U.S. researchers say they have conclusive evidence that the fungus Geomyces destructans is the cause of the deadly white-nose syndrome that has taken a heavy toll on North American bat populations in recent years.

In a study published in the journal Nature, a coalition of scientific organizations reported that 100 percent of healthy brown bats exposed to the fungus while hibernating developed the mysterious ailment, which has killed more than 1 million cave-dwelling bats in the U.S. since it was first identified in 2006. In the northeastern U.S., scientists say white-nose syndrome has caused an 80-percent decline in bats. The latest research confirmed that G. destructans can be spread from infected bats to healthy bats through direct contact, said David Blehert, a microbiologist with the U.S. Geological Survey and one of the authors of the report.

But like most pathogens, he said, spore-producing fungi can be spread in numerous other ways. Consequently, he said, agencies will take careful precautions to limit human access to sensitive areas occupied by bats and restrict the movement of equipment among research sites.

Photo by USFWS Headquarters/flickr/Creative Commons

Reprinted with permission from Yale Environment 360