White-Nose Syndrome in bats:
Winter arousal study

Exploring the Connections Between Arousal Patterns of Hibernating Bats and White Nose Syndrome: a Multi-State Study of Winter Arousal Activity in Northeastern Little Brown Bats. Dr. DeeAnn Reeder, Bucknell University (Principal Investigator)

The objective of this project is to determine if the hibernating patterns of bats affected with White Nose Syndrome are disrupted. The general hypothesis is that arousal patterns in affected bats are altered in some way so as to cause these bats to utilize fat reserves at a greater rate than unaffected bats. Biologists from West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, New York, Vermont and Michigan are monitoring little brown bats at affected sites, suspected sites and control sites during the winter of 2008 to 2009 by placing tiny data loggers or radio transmitters on the backs of hibernating bats. These instruments record the bat’s body temperatures and will provide information on when and for how long bats arouse during the hibernation period. Hibernation patterns will be analyzed in terms of the total number of arousals, the frequency of arousals, the length of arousals, the time interval between arousals, peak arousal temperatures and torpor temperatures.