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Missouri Natural Areas, Volume 13, Number 1, 2013

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Missouri Natural Areas, Volume 13, Number 1, 2013 2013 NaMItuSSOURIral AreVolume 13,as Number 1 N E W S L E T T E R “…identifying, designating, managing and restoring the best remaining examples of natural communities and geological sites encompassing the full spectrum of Missouri’s natural heritage” NATURAL AREAS FEATURED IN THIS ISSUE Caves & Karst in Missouri Dark Hollow Ha Ha Tonka Karst hen the reality of white-nose syndrome began to sink Ha Ha Tonka Oak Woodland Sunklands in with the first reports from New York of significant Pipestem Hollow W Alley Spring bat die-offs in 2007, biologists across North America Prairie Hollow Gorge started looking for a cure for this deadly disease caused by a Ball Mill Resurgance Powder Mill Cave previously unknown fungus, Pseudogymnoascus destructans. Since Jack’s Fork Big Spring Pines that time, the caving community and biologists alike have come Tunnel Bluff Woods together to document, monitor, and protect caves and cave- Grand Gulf dwelling fauna. Across the country, thousands of cave gating Edmund Tucker pictured with lighting help from SEMO Grotto projects have occurred with funding from government and non-governmental entities. With white-nose syndrome now documented from Missouri, state, federal, non-governmental agencies, grottoes, and the rest of the caving community have Photo by Chad McCain worked assiduously to document bat populations and to track the occurrence of the disease in the state. The feature articles in this issue of the Missouri Natural Areas Newsletter focus on Missouri caves and karst, with an emphasis on our bat populations that are now more than ever in grave peril. The authors of this issue are leaders in the field of cave ecology, and working on the front lines of monitoring, cave protection, and documentation. The Missouri Natural Areas Committee would like to thank the authors for sharing their knowledge and experience. Readers are encouraged to contact them with any questions. — Allison J. Vaughn, editor rarely, if at all. White-nose syndrome has not been found to affect humans or any other animals. White-nose Syndrome Over the last three winters, bat and cave biologists from the Missouri Department of Conservation, alongside partner agencies, in Missouri and the organizations, and volunteers, have increased our survey efforts in caves and mines throughout the state as a part of the white-nose Future of Missouri’s syndrome surveillance effort, while also improving our knowledge of Missouri’s winter bat population. In May 2010, presence of Pseudo- gymnoascus destructans was documented, through genetic identifica- Bat Populations tion, in two counties in Missouri. We expected to see clear signs of By Anthony G. Elliott the disease (visible fungal growth) sometime during our 2010–2011 surveys, and hoping that we would not see mortality that winter. hite-nose syndrome is a recently discovered disease However, surveys of 29 hibernation sites during winter 2010–2011 in bats that has decimated hibernating populations did not detect any occurrences of the disease or fungus. in many sites of the northeastern United States, During the winter of 2011–2012, we surveyed a total of 36 caves causingW mortality rates up to 99% at infected sites. White-nose and mines throughout the state and again were expecting to see syndrome affects bats while they are hibernating, causing un- signs of the disease. As late February approached, while surveying usual amounts of activity, depletion of necessary fat reserves, caves in the southeastern portion of Missouri closest to confirmed and possibly disturbance of water balance. Incidences of the white-nose syndrome positive sites, we did not find evidence of the disease have spread out from the state of New York since its disease. I began to hope that we might make it through another discovery there in February, 2007. Strong scientific evidence winter without mortality. suggests that the causative agent (a previously unknown fungus, On March 14, 2012, I was in the lead as we crawled through the Pseudogymnoascus destructans) was introduced into the United small entrance area into a Lincoln County cave. When the cave States sometime prior to 2006 and began infecting a naïve, highly opened up slightly, it allowed me to sit up on a small ledge where susceptible bat population. After the disease was described in I came face-to-face with a little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus). It was the U.S., scientists confirmed that European bats can exhibit only a small spot on the bat’s muzzle, but the white, fuzzy, fungal- symptoms of white-nose syndrome, but mortality occurs only growth that is the classic presentation (and source of the name) of Figure 1. Bat White-nose Syndrome (WNS) Occurrence by County/District (or portions thereof) as of 9/17/2013 Occurrence of Bat White-nose Syndrome as of 9/17/2013 Map by Cal Butchkoski, Pennsylvania Game Commission Feb. 2006: First detected in Schoharie Co., NY Mortality: Winter 2006–2007 Fall/Winter/Spring 2 0 0 7 –2008: Confirmed 2 0 0 8 –2009: Confirmed Suspect 2009–2010: Confirmed Suspect 2010–2011: Confirmed Suspect 2 0 1 1 –2012: Confirmed Suspect 2012–2013: Confirmed Suspect 100 50 1000 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1,000 Miles *Confirmed: Confirmed by State/Province. (Outline color=suspect year) *Suspect: WNS symptoms reported but not confirmed by State/Province. 0 200100 400 600 800 1,000 1,200 1,400 1,600 1,800 Kilomoters 2 Missouri Natural Areas Newsletter • Vol. 13, No. 1, 2013 tors such as snakes, owls, and raccoons prey upon them. In some caves bats are a major source of nutrients that develop through their droppings, or guano. But it is their intrinsic value to biodi- versity in Missouri that drives biologists to seek a way to protect and maintain our thriving bat populations throughout the state Photo by Shelly Colatskie and North America. The primary management action that has been implemented to slow the spread of white-nose syndrome is to reduce the pos- sibility that humans are disturbing hibernating bats, which can exacerbate the disease or inadvertently spread Pseudogymnoascus destructans. Conservation partners throughout Missouri have taken proactive steps to address this vector of disturbance. Part- The first case of visible white-nose syndrome encountered in Missouri ners with a need to enter caves or handle bats have learned the white-nose syndrome was clearly visible. My stomach sank. We new reality of decontamination associated with these activities. sampled the individual for submission to the laboratory. Two days Typically, as cave biologists, we wear disposable coveralls when later, I received pictures of two tri-colored bats (Perimyotis subflavus) entering caves, even though these coveralls are not designed to from a second cave located within a mile of the first one, both bats withstand crawling and climbing that is often necessary for cave exhibiting more extensive visible fungal growth. I was certain that exploration. Gating of important caves to reduce unauthorized these would be confirmed positive cases in two different caves, which entry into these sites is another step taken to address this threat. meant that my hope of discovering an isolated case of white-nose Major cave gating projects have occurred on lands owned or syndrome was unrealistic. The National Wildlife Health Center managed by the US Forest Service, National Park Service, Mis- in Madison, Wisconsin confirmed that white-nose syndrome was souri Department of Conservation, The Nature Conservancy, affecting all three of these individuals. These infected bats served Missouri Department of Natural Resources as well as privately as the first confirmed cases of the actual disease in Missouri, and, owned lands. In addi- more significantly, west of the Mississippi River. tion to serving as impor- tant contributions to the In winter 2012–2013, we documented several new cases of battle against white-nose white-nose syndrome with visible fungal growth in Crawford, syndrome as an effort to Franklin, and Washington Counties. While the Lincoln County protect bats from human cases were discovered in minor hibernation sites, it was docu- disturbance, these gates Photo by Shelly Colatskie mented that certain major hibernacula used by endangered gray protect additional cave and Indiana bats — as well as most other cave hibernating bat resources that are often species found in Missouri — harbored the disease. Unfortu- damaged by unauthor- nately, there is every reason to expect documented cases of this ized visitors to caves. disease to continue spreading throughout our state over the next several winters. At the time of this writing, we have not We continue working witnessed mortality due to white-nose syndrome in Missouri, with an impressive ar- but it is likely just a matter of time. ray of federal, state and international partners Over a year has passed since I saw that first little white spot in to protect bat popula- the glare of my headlamp and I am still trying to come to grips tions from white-nose with what this may mean for the future of Missouri’s bat popula- syndrome. The coopera- tion. I try to maintain hope that the resilience of nature will allow tion is rewarding, but the some of our cave hibernating bats to survive, but I know that we reward we are all hoping have some very vulnerable populations. Most of the Indiana bat for is successful imple- population in Missouri hibernates in a small number of important mentation of mitigation sites, and if white-nose syndrome impacts those sites heavily, the or control measures that Indiana bat population is in grave danger of extirpation. will reduce the impact of Cave gate construction in spring 2012 at If white-nose syndrome impacts Missouri’s cave-hibernating bat this disease. Currently, an important bat hibernaculum species at levels similar to those seen in the northeastern United there is no known cure States, it could have significant ecological and economic impacts.
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