Rutgers Save the Bats Project

Save the Bats Project

  • Home
  • White Nose Syndrome
    • European Origins
    • Microscopic Identification of P. destructans
    • Macroscopic Identification of P. destructans
    • Bats that are Affected
    • Ecological Effects
    • The Local Bat Populations
  • Research
    • Experiments
      • Testing multiple VOCs and Temperature against P. destructans
      • Large Scale Exposure of our VOC on P. destructans
      • The Effects of Spore Dilution and Quantity of VOC on the Growth of P. destructans
      • Using Fragrance Diffusers to Distribute our VOC
  • Publications
  • Who We Are
  • Acknowledgements

White Nose Syndrome

Pseudogymnoascus destructans, previously known as Geomyces destructans, is a fungal pathogen that causes the disease known as White nose syndrome (WNS)1.  P. destructans is a psychrophilic (cold-growing) ascomycete with an optimal growth range of 12.5–15.8°C2.  This fungus, whose preferable food source is a supply of fats, is often fatal to hibernating North American bats. Evidence of the fungus’ arrival in the United States was first documented in a photograph taken at Howes Cave, 52 km west of Albany, NY during the winter of 20063.

 

1Foley et al 2010, Verant et al 2012
2Verant et al 2012, Johnson et al 2013, Hoyt et al 2015, Gargas et al. 2009
3Gargas et al. 2009

Contact Us

Senior Scientist
Dr. Sally Padhi: padhi@aesop.rutgers.edu

Webdesign:
Scott Cevera: scott.cevera@rutgers.edu
Itamar Dias: itamarbraga@gmail.com

Copyright © 2021 Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution | webmaster@sebs.rutgers.edu | Log in