Southwestern bats and their external bacteria

Authors

Ernest W. Valdez, U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Department of Biology, MSC03 2020, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131Follow
Emily M. Johnson, Department of Biology, MSC03 2020, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131Follow
Edward W. Strach, Department of Biology, MSC03 2020, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131Follow
Patrick A. Lewis, Department of Biology, MSC03 2020, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131Follow
William C. Briggs, Department of Biology, MSC03 2020, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131Follow
Nicole A. Caimi, Department of Biology, MSC03 2020, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131Follow
Ara S. Winter, Bosque Ecosystem Monitoring Program, MSC03 2020, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131Follow
Jennifer J.M. Hathaway, Department of Biology, MSC03 2020, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131
Diana E. Northup, Department of Biology, MSC03 2020, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131Follow

Abstract

Bat species diversity within the United States is greatest in the Southwest, with approximately 30 species present. At least 16 of these bat species hibernate and are susceptible to white-nose syndrome (WNS), which is caused by the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans. Since 2006, millions of bats from 35 U.S. states and 7 Canadian provinces have died from WNS. In previous studies of external surfaces of bats sampled from southwestern states, Actinobacteria were detected that were shown to have antifungal properties against P. destructans in laboratory testing. These studies motivated us to expand our research to sites that represent possible gateways for P. destructans to enter the Southwest so that we could establish a baseline of bat microbiota before the arrival of WNS. We surveyed for the presence of bats and their external microbiota at 3 national parks and monuments located in southeastern Colorado and northeastern New Mexico. Our results document new occurrence records of bat species and their external bacteria at each sampling location. Additionally, we provide insight on the composition of bat external microbiota in the absence of P. destructans, while revealing information about the Streptomyces and other possible native defenses of bats against P. destructans at a gateway into the Southwest.


La diversidad de especies de murciélagos en Estados Unidos es mayor en el suroeste, con aproximadamente 30 especies presentes. Por lo menos 16 de estas especies de murciélagos hibernan y son susceptibles al syndrome de la nariz blanca (SNB), causado por el hongo Pseudogymnoascus destructans. Desde 2006, millones de murciélagos de 35 estados de Estados Unidos y siete provincias canadienses han muerto a causa del SNB. En estudios previos de superficies externas de murciélagos muestreados en los estados del sudoeste, se detectó Actinobacteria que muestra propiedades antifúngicas contra P. destructans en pruebas de laboratorio. Estos estudios nos motivaron a expandir nuestra investigación a sitios que representan posibles puntos de acceso para que P. destructans ingrese al suroeste, para establecer una línea de base de microbiota de murciélagos, antes de la llegada de SNB. Examinamos la presencia de murciélagos y su microbiota externa en tres parques nacionales y monumentos ubicados en el sudeste de Colorado y el noreste de Nuevo México. Nuestros resultados documentan nuevos registros de especies de murciélagos y bacterias en cada lugar de muestreo. Además, aportamos datos sobre la composición de la microbiota externa de murciélagos en ausencia de P. destructans, al mismo tiempo proporcionando información sobre Streptomyces y otras posibles defensas nativas de murciélagos contra P. destructans en una puerta de acceso al suroeste americano.

Recommended Citation

Valdez, Ernest W.; Johnson, Emily M.; Strach, Edward W.; Lewis, Patrick A.; Briggs, William C.; Caimi, Nicole A.; Winter, Ara S.; Hathaway, Jennifer J.M.; and Northup, Diana E. (2021) "Southwestern bats and their external bacteria," Western North American Naturalist: Vol. 81: No. 2, Article 6.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/wnan/vol81/iss2/6