Obituary: Thomas Henry Kunz (1938–2020)

Dr. Thomas Henry Kunz, an internationally recognized expert on the ecology and behavior of bats and Professor at Boston University, passed away on April 13, 2020 in Dedham, Massachusetts, at the age of 81 as the result of complications from COVID-19. “Tom,” to his many friends and colleagues, was born on June 11, 1938 in Independence, Missouri, to William H. and Edna F. (Dornfeld) Kunz. He married Margaret Louise Brown on December 27, 1962 in Faucett, Missouri, Margaret’s hometown. Two children were born to Margaret and Tom—Pamela Kunz (Jeffrey Kwan) and David Kunz (Nicole, née D’Angelo), and five grandchildren. As a faculty member at Boston University, Tom progressed through the academic ranks becoming an Associate Professor in 1977 and Professor in 1984 in the Department of Biology. Although Kunz made major scientific contributions through his research and administrative leadership, his greatest impact on the future of chiropterology and of science in America may well be through the students whom he trained. He published prolifically--a total of 347 items--including books, book chapters, journal articles, book reviews, project reports, and popular articles. Includes lists of students trained, grants received, and a complete bibliography of published works, as well as a detailed description of his research program

Frequent Arousal from Hibernation Linked to Severity of Infection and Mortality in Bats with White-Nose Syndrome

White-nose syndrome (WNS), an emerging infectious disease that has killed over 5.5 million hibernating bats, is named for the causative agent, a white fungus (Geomyces destructans (Gd)) that invades the skin of torpid bats. During hibernation, arousals to warm (euthermic) body temperatures are normal but deplete fat stores. Temperature-sensitive dataloggers were attached to the backs of 504 free-ranging little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus) in hibernacula located throughout the northeastern USA. Dataloggers were retrieved at the end of the hibernation season and complete profiles of skin temperature data were available from 83 bats, which were categorized as: (1) unaffected, (2) WNS-affected but alive at time of datalogger removal, or (3) WNS-affected but found dead at time of datalogger removal. Histological confirmation of WNS severity (as indexed by degree of fungal infection) as well as confirmation of presence/absence of DNA from Gd by PCR was determined for 26 animals. We demonstrated that WNS-affected bats aroused to euthermic body temperatures more frequently than unaffected bats, likely contributing to subsequent mortality. Within the subset of WNS-affected bats that were found dead at the time of datalogger removal, the number of arousal bouts since datalogger attachment significantly predicted date of death. Additionally, the severity of cutaneous Gd infection correlated with the number of arousal episodes from torpor during hibernation. Thus, increased frequency of arousal from torpor likely contributes to WNS-associated mortality, but the question of how Gd infection induces increased arousals remains unanswered

Bat data : Michigan, Detroit

Mist-netting was the survey technique over ultrasound-sensing because netting allowed for the elimination of repeat captures, which was required for statistical independence, and allowed for the determination of age ratios, sex ratios, and reproductive condition. Nets were placed over the rivers, perpendicular to the direction of stream flow, and underneath overhanging branches in order to block as much of the flight corridor as possible

Temperature-sensitive datalogger deployment and retrieval (bat recapture) data, by study year, hibernacula site number (see Fig. 1), and sex for the 504 loggers deployed.

<p>Whether data were successfully downloaded from the logger and ultimately used in the analyses of this paper, are also described.</p>*<p># of males/# of females and date of deployment or retrieval of loggers.</p>**<p>bats were occasionally excluded from analyses due to incomplete data (e.g., BMI not recorded) or problems with downloaded data.</p>+<p>loggers only deployed mid-winter (January-March) as opposed to the full-hibernation season (November-March).</p

Torpor bout length (TBL) as a function of date of death and BMI.

<p>For the 12 bats that died from WNS, BMI at the beginning of hibernation was not related to TBL (3A), nor was BMI predictive of the date of death (3B). However, TBL significantly predicted date of death in WNS-affected bats that were found dead at the time of datalogger retrieval (3C) (r² = 0.58). Bats that died sooner were arousing to euthermic temperatures much more frequently than those that lived longer.</p

Distribution and spread of WNS throughout North America.

<p>Spread of WNS by hibernation season through the winter of 2010–2011 is shown along with locations of study sites, indicated by stars (see also <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0038920#pone-0038920-t001" target="_blank">Table 1</a>). Confirmed sites have been officially reported by each state or province based upon histological confirmation of infection with the fungal pathogen <i>Geomyces destructans</i> (Gd); bats from suspect sites have clinical signs of WNS but lack laboratory confirmation. The inset shows a little brown bat infected with Gd from site #1 in Vermont. This site was WNS confirmed in 2008–2009, when bats were studied. Bats from site # 2 in Pennsylvania were studied in 2008–2009 (for 8 weeks only in the spring), when no signs of WNS were present, in 2009–2010, when a single bat from this site showed infection with Gd without mass mortality and in 2010–2011, when bats in this site were heavily infected. Bats from site #3 in Pennsylvania were studied in 2008–2009 (no WNS), 2009–2010 (when Gd was noted but without mass mortality) and in 2010–2011, when bats in this site were heavily infected. Bats from site #4 in Pennsylvania were studied in 2009–2010 (for 8 weeks only in the spring), when bats were heavily infected. Bats from site #5 in West Virginia were studied in 2008–2009, when there was no evidence of Gd presence – which was also the case for bats from site #6 in Michigan, which were studied all three years.</p

Torpor bout length (TBL) as a function of WNS severity score.

<p>Wing tissue was assigned a disease severity score (SS0 to SS4) based upon histology, as follows: SS0 =  no fungi suggestive of WNS; SS1 =  occasional but limited superficial fungal infection; SS2 =  more extensive superficial fungal infection with limited invasion; SS3 =  more extensive fungal infection with frequent cupping erosions; and SS4 =  severe fungal infection with deep tissue invasion. Details of the scoring system can be found in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0038920#pone.0038920.s002" target="_blank">Appendix S2</a> and scores 1 through 4 were identified as WNS. Individual data points are shown as open circles, the median is indicated by a line. As severity of infection increased, torpor bout length significantly decreased (bats aroused more frequently from torpor.</p