Molly Simonis and colleagues from Wright State University and Ohio University presented interesting research at the 34th annual Ohio Physiological Society conference on their work looking at the physiological effects of exposure to white-nose syndrome.
White-nose syndrome is caused by the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans and has been blamed for killing millions of bats in North America. This new study seeks to examine whether pregnant female Eptesicus fuscus bats, a species less susceptible to death induced by the fungus, show any signs of changes in reproduction that could lead to population declines down the road.
Check out this prior post on white nose syndrome for more information about the disease: White nose syndrome – What do we know now?
Source:
Ohio Physiological Society
Molly Simonis, Lynn Hartzler, Greg Turner, Michael Scafini, Joseph Johnson, Megan Ruiz. Body Mass of Pregnant Eptesicus fuscus is Diverging with Long-term Exposure to Pseudogymnoascus destructans.
- Antarctic icefish do not tolerate rising temperatures
- New research on how treefrogs protect their cells during freezing
Categories: Hibernation and Hypoxia, Physiology on the Road, Reproduction and Development
Tags: American Physiological Society, bat, fungus, North America, pregnancy, white nose syndrome, WNS
Life Lines by Dr. Dolittle 