Assessment of Culverts and Bridges as Roosting Habitat for Perimyotis subflavus (tri-colored bat) and Disease Transmission Corridors for Pseudogymnoascus destructans

<p><em>Pseudogymnoascus destructans</em> is an emerging fungal pathogen causing precipitous declines in North American bats due to the development of white-nose syndrome. Since 2006, 34 U.S. states and 7 Canadian provinces have confirmed the presence of <em>P. destructans</em>. Due to the rapid spread of <em>P. destructans </em>across the eastern United States, habitat characterization and disease monitoring has become vital to conserving remnant populations. Bats have been observed in multiple states using non-traditional habitat, such as interstate culverts, for roosting. To investigate their use of anthropogenic structures in coastal Georgia, an area where <em>P. destructans</em> has yet-to-be detected, comprehensive bridge and culvert surveys were conducted during the hibernation season. Over 140 swabs of bats and substrates were collected and analyzed for fungal presence using qPCR. Monthly culvert surveys were conducted to assess bat presence and collect culvert temperature data. Seasonal data further characterized optimal tri-colored bat habitat and, along with WNS surveys, identify suitable habitat for developing WNS. This data addresses the knowledge gap regarding the seasonality of bat use of bridges and culverts in coastal Georgia, <em>P. destructans</em> presence and burden, and the potential role bridge and culvert roosts play in disease transmission.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science in Integrative Biology (MSIB)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biology

Year dc:date.available

2019

Author dc:creator

• Lutsch, Kelly

Contributors dc:contributor

• Jonathan McMurry
• Christopher Sanford
• Thomas McElroy

• bat
• tri-colored bat
• culvert
• P. destructans
• disease
• coastal
• Georgia
• Biology
• Integrative Biology

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/integrbiol_etd/44

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu:integrbiol_etd-1045