wns final article

8/9/2019 WNS Final Article

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Bats on the Edge of Extinction?!By Carolina Villalobos

Is the bat population suddenly dying? Is it the end of the life of the only vital flying

mammal in the world? Recently, in the past four years, millions of bats have been facing deathdue to a mysterious disease that has hunted and killed bats by the thousands in the northeasternpart of the U.S, including Pennsylvania. Scientists and researchers diagnosed the disease asWhite Nose Syndrome (WNS) four years ago, but despite research, finding a cure for this diseaseremains unknown. It is certain that in the past four years (2006-2010) WNS has almost wiped outlarge bat populations in the northeast and is becoming a major concern as the unstoppabledisease spreads out West.

In the last two years, scientists and biologists have done research in Pennsylvania, visitingcaves, testing bats for WNS. Meanwhile, the Pennsylvania Game Commission has taken actionto stop the spread of the disease in areas. Surprisingly, according to statistics, WNS inPennsylvania escalated in 2008-2009 with shocking discoveries of bat deaths inside and outside

of caves and mines. One biologist professor at Bucknell University commented in 2008, themounting of deaths is appalling and overwhelming that there is a growing urgency and pressureto find a cure or use oftreatments to halt the disease. Confirmed bat species affected by WNSinclude the Eastern pipistrelle, little brown, northern long-eared, the small footed bat, andIndiana bat. Among these species of bats the federally endangered Indiana bat, native toPennsylvania, is the only bat suffering mostfrom WNS with declines up to forty percentand a high risk of becoming extinct.

The Center for Biological Diversityalong with other agencies, scientists, andresearchers have all contributed to call

Congress for help to appropriate $5 millionto confront the bat disease. The pressure offunding for WNS has become a challengefor states running on low budgets to provideresources. These resources include researchfor targeting control and treatment,transmission and spread, and populationgenetics. Moreover, funding is needed forpublic outreach and communication efforts to combat the disease. The low state budget itself isproblematic, lacking adequate Congressional support due to extremely limited resources. If anincrease of resources is not reached by 2011, WNS will continue to spread leaving bats to die.

If it were not for bats, insect populations would sky rocket increasing the spread of malignantdiseases, agriculture will have an enormous impact by lowering its productivity due to insectinfestation, and habitats and niches in rainforests will decline without bat pollination of flowersand fertilization of fecal matter to replenish ecosystems.

Found in every continent except Antarctica, bats prefer the warm climates of tropicalrainforests or tropical dry forest biomes. Only active at night in search for food, bats carry thefearful impression by people as being the blood-thirsty vampires depicted in classic horror films.

Figure 1: Indiana bat affected by WNS. The shriveled

wing membranes of the bat show signs of dehydration

caused by WNS fungus.


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Most people question why do bats fly at night and not in the daytime? Bats have a different wayofseeing than other mammals do. By using echolocation, bats sense and detect prey nearbyallowing them to hunt. Hunting at night reduces competition from other predators, which allowsbats to search for food such as moths or mosquito-like insects. Although not the most attractiveand cuddly animal in the world, it is no wonder bats fit in as one of the famous horror movie

icons.Having lived and survived for up to 50 million years, bats have become a great source andhelpful hand in improving agricultural aspects, nevertheless, replenishing ecosystems. It mightbe surprising to some to find the bat as one of the most beneficial helpers of our ecosystem.Known as farmers of the tropics bats can fertilize clearings of rainforests, covering largedistances in one night. For some night-foraging bats, their diet mostly consists of berries, nectar,and insects, making guano, or bat droppings a rich natural fertilizer for plants. Seeds dropped bybats can account for up to ninety-five percent of the first new growth of renewed forest! Thus,the bat provides shelter for newly growing plants and therefore more plants are able to providefood and cover for wildlife species near the base of the food chain. Furthermore, having the

harmful and crop-damaging pests on their menu, bats are not

only saving our lives from diseases. They are saving cropsfrom harmful pests. Bats can consume up to twenty-fivepercent of their body weight on insects in one night. Asingle little-brown bat can consume up to 1000 mosquito-sized insects in one night, that is, 694 tons of insects in ayear! Surprisingly, a bat can save billions of dollars in theagricultural economy by preventing pests from targetingcrops. For instance, the Mexican free-tailed bat found inMexico and Texas is seen as a benefit, feeding on the cornearworm moth, which destroys crops. It was estimated thatthis moth caused more than $1 billion worth of worldwidecrop damage in a year and cost south-central farmers inTexas $1.7 million a year in pesticide costs. That is a lot ofpesticides! Lastly, bats serve as great pollinators of plants ofgreat economic and ecological value. Some commercialproducts such as peaches, bananas, mangoes, and cashewsall depend on bat pollinators in order to grow. Without batpollination, plants would not be able to produce seeds and a

genetic-diversity of cross-pollinated plants will remain nonexistent.Without bats, the ecosystems will no longer look the same again. Losing bats is probably

going to upset the ecological balance says Mollie Matteson, an advocate with the bat

conservation group. Biology professor Deehan Reeder also points out that bats play a vital rolein the environment and without them our lives would be quite different. That loss could lead toincreased pesticide use or the spread of West Nile virus.

Figure 2: Bat eating a moth in a

tropical forest


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Bad News

It was a beautiful day in Mifflin County hillside, Pennsylvania as a group of biologystudents and professor cramped into a cave ready to perform field investigation in bat hibernationpatterns. Shining the light onto a cluster of bats, the group spotted white mustaches of fungus on

the bat faces along with the same white fungus on the wing membranes. In other areas of thecave, some bats remained isolated from the cluster of bats. According to the group, whenchecking out the cluster, they reported that the isolated bats were found dead, lying stiff on thecave walls or on the ground. Surprisingly, according to the group, over a hundred more bats werefound dead outside on the nearby the cave.

Four years ago (2006) in Howes Cave Albany, New York, the first discovery was madewhen hundreds of bats were found dead by biologists exploring nearby caves in the winter. Thesame physiological characteristics were seen on dead and live bats: the white fungus appearingon their muzzle and wing membranes (sometimes appearing on ears). As more and moreinvestigations were made by biologists visiting caves, more dead bats were found on thelandscape near or inside the caves. The white fungal disease took off spreading from New

England into eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey and south towards Tennessee, which soongave the outbreak the name White- nose Syndrome.White Nose Syndrome (WNS) is a deadly

fungal disease that affects bats in hibernacula,cave or mines where bats hibernate. In the lasttwo years, WNS went from spreading in thenortheast to as far west as Missouri. In 2007-2008, the syndrome began spreading to cavesand abandoned mines in Connecticut, Vermont,Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, WestVirginia, and Tennessee. In 2009, WNS

syndrome settled 100 miles from MammothCave National Park in Kentucky. Just recently,WNS was discovered dominating bat caves inMissouri. (For a closer look of map go to

http://scienceblogs.com/zooillogix/2010/04/white_nose_syndrome.php)

In 2008 however, researchers and biologists were stunned by the statistical bat deathsencountered in Pennsylvania. First identified in the northeastern part of the state such asLackawanna County, WNS, according to biologists, was only detected on one bat. Likewise,only one little-brown bat in Centre County was found with the disease, so very little concern wascarried in those areas. Early that year, the Game Commission monitored 1000 caves and mines

Figure 3: Map of states/counties affected

by WNS in the northeastern part of the

United States
http://scienceblogs.com/zooillogix/2010/04/white_nose_syndrome.phphttp://scienceblogs.com/zooillogix/2010/04/white_nose_syndrome.phphttp://scienceblogs.com/zooillogix/2010/04/white_nose_syndrome.php


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from Fayette, Blair, and Luzerne counties to test WNS samples in bats. Since Lehigh Valley islocated farther north in close proximity to infected sites near New York, researchers zeroed-infurther to test the area. Not surprisingly, the disease surfaced 200 miles from Lehigh Valley.Frustrated, researchers still had no clue how the fungus spreads from point A to point B. OnceWNS settled in Mifflin County, a battle was born in the struggle to stop the disease in numerous

caves and especially Shindle iron mine. According to researchers, a rough estimate of fiftypercent of the colony was affected in this iron mine. According to scientists, Mifflin County hasbeen the most devastated area, becoming the center of attention where higher mortality rateshave been encountered. If I was going to put white-nose in this state, Shindle is not where Iwould have picked says biology professor Reeder. I fully would have expected WNS to spreadin even more areas of the state.

The white fungus, belonging in the genus Geomyces distructans, usually appears on themuzzle (around the nose area) on bats. Up close, the small patches appear like fuzzy white mold,such as that found on rotten fruit. In other cases, the fungus is seen bound on the backs of bats

appearing like white snowflakes. However, as seen by researchers and biologists, the fungusmostly appears on the ears, nose, and wing membranes the majority of the time.Geomyces distructans, the name given to

the fungus by microbiologist David Blehert,had not been known to man and sciencebefore, remaining undiscovered until theoutbreak of WNS in hibernacula in 2006. It ispossible that European travelers hadintroduced the fungus in North America whenvisiting nearby caves by carrying the fungalspores on their clothing. Yet, little is known ifthe fungus came from a different country or

just remained undiscovered for years in NorthAmerica. A team of microbiologists led byDavid Blehert and Andrea Gargas experimented and studied the fungus carefully monitoring itsgrowth at different temperatures (published in 2008). Surprisingly the slow growing fungus grew

better at 37F and 45F rather than at 75F (showed no growth). These cold temperatures weresimilar to that found in infected bat caves.In the winter seasons, bats usually hibernate deep in the

darkness of caves or mines and awaken once or twice every15-30 days to urinate, drink, and mate. Interestingly, bats

lower their temperatures to a range of 35-50 F barely above

the ambient cave temperature while simultaneouslylowering their immune response. Since Geomycesdistructans grows in cold temperatures, there is a reason toshow why the fungus grows on bats. With white nosesyndrome affecting bats, hibernating behavior in bats haschanged dramatically. According to witnesses in ChesterMines, Massachusetts in 2009, bats were spotted active inthe months of January-through mid March flying during the

Figure 3: WNS found on the muzzle of bats

Figure 4: WNS is seen bound to the back

of a hibernating bat


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day looking for food and water. In Mifflin county mines in Pennsylvania, bats were interestinglyand strangely discovered dead on the snow in a ring around trees. For many biologists andresearchers, there is strong evidence that WNS has affected hibernating behavior in bats.

Working at a lab at Bucknell University in Pennsylvania, biology professor Dr. DeeAnnReeder studies and performs field work on immune responses in hibernating bats. Over the past

three years, Reeder has been studying and testing periodic arousals of bats during hibernation.Strangely, bats affected with WNS rouse bats every three or four days depleting their fatreserves, which explains why bats appear dehydrated and most of the time emaciated. When abat is dehydrated the wing membranes appear shriveled up similar to when a leaf has not beenexposed to water in a long time (Figure 1).According to Reeder, Sometimes we find dead batsin a ring around trees. Were not sure exactly, but I think their body fat gets so lean they wake up

and think its spring and its time to feed, but dont find

any insects in winter, roost in a tree, die and fall. Whilevisiting the caves in Mifflin County with students lastyear, Reeder has felt overwhelmed at seeing thesecreatures die in increasing numbers. Reeder hypothesized

that bats have an immune-surveillance system whichmeans that during hibernation, bats increase their bodytemperature to fight off any diseases and then lower theirtemperature again. These periodical warm-ups are what boost the bats physiological system. WNS however,arouses bats, thus leading bats to awaken frequentlycausing them to expend their stored energy in search forfood. It is unusual for a bat to hibernate at the mouth ofthe cave or mine when it should be found deeper in thehibernacula. The behavior in shifting toward the mine orcave entrance is a major sign of WNS as reported byscientists. Since affected bats arouse frequently, it makessense that it makes it easier for bats to travel shorterdistances from the hibernacula to outside in search offood.

Working alongside with Dr. Reeder, Greg Turner, a biologist with the Game Commissions Wildlife

Diversity Section, had also investigated and researchedthe Mifflin County caves in 2008 counting the number of bats that so far survived in the cave.Thered be about 2,000 to 3,000 bats in the area says Turner. So far, weve counted about 500and a lot of them are dead. This past fall we began to examine the health of our bats to see if theycame into hibernationusing telemetry gear and data-loggers to monitor the body temperaturesand arousal patterns According to Reeder, the two biologists along with the Pennsylvania

Game Commission estimated about 80-90% mortality in some of the caves in the area in 2008.On December 20 of that year, bats in Shindle, an abandoned iron mine in Mifflin County startedshowing WNS signs. Nine days later, there was an estimate of 150 out of 2,200 bats in the mineaffected and by January 5, 2009 half of the wintering colony showed signs of the disease as morebats shifted towards the entrance of their hibernacula. For Reed and Turner, bats infected withWNS are facing a very long recovery due to their low reproductive rates. Bats produce only onepup per year, so it is a challenge, especially for the federally-endangered Indiana bat to keep up

Figure 5: Scientist discovers dead bats in

winter near barks of trees


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caring for its offspring and simultaneously competing with WNS. I dont want to sugarcoat itexplains Dr. Reed, but were seeing 80-95% mortality in some of these caves and if we comeback next year, Im worried that another 90% mortality could be expected. How long can that goon? Frustrated and overwhelmed, Drs. Reed and Turner along with other scientists begansearching for treatments to cure WNS and with crisis level escalating, something has to be done.

With the instinct to look for a cure, Drs. Reed and Turner in Bucks County started treatinginfected bats with two antifungal agents. Terbinafine (found in Athletes foot) and an unidentifiedcompound administered in vapor, which they refer to as Agent C were used on bats. The twotreatments are safe while administering them in low doses. According to Turner, the goal forthese treatments is to see if bats have a chance of increasing survival rates recalling It was thefirst obvious thing to try. However, the treatment caused an uncooperative behavior from thebats responding negatively to the treatment, causing the bats to groom themselves excessively toget rid of the agents. As of now, the use of antifungal agents to treat WNS is as far as scientistscan get due to limiting resources to treat the disease and lack of funding. If scientists decide touse the antifungal agents in caves and mines, the results could worsen, for ecosystems near thehibernacula could get harmed.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission has take action to prevent the spread of WNS.Caverns including the Aitkin Cave, a well known hibernation site in a 43-acre preserve in MifflinCounty, PA have been banned entry and are closed to the public. Although the disease is notcontagious and harmful to humans, pets or even livestock, the fungal spores are capable ofclinging onto clothing or fur. To make bat hibernacula safe, it is better to keep caves closed toprevent further spread and contamination. Caving in the northeast and areas where WNS hassettled, has been banned by the National Park Service, the U.S. Department of Agriculture ForestService and The NatureConservancy to prevent furtherspread of WNS.

The Game Commission ingeneral performs field work incaves instate every year. In thepast two years (2008-2010)however, the Commission hasdived further surveying 20 to 30hibernacula between January andMarch monitoring for WNS.Moreover, the agency assistedresearchers in investigating batsby looking for normal metabolicrate of hibernating bats, studyingnormal immune responsecapabilities of bats, andmeasuring if there are sufficientfat stores in bats before hittinghibernation. It is important, not only for the Game Commission, but biologists and batresearchers to note these hibernating characteristics in bats since hibernation has become criticalever since the spread of WNS.

Figure 6: Sign posted near infected hibernacula and in areas

protecting hibernacula from WNS.


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In other respects, pressure keeps rising in the need to call for Congressional help. Withoutenough money to fund for resources instate such as research to find better treatments and hiremore lab and field workers to help out, the challenge to beat WNS will never come close. In2009, bat expert Dr. Thomas Kunz along with collaboration of scientists and wildlife managers,a testimony was presented to Congress to allow $45 million of funding over a five-year period

for WNS with $17 million in the first year. With $5 million in appropriated funds, resourcescould be available for research; however, in 2010 Congress only appropriated $1.9 million forWNS. Just recently, a link posted on the web shows how the public can take action to preventWNS by sending a letter to congressional members asking for the support to help fund WNS andprevent the spread of the disease.http://action.biologicaldiversity.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=3815.

The unexpected mortality rate of bats across the northeastern part of the United States hascaused one of the largest declines of wildlife in the past century in North America. The primarypredators of insects including pests could potentially be seeing the end. In the United States 25

out 46 species of bats, that is, half of all bat species, are at risk. White-nose has killed 1 millionbats throughout the Northeast says Reeder. Ifit remains unchecked, affected species could bewiped out within four years.

Citations

Rick Steelhammer."White-nose disease confirmed in Pendleton bats. " McClatchy

Tribune Business News25 February 2009 ABI/INFORM Dateline, ProQuest.http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=2&did=1651007761&SrchMode=2&sid=2&Fmt=3&Inst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1274631261&clientId=9874 18May.2010.

MediocreTalks about the spread of WNS in bats in five different states in the northeastern part of

the US and its risk of expansion to the west.Info is useful by stating where the disease has spread and how can it affect people of theStates.

Christopher Baxter. "White-nose syndrome killing bats: Flying mammals are found dying ofmysterious fungus in Pennsylvania mine. "McClatchy - Tribune Business News23 January 2009 ABI/INFORM Dateline, ProQuest.http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=3&did=1631479231&SrchMode=2&sid=2&Fmt=3&Inst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1274631261&clientId=9874 . 18May. 2010.

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http://action.biologicaldiversity.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=3815http://action.biologicaldiversity.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=3815http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=2&did=1651007761&SrchMode=2&sid=2&Fmt=3&http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=3&did=1631479231&SrchMode=2&sid=2&Fmt=3&http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=3&did=1631479231&SrchMode=2&sid=2&Fmt=3&http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=2&did=1651007761&SrchMode=2&sid=2&Fmt=3&http://action.biologicaldiversity.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=3815


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Some caves have been affected in the PA and the PGC begins to grow concern of batpopulations beginning to decrease

This article is helpful by showing statistics of bat populations declining in 2008 when theWNS began to arise.

"WHITE-NOSE SYNDROME SURFACES IN PENNSYLVANIA."US Fed News Service,Including US State News 22 Jan. 2009,General Interest Module, ProQuest.http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=5&did=1635569601&SrchMode=2&sid=2&Fmt=3&Inst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1274631261&clientId=9874. 18May.2010.

Good Two Biologists from Bucknell University and from the Game Commission have been

working on monitoring bat behavior, metabolic activity, and hibernation characteristics ofbats

This article is helpful by explaining what the two biologists have discovered in the lasttwo years in terms of bat behavior linking to WNS

Morgan Simmons. "Bat disease spreading much faster than expected. " McClatchyTribuneBusiness News 23 April 2010 ABI/INFORM Dateline, ProQuest.http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=0&did=2016571241&SrchMode=2&sid=1&Fmt=3&Inst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1274636065&clientId=9874. May2010.

Mediocre WNS confirmed in Tenessee there is proof that WNS has reached the caves in Tenessee. The article talks about

some of the common bat species that are affected.

Bhattacharya, S. "Murder in the bat cave." New Scientist27 Mar. 2010: Research LibraryCore, ProQuest.http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=0&did=2015960801&SrchMode=2sid=2&Fmt=2&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1274636781&clintId=9874 18 May. 2010.

GoodBat hibernation characteristicsThis article talks about some basic facts about bat hibernation, such as what is the normal bat hibernating period and what is abnormal of bats hibernating with WNS

Theodore H. Fleming, Cullen Geiselman, and W. John KressThe evolution of bat pollination: a phylogenetic perspective

Ann. Bot. 2009 104: 1017-1043.

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Bat Pollination

Helpful by describing how bats contribute to the ecosystem by pollinating flowers which allowfor the production of more plants eaten by mammals or other species.
http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=5&did=1635569601&SrchMode=2&sid=2&Fmt=3&http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=0&did=2016571241&SrchMode=2&sid=1&Fmt=3&http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=0&did=2016571241&SrchMode=2&sid=1&Fmt=3&http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=5&did=1635569601&SrchMode=2&sid=2&Fmt=3&


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Malawsky,Nick. Bat Disease Confirmed Here. Centre Daily Times State College PA: pg 1Newsbank Access World News.http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iwsearch/we/InfoWeb?p_product=AWNB&p_theme=aggregated5&p_action=doc&p_docid=129107E571C61C0&p_docnum=1&p_queryname=1. Saturday April 11, 2009.

Good WNS syndrome investigated and confirmed in Centre County PA The article talks about the discovery of WNS in Centre County, Mifflin county, and areas close toCentre County where caves have been infected.

ASSOCIATED PRESS. Bat Disease Could Spread into West. Erie Times-News PA: ETN.NewbankBank Access World News. http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iwsearch/we/InfoWeb?p_product=AWNB&p_theme=aggregated5&p_action=doc&p_docid=1F94BF6294264A8&p_docnum=2&p_queryname=6. Saturday, May 8, 2010.

MediocreWhite Nose Syndrome is spreading west

Caves are closing down in the west to prevent further contamination of the fungus. The articletalks about how humans to prevent the spread of WNS and how can the fungus spread from onearea to another.

Hayes, John. CAN BATS BE SAVED? - A LITTLE-UNDERSTOOD FUNGUS IS KILLINGTHEM AT AN ALARMING RATE.Pittsburg Post-Gazette PA Two Star: A-1.NewsBank Access World News.http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iwsearch/we/InfoWeb?p_product=AWNB&p_theme=aggregated5&p_action=doc&p_docid=12E4E8C6123E300&p_docnum=1&p_queryname=8. Sunday, March 7, 2010.

GoodResearch on bats being made on behavior, WNS, how far researchers have gone with finding a

cure for batsarticle is helpful because it gives me some information on eating, hibernating, and survival

characteristics of bats and how WNS has changed these normal bat behaviors.

Jackson, Kent. Illness Machines Threatens Bats. Standard-Speaker Hazleton, PA Daily: Section Bpg12. NewsBank Access World News.http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iwsearch/we/InfoWeb?p_product=AWNB&p_theme=aggregated5&p_action=doc&p_docid=12E4E8C6123E300&p_docnum=1&p_queryname=8. Sunday, March 7, 2010.

Good Cause of how WNS ended up in the US Researchers have come to the conclusion that its possible that WNS was first introduced in

in America by European travelers which might have carried and brought the disease fromEuropean caves. This article is helpful by explaining how exactly did researchers found out

how the illness was first discovered.
http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iwsearch/we/InfoWeb?p_product=AWNB&p_theme=aggregated5&p_action=doc&p_docid=129107E571C61C0&p_docnum=1&p_queryname=1http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iwsearch/we/InfoWeb?p_product=AWNB&p_theme=aggregated5&p_action=doc&p_docid=129107E571C61C0&p_docnum=1&p_queryname=1http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iwsearch/we/InfoWeb?p_product=AWNB&p_theme=aggregated5&p_action=doc&p_docid=129107E571C61C0&p_docnum=1&p_queryname=1http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iwsearch/we/InfoWeb?p_product=AWNB&p_theme=aggregated5&p_action=doc&p_docid=129107E571C61C0&p_docnum=1&p_queryname=1http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iwsearch/we/InfoWeb?p_product=AWNB&p_theme=aggregated5&p_action=doc&p_docid=1F94BF6294264A8&p_docnum=2&p_queryname=6http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iwsearch/we/InfoWeb?p_product=AWNB&p_theme=aggregated5&p_action=doc&p_docid=1F94BF6294264A8&p_docnum=2&p_queryname=6http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iwsearch/we/InfoWeb?p_product=AWNB&p_theme=aggregated5&p_action=doc&p_docid=1F94BF6294264A8&p_docnum=2&p_queryname=6http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iwsearch/we/InfoWeb?p_product=AWNB&p_theme=aggregated5&p_action=doc&p_docid=12E4E8C6123E300&p_docnum=1&p_queryname=8http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iwsearch/we/InfoWeb?p_product=AWNB&p_theme=aggregated5&p_action=doc&p_docid=12E4E8C6123E300&p_docnum=1&p_queryname=8http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iwsearch/we/InfoWeb?p_product=AWNB&p_theme=aggregated5&p_action=doc&p_docid=12E4E8C6123E300&p_docnum=1&p_queryname=8http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iwsearch/we/InfoWeb?p_product=AWNB&p_theme=aggregated5&p_action=doc&p_docid=12E4E8C6123E300&p_docnum=1&p_queryname=8http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iwsearch/we/InfoWeb?p_product=AWNB&p_theme=aggregated5&p_action=doc&p_docid=12E4E8C6123E300&p_docnum=1&p_queryname=8http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iwsearch/we/InfoWeb?p_product=AWNB&p_theme=aggregated5&p_action=doc&p_docid=12E4E8C6123E300&p_docnum=1&p_queryname=8http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iwsearch/we/InfoWeb?p_product=AWNB&p_theme=aggregated5&p_action=doc&p_docid=12E4E8C6123E300&p_docnum=1&p_queryname=8http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iwsearch/we/InfoWeb?p_product=AWNB&p_theme=aggregated5&p_action=doc&p_docid=12E4E8C6123E300&p_docnum=1&p_queryname=8http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iwsearch/we/InfoWeb?p_product=AWNB&p_theme=aggregated5&p_action=doc&p_docid=12E4E8C6123E300&p_docnum=1&p_queryname=8http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iwsearch/we/InfoWeb?p_product=AWNB&p_theme=aggregated5&p_action=doc&p_docid=12E4E8C6123E300&p_docnum=1&p_queryname=8http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iwsearch/we/InfoWeb?p_product=AWNB&p_theme=aggregated5&p_action=doc&p_docid=12E4E8C6123E300&p_docnum=1&p_queryname=8http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iwsearch/we/InfoWeb?p_product=AWNB&p_theme=aggregated5&p_action=doc&p_docid=12E4E8C6123E300&p_docnum=1&p_queryname=8http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iwsearch/we/InfoWeb?p_product=AWNB&p_theme=aggregated5&p_action=doc&p_docid=12E4E8C6123E300&p_docnum=1&p_queryname=8http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iwsearch/we/InfoWeb?p_product=AWNB&p_theme=aggregated5&p_action=doc&p_docid=12E4E8C6123E300&p_docnum=1&p_queryname=8http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iwsearch/we/InfoWeb?p_product=AWNB&p_theme=aggregated5&p_action=doc&p_docid=1F94BF6294264A8&p_docnum=2&p_queryname=6http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iwsearch/we/InfoWeb?p_product=AWNB&p_theme=aggregated5&p_action=doc&p_docid=1F94BF6294264A8&p_docnum=2&p_queryname=6http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iwsearch/we/InfoWeb?p_product=AWNB&p_theme=aggregated5&p_action=doc&p_docid=1F94BF6294264A8&p_docnum=2&p_queryname=6http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iwsearch/we/InfoWeb?p_product=AWNB&p_theme=aggregated5&p_action=doc&p_docid=129107E571C61C0&p_docnum=1&p_queryname=1http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iwsearch/we/InfoWeb?p_product=AWNB&p_theme=aggregated5&p_action=doc&p_docid=129107E571C61C0&p_docnum=1&p_queryname=1http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iwsearch/we/InfoWeb?p_product=AWNB&p_theme=aggregated5&p_action=doc&p_docid=129107E571C61C0&p_docnum=1&p_queryname=1


10/12

Baress, Cecilia. Biologist Try White-Nose Treatments on Bats. Pattsville Republican,The &Evening Herald PA Daily: section A pg 1. NewsBank Access World Newshttp://infoweb.newsbank.com/iwsearch/we/InfoWeb?p_product=AWNB&p_theme=aggregated5&paction=doc&p_docid=12DEC744CA79ABD0&p_docnum=3&p_queryname=14. Sunday, March, 7,2010.

MediocreInvestigating the fungus causing WNShelpful article which talks about how two biologists from the Penns. Game Commission investigatewhat anti-fungal agents (used in athletes foot) can be used to treat the fungus causingWNS and can be useful to spray in caves to detain the fungus.

K.,Glen. White Nose Syndrome.2009, OBannon State Park, Indiana. Accessed 5 Aug.2009.http://www.coasttocoastam.com/photo/photo-of-the-day/40556

Good Image of a sign saying Caves ClosedThis image is helpful to let the reader know that Game Commissions, not only in PA but in the

northeastern part of the US, caves are closing down to prevent further contamination of bats bythe public

Hicks, Al. White Nose Syndrome in Bats.http://wildwildweather.com/forecastblog/2009/05/welcome-to-the-what-the-anthropocene/

GoodImage of bats with WNS Image is helpful to give the reader an idea of what bats look like with the illness

Butchkoski, Cal. WNS Occurrence by County District. 2010. Accessed 1 April.2010.http://scienceblogs.com/zooillogix/2010/04/white_nose_syndrome.php

Excellent Image of counties affected by WNS from 2006-2010 Image is helpful to give the reader an idea of how badly WNS has spread in counties in the

northeastern part of the US

Chosy, Julia. Dead Bats. 2010. Accessed 8 April 2010.http://scienceblogs.com/zooillogix/2010/04/white_nose_syndrome.php

ExcellentImage of dead bats in winter Image is helpful to allow the reader to see the outcome of WNS in bats in their unusual behavior

to stop hibernating in winter and be active in the months of January-mid March.

Crocoll, Scott. Dead Indiana Bat. 2009, Rodendal, NY. Accessed 27 Jan 2009.http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/Americas/2009/feb/White-Nose-Syndrome-Spreading-AmongBats.html

ExcellentImage of wing of dehydrated batImage is helpful to allow the reader to see how WNS has affected bats in that bats lose a lot ofwater that causes their wings to crumble up due to loss of water in their bodies.
http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iwsearch/we/InfoWeb?p_product=AWNB&p_theme=aggregated5&p_action=doc&p_docid=12DEC744CA79ABD0&p_docnum=3&p_queryname=14http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iwsearch/we/InfoWeb?p_product=AWNB&p_theme=aggregated5&p_action=doc&p_docid=12DEC744CA79ABD0&p_docnum=3&p_queryname=14http://www.coasttocoastam.com/photo/photo-of-the-day/40556http://scienceblogs.com/zooillogix/2010/04/white_nose_syndrome.phphttp://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/Americas/2009/feb/White-Nose-Syndrome-Spreading-Amonghttp://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/Americas/2009/feb/White-Nose-Syndrome-Spreading-Amonghttp://scienceblogs.com/zooillogix/2010/04/white_nose_syndrome.phphttp://www.coasttocoastam.com/photo/photo-of-the-day/40556http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iwsearch/we/InfoWeb?p_product=AWNB&p_theme=aggregated5&p_action=doc&p_docid=12DEC744CA79ABD0&p_docnum=3&p_queryname=14http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iwsearch/we/InfoWeb?p_product=AWNB&p_theme=aggregated5&p_action=doc&p_docid=12DEC744CA79ABD0&p_docnum=3&p_queryname=14


11/12

Graboski, Robyn. Personal INTERVIEW. 20 May 2010.

Good She talks about WNS in bats This interview was helpful in understanding a little more about WNS. She talks about how

WNS has been confirmed as a disease not an illness. The PGC has prohibited Wildlife Rehabs torehabilitate bats.

Lindholm, Jane. Scientists Racing to Protect Bats from WNS. Vermont Public Radio. 6 March2009. http://www.vpr.net/news_detail/84295/. 20 May 2010

Mediocrereporter Jane Lindholm talks about her trip with biologist to visit a cave hibernacula in New

England (Vermont) to study how badly bats have been affected by WNS this article is helpful in that it gives several statistics of bat deaths at the mouth of the cave. Alsoit gives several details of Janes experience of what she observed when she visited the cave.

Science Daily. WNS In Bats: First Prevention Proposed by Ecologists. Science News.10 March2009.http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090305102709.htm. 20 May 2010 MediocreThe article shows statistics of number of bats that have diedThis article is helpful because it talks about ways that one can solve the issue to stop WNS

Volks, Tom. Geomyces Destructants. TomVolkFungi. May 2009.

http://botit.botany.wisc.edu/toms_fungi/may2009.html. 20 May 2010GoodInfo on fungus Geomyces-the killing fungus affecting bats undergoing WNS this article is helpful by explaining detailed information on fungus Geomyces such as: where itgrows, what suitable environments is the fungus resistant to, why has it been killing bats incaves, etc.

White Nose Syndrome in Bats. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Serviesn.d.http://www.fws.gov/northeast/white_nose.html. 20 May 2010

GoodFrequently asked questions of WNS (what is it, where has it been observed, ect.)This article is helpful by explaining the signs of WNS in bats, what can a person do when findinga bat with WNS, what threats does it impose on humans, & how WNS has endangered theIndiana Bat.

DeCoskey, Jason L. Re:White Nose Syndrome Update. Message to Robyn Graboski. August 3, 2009. Email

Mediocrethe email talks about how the PGC (Pennsylvania Game Commission) is trying to be actively

involved in WNS surveillance.
http://www.vpr.net/news_detail/84295/http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090305102709.htm.%2020%20May%202010http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090305102709.htm.%2020%20May%202010http://botit.botany.wisc.edu/toms_fungi/may2009.html.%20%2020%20May%202010http://botit.botany.wisc.edu/toms_fungi/may2009.html.%20%2020%20May%202010http://botit.botany.wisc.edu/toms_fungi/may2009.html.%20%2020%20May%202010http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090305102709.htm.%2020%20May%202010http://www.vpr.net/news_detail/84295/


12/12

describes what has been discovered of the fungus on bats in PA and what the bats are looking likein the caves.

Williams, Lisa. WNS Update for Rehabbers. Message to Robyn Graboski. December 3, 2009.Email.

MediocreThe email talks about observations made by the PGC about flying bats I the daytime, which isunusual.

There are indications of unusual behavior such as flying during the day instead of night.There has been in an increase in the number of bats confirmed with WNS in several counties.

Graboski, Robyn. Help save Bats from Deadly Epidemic. Message to CWC-Supporter Lists.May 21,2010. Email.

Good Funding of WNS to Congress help fund WNS and stop the epidemic as soon as possible What can you do as a person to try save bats from WNS

Statistics of number of bats in popular National Parks caves that have died

All About Bat/Intro to Bats. Bat Conservation International. n.d.

http://www.batcon.org/index.php/all-about-bats/intro-to-bats/subcategory/18.html. 23 May. 2010. Good Talks about how and why bats are important in our ecosystem Bats play a role as pollinators, pest control, & seed dispersal agents
http://www.batcon.org/index.php/all-about-bats/intro-to-bats/subcategory/18.html.%2023%20May.%202010http://www.batcon.org/index.php/all-about-bats/intro-to-bats/subcategory/18.html.%2023%20May.%202010

wns final article

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