Fat Bats and Climate Change?
Did you know that bats are going extinct? As of right now, “Model predictions for Myotis lucifugusin northeastern US predict 99% probability of functional extirpation by 2026” stated the 2018 report by The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Myotis lucifugus also known as “little brown bat,” is a species of bat in America that has been affected by the disastrous white-nose syndrome scientifically known as the fungus called Pseudogymnoascus destructans.
So, what do fat bats — which uncoincidentally is the title of this article — have to do with anything? Let me tell you why America will now need to help the little brown bats embrace being overweight as a survival technique of the species.
In the article “Higher Fat Stores Contribute to Persistence of Little Brown Bat Populations with White-Nose Syndrome” (2019) published by the Journal of Animal Ecology, their findings note that the bat population in 2016, compared to a decade previously — had increased their weight, while also showing a decrease in infection.
Thus, the bats that were fatter than the other leaner bats were able to survive the hibernation period because they didn’t run out of energy stores as quick. They were able to survive into the spring where they could once again regain new energy stores that are not available to them during winter.
Further information from the previously mentioned article also describes that those increased fat stores from bats “…could reduce WNS mortality by 58%-70%.” The bats are able to resist the infection, and have found a way to try to adapt to their surroundings, and diseases. Humans can aid the bats in their survival by increasing insect growth which will create more food sources and availability to bats in order to gain weight — increasing their chances for survival.
However, being overweight is not a guaranteed survival technique for these little bats.
As such, some new techniques to stop the infection of white nose syndrome are currently in production. The Department of the Interior released a report through the U.S. Geological Survey that detailed a new vaccine in the making that could help bats survive by producing higher immunity amongst fungal infections such as the fungus that causes white nose syndrome.
Two updates regarding white nose syndrome have been released from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, as well as Bat Conservation International in May 2019. These updates explain the further spread, and potential species in Texas that are now at risk, such as the tri-colored bat, cave myotis, and Mexican free-tailed bat.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department stated that unfortunately, the fungus that causes white nose syndrome has spread throughout the state, and has now been found in “…22 sites in 16 counties, 11 of which were new.” Currently, the symptoms of white nose syndrome continue to be undetectable amongst the tri-colored and Mexican free-tailed bats that had been hosts to the fungus in those specific areas. However, some unfortunate news appears as the future may continue to be bleak for bats such as these ones. Though the symptoms and deaths due to white nose syndrome are not showing as yet — they most likely will in the near future.
Bat Conservation International explained in their report that the fungus has now been found in Bracken Cave Preserve which houses millions of Mexican free-tailed bats. Scientists hope that since the Mexican free-tailed bats migrate south in the winter, that they won’t be affected as much as the little brown bat, and tri-colored bat. Though some Mexican free-tailed bats choose not to migrate — those that do stay in their original caves tend to hunt insects and continue to replenish their energy stores. Through this, the hope is that the bats will maintain their weight and survive the winter long enough for the spring season to commence where warmer weather, and increased food stores will be available.
Unfortunately, this report also states that tri-colored bats and cave myotis bats could be new victims in the Texas area due to their winter habits. Since these bat species hibernate during winter, their energy stores will end up being depleted — and they will join the little brown bats in a continuous decline of the species.
So, how does this have anything to do with climate change? Well, have you thought about how certain temperatures contribute to the survival of the fungus that causes white nose syndrome?
Due to Arctic Oscillation, the movement of air — also known as wind — from a low-pressure environment to a high-pressure environment and vice versa, temperature fluctuations occur that create a warmer or colder environment. Unfortunately, due to climate change, the effects of a long-term warming trend affect the extreme changes in weather in that we see high unbearable summer heat to frigid cold winters. As such, besides the issue of importing foreign species and pathogens into environments where they should not be — we are seeing how due to climate change, such pathogens that have been imported such as Pseudogymnoascus destructans are thriving in a non-native place due to the weather changes.
The cold weather is allowing the fungus to thrive, and it will only continue to do so because of the climate change issue that we are facing. Most likely, I predict that the fungus will unfortunately spread out to other states soon, and more bat species will become susceptible to the infection. Our irresponsibility through capitalistic pursuits has caused not only the little brown bat species to start to die out — but our own species as well.
Right now, things look bleak for many of our bat species. Besides trying to continue research and creating medicine for bats — we can hope for their survival, and understand our own responsibility in the matter. We need to attack the issue of climate change now to prevent the further destruction of Earth.
We can’t change what we have done in the past, but we can change what we do in the present, and the future.
