SOUTHWESTERN BATS AND THEIR EXTERNAL BACTERIA

With about 30 bat species, the Southwest United States has the largest diversity of bat. About half of the species hibernate, making them susceptible to white-nose syndrome (WNS), caused by the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans. Previous studies in the American Southwest of the external surfaces of bats have shown the bats to possess Actinobacteria capable of anti-fungal properties against P. destructans in laboratory settings. This study aims to expand research sites to southeastern Colorado and northeastern New Mexico, one possible gateway for P. destructans to enter the Southwest. The results of this study document new records of occurrences of bat species and their external bacteria in a pre white-nose syndrome environment. Additionally we provide information about the Streptomyces occurring on bats in this area.