129AD618Q0008_Attachment_2_-_Performance_Work_Statement_Wildlife_Veterinary_Services.docx

Solicitation No. 129AD61810008 Wildlife Veterinarian Services

ATTACHMENT 2

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT

White-nose syndrome (WNS) has caused unprecedented death of multiple hibernating bat species across eastern North America during the past decade. However, several species exposed to the fungus show few signs of mortality, and apparent survivors remain in some of the most impacted groups. High variability in WNS disease effects among regions, species, and populations signals an opportunity to find and characterize natural strategies bats might have for surviving WNS. Our research focuses on two WNS survival hypotheses we recently proposed: 1) that survivors might simply be hibernating in the right places – ‘survival habitats’, and/or 2) that survivors might behave in ways that let them persist with disease – ‘survival behaviors’. Survival habitats may be hibernation sites where fungal growth in infected bats is naturally inhibited to a survivable degree. Survival behaviors may simply be particular ways that bats successfully budget and synchronize hibernation bouts. After seeing connections among hibernation microclimates, thermoregulation behaviors, and WNS mortality, we recently developed a modeling framework to quantify how hibernation humidity, temperature, fungal growth, bat arousal synchrony, and other host traits can interact non-linearly to explain differences in WNS susceptibility. We now use this framework to explore whether previously optimal microclimates for energy and water conservation in hibernating bats are now maladaptive because they are the very conditions ideal for growth of the WNS fungus, resulting in a trade-off between bat homeostasis and WNS susceptibility. We are also investigating whether hibernation behaviors change to enhance survival. To test these hypotheses we will use miniature, weatherproof data loggers that can be attached to the backs of bats and are capable of recording paired, hourly temperature and humidity readings for periods spanning many months. To date, no study has reliably measured humidity gradients across hibernacula for entire winters due to high rates of equipment failure. Measuring temperature and humidity on the backs of bats is preferable to measuring such conditions elsewhere in their hibernation environments, yet until recently devices light enough (< 0.55g) to be attached to the species of bats most affected by WNS were not available. We require veterinary services to attach devices to bats at areas throughout western North America. The veterinarian and team must have previous experience using sutures to attach devices to bats for durations of > 8 months. In addition, the veterinary team must be able to provide field technician support to assist with bat capture efforts in the field. Initial capture efforts will commence in September 2018. The primary period of suture attachment will occur during summer 2019 and device removal will occur during spring 2020. Availability of the veterinary team during each of these time periods is critical to the success of the project.