By: Melissa B. Meierhofer
Why should you care about bats?
Did you know that bats are able consume more than 70%
of their body weight worth of insects in one night? Species like the Mexican
free-tailed bat are a force in numbers; a colony of millions can eat an
estimated 250 tons of insects every night. Insectivorous bats, like the
Mexican free tailed bat, contribute important ecosystem services to our
environment. Of the 33 species of bats in Texas 30 are insectivorous and they
consume various insects including pesky mosquitos and destructive corn earworm
(Helicoverpa zea). As efficient
insect consumers bats greatly reduce the number of insect pests. Other bat species in Texas, like the Mexican long-nosed and Mexican
long-tongued, are nectarivores (nectar eaters) and are pollinators of the agave
and the saguaro cactus.
White-nose syndrome in bats
White-nose
syndrome (WNS) is a disease fatal to bats. In 2006 the disease, caused by the
fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd), was found in caves in
the northeastern U.S. The fungus is not native to the U.S. and is believed to
have come from Europe. It has since decimated bat populations mainly in the
eastern United States by causing bats to wake more frequently during hibernation
and as a result bats quickly run through their energy reserves. Cave
environments are most supportive of the fungus; it thrives in temperatures
between 2-20°C and in high relative humidity. Since its arrival in 2006 the
disease has progressed, following the cave system, at approximately 200 miles
per year and has currently been documented in 28 states. However, humans are
capable of spreading the fungus and this may be the case for the documented
county in Washington State. Although white-nose syndrome is not a threat to
human health, it has negative impacts on human crops and the economy. If bat
populations continue to decline, the agricultural economy could suffer
immensely from increased crop damage and increased costs for pesticides. While
the disease has not currently spread to Texas, the fungus has been found as
close as Arkansas and Northeast Oklahoma and has the potential to reach Texas
within the next few years.
In
the hopes to better understand WNS and how it may impact Texas, the Texas
A&M Institute of Renewable Natural Resources has dedicated a team headed by
Melissa B. Meierhofer to monitor bat populations throughout the state. Part of
their job is to monitor closely for the presence of Pd in winter bat
roosts, known as hibernacula. These roosts including caves, bridges, and
tunnels occur throughout Texas, on both public and private lands. The team has
recorded temperatures cold enough to support the Pd fungus in several Texas
caves, but no fungus has been detected.
Would
you like to help monitor WNS in Texas? You can help the research effort by
sharing your local knowledge of the landscape. If you know of places (e.g.
caves, mines, bridges) or own a property where you have seen bats in the
winter/early spring, please contact us here: mbm030@tamu.edu