Die-off of bats is linked to new fungus

[n2doc]

Researchers don't know if mass deaths of bats in the Northeast is caused by the fungus, but it is present in the dead animals. The common name for the affliction is white-nose syndrome.
By Thomas H. Maugh II
2:58 PM PDT, October 30, 2008
Researchers have found a clue in the mysterious die-off of bats that has struck the northeastern United States -- a new fungus that so far seems to be present only in afflicted bats and in caves where the die-off has occurred.

"The fungus is in some way involved in causing the bats to starve to death," said biologist Thomas Tomasi of Missouri State University in Springfield. "They are burning up too many calories, at a rate faster than they can sustain."

Bat experts are not yet sure, however, if the fungus is the cause of the widespread deaths or is simply an opportunistic microorganism infecting animals that have already been weakened by some as yet unknown threat.

"Whether it is the primary cause or not, we still have to find out whether it is newly introduced or if there are other factors that need to be addressed," said biologist Merlin Tuttle, founder and president of Bat Conservation International.

The disease, which bears many striking similarities to the colony collapse disorder that has decimated honeybee colonies around the country, first appeared in a cave near Albany, N.Y., in the winter of 2006. It has since spread to at least three other states in the region.
more:
http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-bats31-2008oct31,0,1610757.story

[BrklynLiberal]

1. I hope this does nto spread to other areas before they can find the cause and cure.

You might be interested in this post if you have not already seen it..

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=115x174705

[KT2000]

2. Probably another case of

depressed immune system from various environmental insults and changes.