DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Interactions Between Immune Function, Stress Physiology, Pathogens and Environmental Contaminants in Temperate Bat Species

物种的特性会影响它们对环境污染物的暴露，而环境污染物又会影响它们的免疫功能和对传染病的易感性。本研究以两种不同食性和觅食栖息地的温带蝙蝠Eptesicus fuscus和Myotis lucifugus为研究对象，比较它们在汞组织浓度、稳定同位素浓度、免疫功能和应激生理方面的差异。还将对不同汞浓度的地点进行比较。研究结果应有助于更好地了解汞对哺乳动物健康的影响，并确定汞是否是影响蝙蝠物种健康和保护状况的重要因素。蝙蝠可能是评估汞污染特别有用的指示物种，因为它们的寿命相对较长，代谢率高，地理范围广，营养状况好。如果汞导致免疫功能下降，还可能增加对狂犬病等病原体感染的易感性。这个项目的更广泛影响包括培训一名博士生，并可能增进对影响蝙蝠和人类中新出现的传染病的生态和环境影响的了解。

Characteristics of species can influence their exposure to environmental contaminants which, in turn, can impact their immune function and susceptibility to infectious diseases. This study will examine two temperate bat species, Eptesicus fuscus and Myotis lucifugus, which differ in diet and foraging habitat, and compare them with respect to mercury tissue concentration, stable isotope concentration, immune function, and stress physiology. Comparisons also will be made between sites with different mercury concentrations. Results should contribute to a better understanding of the effects of mercury on mammalian health, and determine whether mercury is an important factor affecting the health and conservation status of bat species. Bats may be particularly useful indicator species for assessing mercury contamination because of their relatively long life spans, high metabolic rates, wide geographic ranges, and trophic status. If mercury causes a decrease in immune function, it may also increase susceptibility to infection by pathogens such as rabies. Broader impacts of this project include training of a doctoral student and a likely increase in understanding of ecological and environmental influences affecting emerging infectious diseases in bats and humans alike.