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White-Nose Syndrome

photo of a bat from the paper

Topic

  • Microbiology
  • Pathogens & Disease
  • Ecology
  • Populations

Resource Type

  • Activities
  • Phenomenal Images

Level

High School — GeneralHigh School — AP/IB
Saved By
13 Users
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View in Spanish

Description

This activity explores images of bats with an infectious fungal disease, which serve as phenomena for learning about population dynamics and disease impacts.

White-nose syndrome (WNS) is a fungal disease that affects bat species in North America. Bats infected with the fungus that causes WNS wake up from hibernation too early, leading them to use up their energy stores and even die from starvation when they cannot find any insects to eat. Because bats play an important role in ecosystems by controlling insect populations, WNS may have far-reaching negative effects. These images show a bat infected with WNS and a bat hibernaculum (hibernation location) after multiple years of its bats being infected.

The “Educator Materials” document includes background information and implementation suggestions for using the images as phenomena. The “Student Handout” includes the images and background information.

 

Student Learning Targets

  • Examine images of phenomena, make observations, and ask questions.

  • Collaborate with peers on ideas, ask questions that require higher levels of reasoning, and develop deeper understanding of concepts.

  • Predict and graph how WNS may affect the size of bat populations over time.

Estimated Time

Within one 50-minute class period.

Key Terms

fungus, graphing, hibernation, infectious disease, invasive species, little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus), population collapse, regional extinction

Primary Literature

Frick, Winifred F., Jacob F. Pollock, Alan C. Hicks, Katie E. Langwig, D. Scott Reynolds, Gregory G. Turner, Calvin M. Butchkoski, and Thomas H. Kunz. "An emerging disease causes regional population collapse of a common North American bat species." Science 329, 5992 (2010): 679–682. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1188594.


To access this article, set up a free AAAS account. An annotated version of the article is also available from Science in the Classroom.

Terms of Use

Please see the Terms of Use for information on how this resource can be used.

Accessibility Level (WCAG compliance)

PDF files meet criteria.

Version History

Date Published 12.17.18
Date Updated 05.20.22

NGSS (2013)

HS-LS2-2; SEP1

AP Biology (2019)

SYI-2.B, SYI-3.D; SP3

IB Biology (2016)

4.1, C.1, C.2, C.5

AP Environmental Science (2020)

Topic(s): 1.11, 3.8
Learning Objectives & Practices: ENG-1.D, EIN-1.C, SP1, SP2

IB Environmental Systems and Societies (2017)

2.1, 2.2

Common Core (2010)

ELA.WHST.9-12.9

Vision and Change (2009)

CC5; DP1

Materials

Figure 1 (JPG) 158 KB
Figure 2 (JPG) 264 KB
Educator Materials (PDF) 282 KB
Student Handout (PDF) 697 KB
Educator Materials - Español (PDF) 364 KB
Student Handout - Español (PDF) 386 KB

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