Remarkable fungal biodiversity on northern Belgium bats and hibernacula

ABSTRACT

Bats can be affected by fungal pathogens such as Pseudogymnoascus destructans, the causative agent of the white-nose syndrome. Their body surface can also be colonized by fungal commensals or carry transient fungal species and participate in their dispersal. In this study, 114 bat specimens belonging to seven species were sampled from various locations in northern Belgium. Culture-based methods revealed an important mycological diversity, with a total of 209 different taxa out of the 418 isolates. Overall, a mean of 3.7 taxa per bat was recorded, but significant differences were observed between sampling sites and seasons. The mycobiomes were dominated by cosmopolitan and plant-associated species, in particular from the genera Cladosporium, Penicillium, and Aspergillus. Other species known to be related to bats or their environment, such as Apiotrichum otae, were also retrieved. Sampling of hibernacula indicated that diverse fungal species can inhabit these sites, including a yet undescribed Pseudogymnoascus species, distinct from Ps. destructans, namely, Ps. cavicola.

KEYWORDS:

• Mycobiome
• Pseudogymnoascus cavicola
• Pseudogymnoascus destructans
• white-nose syndrome
• 1 new taxon

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors thank Y. Bastin, J. Claessens, E. De Vits, K. Goens, P. Lefevere, S. Roesems, and C. Verstraeten for technical assistance in the isolation, identification, and preservation of fungal isolates. The authors also thank the Bats Working Group of Natuurpunt for their collaboration during sampling, Dr. Cony Decock for providing access to DIC (differential interference contrast) microscopy equipment, and Dr. Sébastien Puechmaille for his helpful feedback. The critical and constructive feedback provided by the anonymous reviewers has greatly improved the quality of the article and was particularly appreciated.

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/00275514.2023.2213138

Additional information

Funding

This work was produced on behalf of the BCCM support action, funded by the Belgian State Federal Public Planning Service Science Policy (BELSPO), Belgian Federal Science Policy Office.