title: White-nose syndrome survivors do not exhibit frequent arousals associated with Pseudogymnoascus destructans infection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  White-nose syndrome (WNS) has devastated bat populations in North America, with millions of bats dead. WNS is associated with physiological changes in hibernating bats, leading to increased arousals from hibernation and premature consumption of fat reserves. However, there is evidence of surviving populations of little brown myotis (Myotis lucifugus) close to where the fungus was first detected nearly ten years ago.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We examined the hibernation patterns of a surviving population of little brown myotis and compared them to patterns in populations before the arrival of WNS and populations at the peak of WNS mortality. Despite infection with Pseudogymnoascus destructans, the causative fungal agent, the remnant population displayed less frequent arousals from torpor and lower torpid body temperatures than bats that died from WNS during the peak of mortality. The hibernation patterns of the remnant population resembled pre-WNS patterns with some modifications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data show that remnant populations of little brown myotis do not experience the increase in periodic arousals from hibernation typified by bats dying from WNS, despite the presence of the fungal pathogen on their skin. These patterns may reflect the use of colder hibernacula microclimates by WNS survivors, and/or may reflect differences in how these bats respond to the disease.
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA 17837 USA.
authors.forename: Thomas Mikael
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Lilley
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA 17837 USA.
authors.forename: Joseph Samuel
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Department of Biosciences, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Science, Metapopulation Research Centre, University of Helsinki, Viikinkaari 1, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Lasse
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ruokolainen
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA 17837 USA.
authors.forename: Elisabeth Jeannine
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA 17837 USA.
authors.forename: Cali Ann
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA 17837 USA.
authors.forename: Spencer Mead
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Schell
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA 17837 USA.
authors.forename: Kenneth Alan
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Field
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA 17837 USA.
authors.forename: DeeAnn Marie
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Reeder
keywords: Hibernation; Myotis lucifugus; Periodic arousals; Pseudogymnoascus destructans; Survival; Torpor; White-nose syndrome