Press release

Spreading of fungus dangerous for bats in the Czech Republic and Slovakia

8. 11. 2010
Czech Republic are protected both by national laws and legislation of the European Union. Bats may not be killed without appropriate permits for any reason, including scientific investigation. And to obtain a permit, the scientist must provide a rigorous reason for killing bats,“ says Helena Jahelková, who represents the Czech Republic in the international organization for bat conservation, Eurobats. Massive die-off that has coincided with white-nose syndrome in the USA could be considered a valid reason for a limited number of culled bats. However, bats in Europe hibernate dramatically differently to those in North America. In Europe, hibernacula house small populations, the bats stay in small clusters or they hide alone in crevices in cave walls. Die-offs would be harder to spot in Europe.

„To reveal if bats die unobserved, we investigated long-term data of bat population surveys,“ says Doctor Tomáš Bartonička from the Masaryk University in Brno. „Statistical models for the greater mouse-eared myotis showed population increase since 1995. Data for the last two years are consistent with the prediction. Therefore, even if bats could die of geomycosis, population decline is not significant yet,“ say Professor Emil Tkadlec from Palacký University in Olomouc and Doctor Ondřej Májek from Masaryk University.

We know very little about the disease at the moment, but already, based on the knowledge we have, we should start implementing measures for bat conservation. The Czech and Slovak scientists suggest that cavers should use new clothing and equipment for expeditions to different continents. They should then dispose of all gear they used to enter the underground on the visited continent and never bring it home with the spores. In September, Eurobats issued a resolution that warns against the lethal fungal infection in bats and urges for increased awareness of the problem and its monitoring. The Czech Republic signed the resolution. „We cooperate with management of caves and protected areas where we found Geomyces destructans as the problem affects also show caves. Bats play an important role in the ecosystem, and they also have an economic value because they feed on insects. Preventing the spread of the dangerous pathogens is important for mankind,“ says Natália Martínková.

Bat species with confirmed Geomyces destructans infection in the Czech Republic and Slovakia:
Greater mouse-eared bat (Myotis myotis)
Bechstein’s myotis (Myotis bechsteinii)
Natterer’s bat (Myotis nattereri)
Whiskered myotis (Myotis mystacinus)

Bat species with confirmed Geomyces destructans infection elsewhere in Europe:
Greater mouse-eared bat (Myotis myotis)
Pond myotis (Myotis dasycneme)
Daubenton’s myotis (Myotis daubentonii)
Brandt’s myotis (Myotis brandtii)
Lesser mouse-eared myotis (Myotis oxygnathus)

Images:
All original figures from the below mentioned article are available for further use provided the article is properly cited. For additional information, see: Open-Access Licence

Contact:
Dr. Natália Martínková
Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Academy of Science, v.v.i.
Brno, Czech Republic
Tel: +420 606 124 586
Email: martinkova@ivb.cz


ČESKY \| ENGLISH
HOME NEWS AND PRESS RELEASE STRUCTURE OF IVB BOARD OF INSTITUTE AND SUPERVISORY BOARD RESEARCH DIRECTIONS AND PROJECTS STAFF PUBLICATIONS LIBRARY BIENNIAL REPORT FOLIA ZOOLOGICA CONFERENCE LECTURE HALL	Press release Spreading of fungus dangerous for bats in the Czech Republic and Slovakia 8. 11. 2010 Czech Republic are protected both by national laws and legislation of the European Union. Bats may not be killed without appropriate permits for any reason, including scientific investigation. And to obtain a permit, the scientist must provide a rigorous reason for killing bats,“ says Helena Jahelková, who represents the Czech Republic in the international organization for bat conservation, Eurobats. Massive die-off that has coincided with white-nose syndrome in the USA could be considered a valid reason for a limited number of culled bats. However, bats in Europe hibernate dramatically differently to those in North America. In Europe, hibernacula house small populations, the bats stay in small clusters or they hide alone in crevices in cave walls. Die-offs would be harder to spot in Europe. „To reveal if bats die unobserved, we investigated long-term data of bat population surveys,“ says Doctor Tomáš Bartonička from the Masaryk University in Brno. „Statistical models for the greater mouse-eared myotis showed population increase since 1995. Data for the last two years are consistent with the prediction. Therefore, even if bats could die of geomycosis, population decline is not significant yet,“ say Professor Emil Tkadlec from Palacký University in Olomouc and Doctor Ondřej Májek from Masaryk University. We know very little about the disease at the moment, but already, based on the knowledge we have, we should start implementing measures for bat conservation. The Czech and Slovak scientists suggest that cavers should use new clothing and equipment for expeditions to different continents. They should then dispose of all gear they used to enter the underground on the visited continent and never bring it home with the spores. In September, Eurobats issued a resolution that warns against the lethal fungal infection in bats and urges for increased awareness of the problem and its monitoring. The Czech Republic signed the resolution. „We cooperate with management of caves and protected areas where we found Geomyces destructans as the problem affects also show caves. Bats play an important role in the ecosystem, and they also have an economic value because they feed on insects. Preventing the spread of the dangerous pathogens is important for mankind,“ says Natália Martínková. Bat species with confirmed Geomyces destructans infection in the Czech Republic and Slovakia: Greater mouse-eared bat (Myotis myotis) Bechstein’s myotis (Myotis bechsteinii) Natterer’s bat (Myotis nattereri) Whiskered myotis (Myotis mystacinus) Bat species with confirmed Geomyces destructans infection elsewhere in Europe: Greater mouse-eared bat (Myotis myotis) Pond myotis (Myotis dasycneme) Daubenton’s myotis (Myotis daubentonii) Brandt’s myotis (Myotis brandtii) Lesser mouse-eared myotis (Myotis oxygnathus) Images: All original figures from the below mentioned article are available for further use provided the article is properly cited. For additional information, see: Open-Access Licence Contact: Dr. Natália Martínková Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Academy of Science, v.v.i. Brno, Czech Republic Tel: +420 606 124 586 Email: martinkova@ivb.cz