A multi-year white-nose syndrome mitigation project at Black Diamond Tunnel

Pseudogymnoascus destructans, a psychrophilic fungus, has been identified as the etiological agent responsible for a deadly infection among North American bats known as white-nose syndrome (WNS). It is estimated at least 5.7 to 6.7 million bats have died from this disease since its discovery in the United States in 2006. Initial analyses have suggested agricultural impacts from the loss of bats may range from $3.7 to $53 billion per year. Its rapid spread and high mortality has made development of methods for treating and preventing WNS a significant objective for wildlife management agencies.

In an effort mitigate precipitous declines in bat populations due to WNS, a multi-year mitigation strategy has been designed for Black Diamond Tunnel in Clayton, Georgia, once the home to the largest known tri-colored bat population in Georgia. Currently, methodologies are being developed using antifungal volatile organic compounds that have demonstrated an in vitro ability to inhibit and reduce spore germination and mycelial growth through gaseous exposure. The compounds being evaluated are associated with naturally-occurring fungistatic soils and plant-associated microbes. Many compounds being evaluated are generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the FDA and used broadly in human foods and fragrances. During in vitro evaluation, VOC formulations have been observed to produce synergistic activities, increasing the likelihood for non-toxic effects at inhibitory concentrations. In addition to monitoring bat health and behavior, treatment applications will be accompanied by ecological surveys as well as air, water, and soil quality assessments to evaluate for non-target effects or environmental disruptions.