Main Content
Mission: Pioneer research that has the potential to eradicate White Nose Syndrome
White Nose Syndrome is a devastating fungal disease that is sweeping the United States. Bats, particularly Little Brown Bats (Myotis lucifugus), have been hit the hardest, where population numbers for these ecologically important species is plummeting. Before time runs out for these precious creatures, our mission aims to find a scientific solution to corrupt the White Nose Syndrome cycle.
While our field team is monitoring evidence of White Nose Syndrome (WNS) in bats of the NYC area, our lab team is currently looking into the fungicidal and fungistatic effects of some volatile organic compounds on Pseudogymnoascus destructans, the fungus behind WNS. Through a series of volatile exposures, we are hopeful to find fumigation as a possible safe and effective biological means of eradicating the fungus.
Source: The Nature Conservancy.