White-Nose Syndrome (WNS), a devastating disease of cave- and mine-hibernating bats, is caused by the fungus
Geomyces destructans.
The disease was discovered in 2006 in New York state, and has since
been spreading to encompass many of the important bat hibernacula of the
northeastern United States. The disease has continued to spread, with
recently confirmed WNS sites in Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama,
and Missouri.
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| Bats roosting in a southern Illinois hibernaculum, February 2012. Photo by Steve Taylor / Prairie Research Institute. | | |
Map of White-Nose Syndrome spread across North America
WNS has now been confirmed from four Illinois counties.
White-Nose Syndrome Research at the University of Illinois
Opportunities for studying North American fungal/microbial
communities both on bats and in a variety of cave habitats prior to the
arrival of WNS are diminishing. In Illinois, we found ourselves just
beyond the leading edge of where WNS had been suspected and confirmed,
and were able to secure funding that capitalizes on our geographical
position, allowing us to develop data on fungal and microbial
communities before and (should WNS be confirmed in Illinois, as is
anticipated) after invasion....
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