea¹,

Yearout²,

Ferrall³

et al. 2022

Endang. Species. Res.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…White-nose Syndrome has caused widespread mortality of cave-hibernating bats [9][10][11]. For hibernating bats, fungal invasion of epithelial tissue increased overwinter arousal, leading to a depletion of fat reserves followed by mortality from starvation or, for overwinter survivors, decreased post-hibernating condition, decreased fitness, and shifts in reproductive timing [9,[12][13][14][15]. Since WNS was first observed in New York in 2006, P. destructans has spread to 33 states in the United States (U.S.) and 7 provinces in Canada, including hibernacula presumably used by bats summering within the national capital region (NCR) around Washington, District of Columbia (D.C.) [16].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the spring, these species migrate from hibernacula to summer habitat [18]. Therefore, summer activity surveys have reflected WNS-caused population declines of M. lucifugus, M. septentrionalis, and M. sodalis in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and West Virginia [12,14,[19][20][21][22][23].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

White-nose syndrome-related changes to Mid-Atlantic bat communities across an urban-to-rural gradient

Deeley¹,

Johnson²,

Ford³

et al. 2021

BMC Zool

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background White-nose Syndrome (WNS) has reduced the abundance of many bat species within the United States’ Mid-Atlantic region. To determine changes within the National Park Service National Capital Region (NCR) bat communities, we surveyed the area with mist netting and active acoustic sampling (2016–2018) and compared findings to pre-WNS (2003–2004) data. Results The results indicated the continued presence of the threatened Myotis septentrionalis (Northern Long-eared bat) and species of conservation concern, including Perimyotis subflavus (Tri-colored bat), Myotis leibii (Eastern Small-footed bat) and Myotis lucifugus (Little Brown bat). However, we documented a significant reduction in the abundance and distribution of M. lucifugus and P. subflavus, a decrease in the distribution of M. septentrionalis, and an increase in the abundance of Eptesicus fuscus (Big Brown bat). Conclusions Documented post-WNS M. septentrionalis recruitment suggests that portions of the NCR may be important bat conservation areas. Decreases in distribution and abundance of P. subflavus and M. lucifugus indicate probable extirpation from many previously occupied portions of the region.

show abstract

“…Populations of bat host populations devastated by Pd infections and white‐nose syndrome are well documented, with losses represented all year round (Cheng et al., 2021; Dzal et al., 2011; Moosman et al., 2013). Alternatively, winter declines in E. fuscus populations due to Pd infections are mismatched with local scale summer capture rates, which can be used as a relative abundance metric (Conroy & Nichols, 1996; Kunz et al., 2009).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Capture rates of Eptesicus fuscus increase following white‐nose syndrome across the eastern US

Simonis,

Hartzler,

Turner

et al. 2024

Ecology and Evolution

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Emerging infectious diseases threaten wildlife globally. While the effects of infectious diseases on hosts with severe infections and high mortality rates often receive considerable attention, effects on hosts that persist despite infection are less frequently studied. To understand how persisting host populations change in the face of disease, we quantified changes to the capture rates of Eptesicus fuscus (big brown bats), a persisting species susceptible to infection by the invasive fungal pathogen Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd; causative agent for white‐nose syndrome), across the eastern US using a 30‐year dataset. Capture rates of male and female E. fuscus increased from preinvasion to pathogen establishment years, with greater increases to the capture rates of females than males. Among females, capture rates of pregnant and post‐lactating females increased by pathogen establishment. We outline potential mechanisms for these broad demographic changes in E. fuscus capture rates (i.e., increases to foraging from energy deficits created by Pd infection, increases to relative abundance, or changes to reproductive cycles), and suggest future research for identifying mechanisms for increasing capture rates across the eastern US. These data highlight the importance of understanding how populations of persisting host species change following pathogen invasion across a broad spatial scale. Understanding changes to population composition following pathogen invasion can identify broad ecological patterns across space and time, and open new avenues for research to identify drivers of those patterns.

show abstract

Changes in Capture Rates in a Community of Bats in New Hampshire during the Progression of White-Nose Syndrome

Cited by 39 publications

References 13 publications

Seven-year impact of white-nose syndrome on tri-colored bat (Perimyotis subflavus) populations in Georgia, USA

Seven-year impact of white-nose syndrome on tri-colored bat (Perimyotis subflavus) populations in Georgia, USA

White-nose syndrome-related changes to Mid-Atlantic bat communities across an urban-to-rural gradient

Capture rates of Eptesicus fuscus increase following white‐nose syndrome across the eastern US

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About