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Microcystin detected in little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus)
The American Midland Naturalist (2015)
  • Megan Woller-Skar, Grand Valley State University
  • Devin N. Jones, Grand Valley State University
  • Mark R. Luttenton, Grand Valley State University
  • Amy L. Russell
Abstract
Recent studies documented the potential transfer of microcystin, a hepatotoxin produced by some cyanobacteria, from aquatic to terrestrial ecosystems. Using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, we measured microcystins in emergent Hexagenia limbata mayflies and fecal samples collected from a maternity colony of little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus) located adjacent to a Michigan (U.S.A.) lake that experiences seasonal blooms of toxicogenic Microcystis aeruginosa. All H. limbata and M. lucifugus fecal samples contained microcystin (H. limbata: mean = 293.88 ng/g dw +/- 35.99 SE, n = 39; M. lucifugus: mean = 262.10 ng/g dw +/- 31.08 SE, n = 20). Ingestion of this toxin may represent a previously unrecognized stressor on bat populations in this region.
Keywords
  • bats,
  • ecotoxicology,
  • microcystin,
  • harmful algal blooms
Publication Date
2015
Citation Information
Megan Woller-Skar, Devin N. Jones, Mark R. Luttenton and Amy L. Russell. "Microcystin detected in little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus)" The American Midland Naturalist Vol. 174 Iss. 2 (2015) p. 331 - 334
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/amy_russell/23/