Dr. Sewall wins grant to study bat response to an emerging disease

Dr. Sewall has won a competitive grant to investigate a disease of hibernating bats known as white-nose syndrome, which has spread to colonies in dozens of states and several Canadian provinces, causing severe die-offs of many bat colonies in the affected area.  The disease is caused by a newly-described fungus known as Pseudogymnoascus destructans (formerly Geomyces destructans), which reduces the capacity of bats to survive the hibernation period, leading in some cases to mass mortality events and bat population decline.  The objectives of the grant will be to improve understanding of (1) the effects of this emerging disease on populations of hibernating bat species, (2) correlates of bat susceptibility to the disease, and (3) management strategies needed to address this disease and conserve bat populations.  The study will focus on Pennsylvania’s bat species, but the research will have implications for bat conservation well beyond this state.  The grant is entitled “White-nose syndrome and Pennsylvania’s bat populations: Statewide statistical analysis to understand disease impacts and inform management of hibernating bat species,” and it has been funded by the Pennsylvania Game Commission.