| Survey/Project Number: | 1070 Total No. of Sites: 0 |
| Survey/Project Name: | Health survey of 2 subspecies of bent-wing bats (Miniopterus schreibersii) |
| Abstract: | This project involves a health survey of two subspecies of bent-wing bats (Miniopterus schreibersii bassannii and oceanensis). The project compares the health status of two bent-wing bat subspecies to investigate the role that disease may have on the decline of the Southern Bent-wing Bat (listed as critically endangered in 2007), compared to the Eastern Bent-wing Bat, which has a stable population. The populations involved in this study are: 1. Southern Bent-wing Bat maternity colonies at Bat Cave, Naracoorte Caves National Park, South Australia, and at Starlight Cave, Warrnambool, Victoria. 2. Eastern Bent-wing Bat colonies in Victoria at Yarra Valley and Gippsland. Both subspecies and their environment are being sampled for Pseudogymnoascus destructans, the fungus that causes White-nose syndrome, which has killed millions of bats in North America, and other potentially-pathogenic fungi. A risk analysis for the introduction of P. destructans into Australia is underway. Baseline haematology and biochemistry reference-ranges are being established for the two subspecies. Blood smears are being examined for Polychromophilus melanipherus, a bent-wing bat blood parasite, and ectoparasites are being collected and identified. Bats are also being tested for Australian-bat lyssavirus, filovirus, coronavirus, herpesvirus and paramyxovirus to determine if they could be potential reservoirs for these emerging pathogens, and if the presence of these viruses could be negatively affecting the bat populations. |
| Start Date: | 06/03/2015 End Date: 06/03/2018 |
| Survey Type: | Vegetation and Fauna |
| Study Area Description: | Naracoorte Caves National Park, co-ordinates 37.0904-S, 140.8298-E |
| Objectives | |||
| Vegetation: | Refer to Abstract. | ||
| Fauna: | Refer to Abstract. | ||
| Methodology | |||
| Vegetation: | *** No vegetation methodology recorded | ||
| Fauna: | Several sampling trips are being undertaken for each season for each population of bent-wing bats included in the study. Sampling trips are occurring in autumn (April or May), prior to bats going into hibernation, during winter hibernation (July or August) and immediately after hibernation (September or October). Individuals are caught as they fly out of the caves/mines, using harp traps set at dusk at the entrances. Traps are monitored continually with the bats either left in the harp trap bag, or transferred in small numbers to cloth bags, prior to sampling. All bats are aged, sexed, measured, weighed and swabbed. Two swabs are taken from the muzzle and wings of each bat. One swab is tested molecularly for the presence of fungi. Any positive samples are submitted for sequencing. The second swab is also screened by molecular methods for the presence of P. destructans. In addition, we will collect soil and guano samples, and swab walls beneath bats to screen for the presence of P. destructans. Bats are examined for the presence of external parasites. Any parasites detected are removed and identified in the laboratory. Blood is being collected from a subset of bats for haematology and biochemistry. Tests include performing total white blood cell counts to assess immune function and total red blood cell counts to check for anaemia. Biochemistry tests will assess muscle, liver and kidney function. A blood smear is made from blood collected from bats sampled for haematology. The smears are examined for the presence of Polychromophilus melanipherus, a blood parasite that may cause anaemia. The oral cavity of all bats is being swabbed, and the saliva examined to determine if the bats are shedding virus. All swabs are examined by molecular methods for filovirus, herpesvirus, coronavirus, Australian bat lyssavirus, and paramyxovirus. Any positive results are sequenced to determine their identity. Following sampling all bats are released at the point of capture. Any freshly dead bats that are found are taken back to the laboratory for necropsy. | ||
| Data Distribution Rules: | Public Dataset |
| Project Basis: | Fauna : Pest/Diseases/Threats - control project |
| Information Authority: | University of Melbourne |