Comments on: Mylea Bayless studies bats, speaks of bat decline http://earthsky.org/biodiversity/mylea-bayless-studies-bats-speaks-of-bat-decline A Clear Voice for Science Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:15:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Mylea Bayless http://earthsky.org/biodiversity/mylea-bayless-studies-bats-speaks-of-bat-decline/comment-page-1#comment-13429 Mylea Bayless Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:51:39 +0000 http://earthsky.org/?p=25115#comment-13429 In response to the comments in this string. Information about WNS, bat houses, and bat exclusions can be found at www.batcon.org. Also- I agree with Yarser- all bats will not face extinction, but the entire populations of several endangered species in the eastern U.S. (namely Indiana bats, gray bats, Virginia big-eared bats, and Ozark big-eared bats) hibernate if very few caves which are - unfortunately - in the direct path of WNS. These species are definitely at risk. The details of this discussion during the interview did not make it into the edited version. Also- Yarser\'s point about pesticides, herbicides, and the insect food base are exactly right. These are under investigation by lead researchers. Nothing in this arena has been conclusive - and so far the only consistent finding among WNS affected bats is the G.destructas fungus (newly described to science). But - until we have definitive proof that WNS is indeed CAUSED by the fungus...we\'ll keep looking. Thanks everybody for your interest. In response to the comments in this string. Information about WNS, bat houses, and bat exclusions can be found at http://www.batcon.org.

Also- I agree with Yarser- all bats will not face extinction, but the entire populations of several endangered species in the eastern U.S. (namely Indiana bats, gray bats, Virginia big-eared bats, and Ozark big-eared bats) hibernate if very few caves which are – unfortunately – in the direct path of WNS. These species are definitely at risk. The details of this discussion during the interview did not make it into the edited version.

Also- Yarser\’s point about pesticides, herbicides, and the insect food base are exactly right. These are under investigation by lead researchers. Nothing in this arena has been conclusive – and so far the only consistent finding among WNS affected bats is the G.destructas fungus (newly described to science). But – until we have definitive proof that WNS is indeed CAUSED by the fungus…we\’ll keep looking.

Thanks everybody for your interest.

]]> By: Yarser Wang http://earthsky.org/biodiversity/mylea-bayless-studies-bats-speaks-of-bat-decline/comment-page-1#comment-13194 Yarser Wang Sun, 20 Sep 2009 02:40:25 +0000 http://earthsky.org/?p=25115#comment-13194 I think it is kind of exaggerating to say that bat will face extinction due to the white nose syndrome. The fungus may have killed some bats, but this is a process of selection--it select some certain kind of bats that can immune from the fungus. Instead of focusing on the impact of the white nose syndrome, I¡¯m more interesting in the insects which are the food source of bats and birds. With so many chemicals used in agriculture, including herbicide and fertilizer, the food source of the bat may have been contaminated. Perhaps this is more serious than the disease. On the other hand, the use of insecticide leads to the sharp decrease of bats' food, which may put the bat to the edge of extinction. In natural situation, if the colony of bats decreases, the colony of insects stands a higher chance to recovery, which will contribute to the recovery of the bats. However, the human's activities have interrupted the balance of the ecosystem. Consequently, both the number of the insects and bats are decreasing. from a student of China I think it is kind of exaggerating to say that bat will face extinction due to the white nose syndrome. The fungus may have killed some bats, but this is a process of selection–it select some certain kind of bats that can immune from the fungus.
Instead of focusing on the impact of the white nose syndrome, I¡¯m more interesting in the insects which are the food source of bats and birds. With so many chemicals used in agriculture, including herbicide and fertilizer, the food source of the bat may have been contaminated. Perhaps this is more serious than the disease.
On the other hand, the use of insecticide leads to the sharp decrease of bats’ food, which may put the bat to the edge of extinction.
In natural situation, if the colony of bats decreases, the colony of insects stands a higher chance to recovery, which will contribute to the recovery of the bats. However, the human’s activities have interrupted the balance of the ecosystem. Consequently, both the number of the insects and bats are decreasing.
from a student of China

]]> By: Lorrie http://earthsky.org/biodiversity/mylea-bayless-studies-bats-speaks-of-bat-decline/comment-page-1#comment-13133 Lorrie Fri, 18 Sep 2009 09:58:10 +0000 http://earthsky.org/?p=25115#comment-13133 Thanks to this story, we will be accepting donations to BCI at our Halloween Party this year. I hope others follow suit! Thanks to this story, we will be accepting donations to BCI at our Halloween Party this year. I hope others follow suit!

]]> By: Barbara and Douglas http://earthsky.org/biodiversity/mylea-bayless-studies-bats-speaks-of-bat-decline/comment-page-1#comment-13132 Barbara and Douglas Fri, 18 Sep 2009 08:52:23 +0000 http://earthsky.org/?p=25115#comment-13132 Mylea, If a person wants to donate money to your study of the White Nose Syndrome, how would they do that? Mylea,
If a person wants to donate money to your study of the White Nose Syndrome, how would they do that?

]]> By: Robert http://earthsky.org/biodiversity/mylea-bayless-studies-bats-speaks-of-bat-decline/comment-page-1#comment-13096 Robert Tue, 15 Sep 2009 20:37:48 +0000 http://earthsky.org/?p=25115#comment-13096 I have a population of bats that lived in and by my barn, I am in the process of sealing the barn but I would like to provide other shelter for the bats, I live in Westfield MA and I would like to know my options, such as building bat boxes and the like, there is a stand of Pines I think that would be perfect. I was fortunate this year that they chose to roost between the chimney and the barn instead of inside, I need to seal the barn but also want to provide for the bats. Any information or recommendations would be appreciated as I understand the delicate balance in nature. I do have some good news on the bees, we planted sunflowers and wildflower patches and have attracted healthy numbers of bees. I have a population of bats that lived in and by my barn, I am in the process of sealing the barn but I would like to provide other shelter for the bats, I live in Westfield MA and I would like to know my options, such as building bat boxes and the like, there is a stand of Pines I think that would be perfect. I was fortunate this year that they chose to roost between the chimney and the barn instead of inside, I need to seal the barn but also want to provide for the bats. Any information or recommendations would be appreciated as I understand the delicate balance in nature. I do have some good news on the bees, we planted sunflowers and wildflower patches and have attracted healthy numbers of bees.

]]> By: Mylea Bayless http://earthsky.org/biodiversity/mylea-bayless-studies-bats-speaks-of-bat-decline/comment-page-1#comment-13094 Mylea Bayless Tue, 15 Sep 2009 10:40:51 +0000 http://earthsky.org/?p=25115#comment-13094 We are cautiosly optimistic that non-hibernating bat species will fare better. But even in the Southwestern U.S. many bats hibernate in high elevation caves, mines, and rock shelters - thus potentially posing some risk. Only time will tell unfortunately. Thanks for your concern. With everything else happening right now - we need decision makers in Washington and in our state and federal wildife agencies to support WNS research. Spread the word if you can. We are cautiosly optimistic that non-hibernating bat species will fare better. But even in the Southwestern U.S. many bats hibernate in high elevation caves, mines, and rock shelters – thus potentially posing some risk. Only time will tell unfortunately. Thanks for your concern. With everything else happening right now – we need decision makers in Washington and in our state and federal wildife agencies to support WNS research. Spread the word if you can.

]]> By: Hank http://earthsky.org/biodiversity/mylea-bayless-studies-bats-speaks-of-bat-decline/comment-page-1#comment-13090 Hank Tue, 15 Sep 2009 01:48:29 +0000 http://earthsky.org/?p=25115#comment-13090 Bats are indeed incredible creatures. Five years back I spent three nights at a cave in Death Valley, along the Cotton Wood Canyon trail. It is a dry wash trail following a sandstone slot canyon up to higher elevation. Every evening, the bats would literally swarm out of the cave over our heads in search of insects. It was exciting to watch them fly in seemingly perfect synchronization leaving the cave. I took some cool photographs of them against colorful vertical sand stone canyon walls. It it is sad to think that they are in peril. I'm hoping the very dry environment will serve as a boundary for this fungal infection and spare our local species. Given that winter temperatures rarely drop below 55 deg. F, I doubt they are a hibernating. Any projections on expected impact on desert Southwest species? Bats are indeed incredible creatures. Five years back I spent three nights at a cave in Death Valley, along the Cotton Wood Canyon trail. It is a dry wash trail following a sandstone slot canyon up to higher elevation. Every evening, the bats would literally swarm out of the cave over our heads in search of insects. It was exciting to watch them fly in seemingly perfect synchronization leaving the cave. I took some cool photographs of them against colorful vertical sand stone canyon walls. It it is sad to think that they are in peril. I’m hoping the very dry environment will serve as a boundary for this fungal infection and spare our local species. Given that winter temperatures rarely drop below 55 deg. F, I doubt they are a hibernating. Any projections on expected impact on desert Southwest species?

]]>