Bats Facing Regional Extinction in Northeastern US from Rapidly Spreading White-Nose Syndrome

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/08/100805142945.htm
                According to this article, a new infectious disease known as white-nose syndrome has rapidly been spreading across the northeastern US. This disease has killed millions of bats, and researchers predict that it may cause a regional extinction of the bat species that was once so common. This disease was first discovered in 2006. Now it is spreading quickly and is affecting 7 bat species. It is one of the most common species in North America, and if the disease continues to spread and death rates are high as they have been over the past 4 years, a regional extinction will most likely occur. Researchers have said that “bats perform valuable ecosystem services that matter for both the environments they live in and have tangible benefits to humans as well.” These bats have been insect-eating species, and they can “consume their body weight in insects every night including some consumption of pest insects.” These bats matter for insect control or else our environment will be full of insects that may be harmful to us but not to the bats. Later on, they found out that this disease is associated white fungus that grows on the bats’ noses, ears, and arms. It disrupts the bats’ hibernation, causing them to awaken early and lose fat reserves, which leads to early death. The researchers are 99% sure of the regional extinction if this continues to happen within the next 16 years. They also said it is possible that this deadly fungus came from Europe through human trade or travel. The same fungus has been found on the hibernating bat species in Europe.


                This article relates to science/biology concepts since it’s talking about how this white-nose syndrome disease affects the bat species and will cause them to regional extinction. It shows that researchers need to find a solution as soon as possible before the bats really go into extinction. Not only is the disease causing high death rates for the bates, it will also affect us in the future. They are insect controllers to us, meaning we depend on them in a way, so that our environment won’t be filled with harmful insects.

                This information was put in the newspaper because we care about the extinction of the bat species that was once so common and healthy. It was also a population of an abundant and widely distributed species. Also, without them, we could be having trouble in the future with the insects, and many of them may be harmful to us. Yet, it is so sad to see that they are about to face regional extinction by this newly infectious disease. Researchers aren’t even positively sure that the white fungus came from Europe, but they are working on it, so hopefully they can find a solution to this disaster. This is affecting the bat species, but could be affecting us in the future too; we wouldn’t no until it happens.