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Current Status of the Research and Management of Bat White-Nose Syndrome

Current Status of the Research and Management of Bat White-Nose Syndrome. Jeremy T. H. Coleman National WNS Coordinator, US Fish & Wildlife Service Northeast Region Biologists Conference Baltimore, Maryland, 17 February, 2011. WNS. WNS – An Unprecedented Crisis.

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Current Status of the Research and Management of Bat White-Nose Syndrome

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  1. Current Status of the Research and Management ofBat White-Nose Syndrome Jeremy T. H. Coleman National WNS Coordinator, US Fish & Wildlife Service Northeast Region Biologists Conference Baltimore, Maryland, 17 February, 2011 WNS

  2. WNS – An Unprecedented Crisis • WNS presents a novel disease and resource management problem • Managing WNS poses considerable biological and social challenges, with complex coordination needs • Over 100 agencies, NGOs, and universities involved • A National Plan has been developed to build on accomplishments to date and enhance coordination

  3. What is White-Nose Syndrome? USFWS Jonathan Reichard David Blehert Alan Hicks Carol Meteyer Alan Hicks

  4. Bat Species in the U.S. & Canada Source: Paul Cryan, USGS

  5. 2007 - 1 state, 5 hibernacula

  6. 2008 - 4 states, 42 known hibernacula

  7. 2009 – 9 states, 88 known hibernacula Approx. 900 km

  8. June 2010: 13 States, 2 Provinces, 160+ affected sites Select non-cave locs. Gray bat (Myotis grisescens) Cave bat (Myotis velifer) Southeastern bat (Myotis austroriparius) Approx. 2200 km

  9. Feb. 2011: 16 States, 2 Provinces, 160+ affected sites 2011 Select non-cave locs. Indiana North Carolina

  10. Graphite Mine, NY – April 2009 Photo and data: Alan Hicks, NYSDEC

  11. 20000 2000 Hailes Cave Williams Lake 17500 Schoharie Cavern 1750 Knox Cave Gages Cave 15000 1500 Howe's Cave Friends Lake 12500 1250 Count Count 10000 1000 7500 750 5000 500 2500 250 0 0 1985/6 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Year Source of data: A. Hicks, NYSDEC New York Sites - Complete Counts 16,134 10,336

  12. Simulations of Extinction for Myotis lucifigus Frick, Reynolds, Pollock, and Kunz - 2009

  13. WhatWe Know About WNS • Over 95% mortality at many affected hibernacula • 6 cave bat species affected, w/ fungus detected on 3 additional • Susceptibility may differ by bat species or with microclimate • Specific fungal infection is common to affected sites and defines the disease • Still no evidence of bacterial, viral, or parasitic cause • The fungus can persist in caves in the absence of bats • Bats can become infected from an affected environment

  14. What We Know About WNS Fungus: Geomyces destructans • A newly described fungal species • Optimal growth at 5-14° C Photo by D. Berndt, NWHC

  15. What We Know About WNS Fungus: Geomyces destructans • A newly described fungal species • Optimal growth at 5-14° C • Invades skin tissue of hibernating bats • Genetically similar fungal isolates found • at multiple affected hibernacula in the U.S. (also sediment) • Bat-to-bat transmission has been demonstrated – NWHC • Conidia (spores) have been found sticking to exposed gear • Genome has been sequenced - Broad Institute, NWHC • G. destructanshas been found on European bats Photo by D. Berndt, NWHC

  16. WNS: A European Connection? Hungary Switzerland Rene Guttinger Netherlands Tamas Gorfol Anne Jifke-Haarsma

  17. General Research Priorities • Disease transmission • Cause of mortality • Treatment and control • Diagnostics and surveillance • Etiology and persistence of Gd • Conservation • Population monitoring

  18. Currently Funded Research (partial) • Immune response of hibernating bats & post-exposure • Behavior and physiologyof hibernation • Population-level impacts (local and range-wide) • Contaminants – pesticides and environmental • Genetics – predisposition, post-exposure, & fungal • Disinfection/Decontamination & Gdin the environment • Prospects for captive management • Dynamics of transmission • Epidemiological modeling • Improving detection of Gdon bats & in environment • Susceptibility & potential for resistance

  19. Antifungal Treatments • Some success in the lab • Limited field trials have not been successful • Two projects funded by Comp SWG states

  20. Some Accomplishments in Managing WNS • WNS investigation team and partnerships • Coordination structure and Task Groups established in 2008 • FWS webpage: http://www.fws.gov/WhiteNoseSyndrome • Research support and coordination (RFPs) • State support (SWGs and small grants) • Guidance: - Containment - Structured Decision Making (SDM) initiatives - White papers: rehabilitation, surveillance-monitoring, genetics,... - State plan template • National and state planning

  21. 1 6 3 5 8 4 2

  22. Management Focusing on Containment Decontamination Protocols - recently updated, Jan 2011 (http://www.fws.gov/WhiteNoseSyndrome/pdf/WNSDecontaminationProtocol_v012511.pdf) - Decontamination Protocol Committee Cave Advisory – March, 2009 Due to threat of human transmission, USFWS recommends that people stay out of caves and abandoned mines and not transport caving gear. - Currently under revision

  23. Captive Management • Fall 2009, FWS funded VBEB project • February 2010, FWS formed a captive management workgroup to investigate the potential for ex-situ actions • Short-term holding • Full propagation • Cryopreservation • July 2010, St. Louis workshop • SDM project Jeff Hajenga, WVDNR

  24. Status of State Response/Recovery Plans In development Near completion Complete

  25. WNS National Plan Purpose: To guide the response of Federal, State, and Tribal agencies, and partners to WNS Multi-agency input: USFWS, USGS, NPS, USFS, DOD, APHIS, BLM, AFWA & States, St. Regis Mohawk Tribe Establishes an organizational structure with oversight up to the Washington level Formally establishes 7 working groups: 1. Communications 2. Data and Technical Information Management 3. Diagnostics 4. Disease Management 5. Etiological and Epidemiological Research 6. Disease Surveillance 7. Conservation and Recovery

  26. WNS National Plan Two stages: • National Plan - The framework - not prescriptive - A static document • Implementation Plan - Identifies players & costs - Provides guidance - An adaptive plan, web based

  27. DRAFT WNS Organization Structure (v.7.5)

  28. Petitions Listing Petitions: • January 2010, CBD petitioned to list: - Eastern small-footed bat - Northern long-eared bat • December 2010, request for status review: - Little brown bat CBD Cave Petition: • January 2010 - Feds to close all caves - Transfer of materials to be considered “Take”

  29. Acknowledgments Thanks to the great many people who are working on WNS, including State and Federal Agents, NGOs, Researchers, and Private Partners Special Thanks to the WNS Coordinators and extended FWS WNS team Contributors to this talk: Paul Cryan, Alan Hicks, Andy Lowell, & Rob Tawes

  30. 14 hibernating species of bats occur only west of Great Plains Paul Cryan

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