Extinctions In Near Time: Biodiversity Loss Since The Pleistocene

Did you hear that? That was the sound of the little brown bat - Myotis lucifugus. They’re everywhere on summer nights, and sometimes if you’re lucky, you’ll get to catch a glimpse of one as it chases mosquitoes through the trees. But go outside right now if you want to, because it’s possible that within the next sixteen years, you won’t be hearing more than a recording. The little brown bats of North America are fighting a losing battle against an enemy we call... Fungi? That’s right. Or, in the scientific world, “Geomyces destructans.” This cold-loving fungus has been ravaging bat caves throughout North America since 2006, wiping out an average of 73% of an infiltrated cave population. How does a fungus take out three out of every four bats? Picture this: It’s late October. You’re a bat, hanging upside down in preparation for winter. This means you’ve eaten your fill of summer insects, you’ve huddled together with your family members, and you’re ready to shut down for the long, cold Northeastern winter a