We’ve discussed, on this blog, the detrimental effects White Nose Syndrome is having on bats in North America. But did you know that European bats are not dying from WNS? There is documentation that WNS may have occurred as early as 1983 on European bats. The first documented case of WNS in North America was in 2006. WNS, also known as Geomyces destructans, is present in eight European countries.
Researchers are now studying the differences between North American and European bats to find out how European bats are living with this mold. Several treatments have been proposed, to include a vaccine, an anti-fungal spray, and introducing bacteria to the bat that would protect them against the fungus.
Interested in teaching your students more about bats? Check out SSR's Vol 41 DVD, episode: Ecology - Bats: Creatures of the Night.
Source:
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/01/european-bats-resistant-to-deadly-fungus.php
No comments:
Post a Comment