From Wind Farms to White-Nose Syndrome: Challenges for the Conservation of Manitoba Bats

Manitoba is home to 6 species of insect-eating bats which provide important ecosystem services and contribute to mammalian diversity in the province. The recent emergence of white-nose syndrome (WNS) in eastern North America represents an urgent threat to the three Manitoba species which hibernate during winter while industrial-scale wind energy development presents a conservation challenge for our other three species (which migrate). In particular, WNS is now considered to have caused the most rapid wildlife population declines in recorded history and could cause extinction of the little brown bat, currently Manitoba’s most common bat. Dr Willis will talk about the biology of these fascinating, misunderstood mammals and discuss research being done by his group to address both of these conservation issues.