Nature Communications (Jan 2021)

Continued preference for suboptimal habitat reduces bat survival with white-nose syndrome

  • Skylar R. Hopkins,
  • Joseph R. Hoyt,
  • J. Paul White,
  • Heather M. Kaarakka,
  • Jennifer A. Redell,
  • John E. DePue,
  • William H. Scullon,
  • A. Marm Kilpatrick,
  • Kate E. Langwig

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-20416-5
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12, no. 1
pp. 1 – 9

Abstract

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Temperature-dependent host–pathogen interactions may lead species to shift their thermal preferences under pathogen pressure. However, here the authors show that bats have not altered their microclimate preferences due to temperature-mediated mortality from white-nose syndrome, finding instead a sustained preference for warmer sites with high mortality.