Data for: Sex-biased infections scale to population impacts for an emerging wildlife disease

Demographic factors are fundamental in shaping infectious disease
dynamics. Aspects of populations that create structure, like age and sex,
can affect patterns of transmission, infection intensity and population
outcomes. However, studies rarely link these processes from individual to
population-scale effects. Moreover, the mechanisms underlying demographic
differences in disease are frequently unclear. Here, we explore sex-biased
infections for a multi-host fungal disease of bats, white-nose syndrome,
and link disease-associated mortality between sexes, the distortion of sex
ratios, and the potential mechanisms underlying sex differences in
infection. We collected data on host traits, infection intensity, and
survival of five bat species at 42 sites across seven years. We found
females were more infected than males for all five species. Females also
had lower apparent survival over winter and accounted for a smaller
proportion of populations over time. Notably, female-biased infections
were evident by early hibernation and likely driven by sex-based
differences in autumn mating behavior. Male bats were more active during
autumn which likely reduced replication of the cool-growing fungus. Higher
disease impacts in female bats may have cascading effects on bat
populations beyond the hibernation season by limiting recruitment and
increasing the risk of Allee effects.