International bat conference coming to Scranton

White Nose fungal organism to be revealed?

By SANDY LONG

NORTHEAST REGION — Just as migratory bats are departing from the Northeast region, approximately 350 bat researchers, scientists and students will descend on a conference devoted solely to bat issues in Scranton, PA. Among the presentations will be a special session devoted to White Nose Syndrome, which could include the identification of the fungal pathogen believed to play a role in the life-threatening disease.

For the first time, the North American Symposium on Bat Research (NASBR) will land in Pennsylvania at the University of Scranton from October 22 through 25. Bat expert and University of Scranton professor Dr. Gary Kwiecinski is organizing the event, which in recent years has been held in Mexico and North Carolina.

According to Kwiecinski, the session on White Nose Syndrome will be presented by New York Department of Conservation’s (DEC) mammal specialist for the Endangered Species Unit, Al Hicks, and other experts. It is expected to address the latest findings related to the perplexing die-off of thousands of bats in the Northeast region. For unknown reasons, bats are depleting their fat reserves before hibernation periods end. Motivated by starvation, bats leave their roosts early only to discover a winter landscape devoid of insects.

The die-offs were first observed in January 2007 near Albany, NY, where approximately 11,000 bats from four affected caves died. Evidence of the disease has since been confirmed in other states and is expected to continue to spread. While suspected in Pennsylvania, the presence of White Nose Syndrome has not yet been confirmed.

DEC pathologist Dr. Ward Stone has spent many hours researching the cold-loving fungus and predicts that its identification is forthcoming within the next month. “We can reproduce the organism, which thrives in cold months when the hibernating bats are in torpor and their body temperature is just above freezing,” he said. “We’re not seeing it in the summer when the bats are warm and are cleaning themselves.”

Another special symposium session will focus on wind energy and bats. Placement of windmills on ridge tops used by bats as migratory flyways factors into the impact on bats, which can die due to pulmonary edema. “They’re not being killed by the blades, but by the low pressure systems created by the windmills,” explained Kwiecinski. “Bats have high-pressure circulatory systems. When they are sucked into a low-pressure system, it blows out their lungs.”

Other sessions will address bat management in Pennsylvania as well as bat ecology, morphology, genetics, evolution, physiology, behavior, foraging strategies, flight techniques and more.

While intended primarily for bat researchers, scientists and students, interested members of the public are welcome to attend. Seating is limited and registration is available at nasbr.org. The site includes a full schedule of conference sessions.