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Re: [amoses] CBD attempts to make all caving and some climbing illegal in USA:
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healyje
Jan 24, 2010, 12:14 PM
Views: 3543
Registered: Aug 22, 2004
Posts: 4204
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As Aaron's post states, White Nose Syndrom (WNS) is an emergent (2006) population decline associated with decimated bat populations in the NE US. It is always associated with the presence of a fungal agent (Geomyces destructans). The phenomena has been spreading rapidly from cave-to-cave radiating out from the NE.
Who cares? Bats represent a significant percentage of mammalian biodiversity and are essential to the overall ecology of our nation. They are are necessary pollinators and interact with insect ecologies in fundamental ways. Moreover, WNS represents a new and third leg ecological 'mystery' joining Honey Bees (2006 - Colony Collapse Disorder) and Amphibian declines (late 80's - Yosemite and the Sierras played a big role in that discovery) which are also both suffering significant declines. The exact causitive agent is not yet known or understood in any of the three population declines, but similar to Amphibian decline, in WNS an associated fungal agent presents itself where where declines occur. It is not known in either case if the fungus is a symptom or the cause. But, taken together, and from a 'canary in a coal mine' perspective, these three rapid population declines among insect, amphibian, and mammalian species are quite troubling.
The transmission of WNS is thought to be primarily bat-to-bat, however, there are some indicators in cave-to-cave transmission patterns that suggest at least some of the transmission is by humans. The problem with a fungal infection is that sensitive cave environments share a lot in common with a petri dish of nutrients such that once swabbed with an infectious agent the damage is likely done and can't be undone.
At this point I must take several exceptions with Aaron's statement:
In reply to: All of this has come after the NSS ( National Speleological Society) has found through research that human transmission is unlikely even with non-decontaminated gear. We have also developed means of safely and effectively decontaminating our equipment, which I and other eastern cavers utilize regularly. In addition, we have proven bat to bat transmission and found that the patterns of WNS spread suggest that bat to bat transmission is the primary or sole vector.
The NSS has risen to the crises with roughly $40k in six research grants and NSS has designated WNS Liasons with science backgrounds to join the fray. One problem with the statement above, however, that the science is really just getting off the ground, and the NSS (or anyone else) hasn't "found" or "proven" anything yet regarding human transmission or the effectiveness of decontamination protocols. What has been shown is that, working with New England Ropes, that at least one of the decontamination protocols does not damage ropes or slings - but that in no way proves the effectiveness of that protocol itself in preventing contamination. I don't believe any of the NSS WNS Liasons would substantiate these statements at this time.
Anyone who's had a fungal infection can attest to how hardy fungal spores are - they are extremely hardy - and because any means of truly sterilizing gear would ruin it, there exists significant doubt that any decontamination protocol can truly be effective on porous materials like clothing and ropes. Because of this, protocols are being proposed and implemented to restrict the use of contaminated clothing or gear to contaminated caves - i.e. don't use contaminated clothing or gear in an uncontaminated cave regardless of decontamination protocols - once gear and clothing enters a contaminated cave it becomes 'dedicated'. From a microbiology and mycology perspective, and knowing the hardiness of fungal spores, this is a very sensible preventitive protocol.
Aaron further complains:
In reply to: This would also prevent the work of cavers to take the public underground...
I don't know whether Aaron has any commercial interest in caving, but given the current crisis, I would have to note that, contrary to his assertion, maybe this isn't the time to be "taking the public underground". I can certainly empathize with cavers relative to the harshness of potential large-scale access restrictions and costs posed in response to this crisis - but caves are a uniquely isolated and sensitive ecologies and we are essentially talking about applying infectious disease protocols to them in an attempt to halt the spread of WNS. And though it is entirely possible that some cave-like climbing areas will be impacted and closed in response to this crisis, erring on the side of caution while we ramp up the research seems entirely warranted to me given the limited nature of the resource and the predominant role caves play as bat habitat.
I'd love to hear PTPP's comments on the issue and have emailed the NSS WNS Liaisons to verify NSS support, in part or in whole, for Aaron's statement above. But for me this statement strikes me as an unwarranted attempt to sow fear, uncertainty and doubt among climbers relative to the issue.
(This post was edited by healyje on Jan 24, 2010, 12:58 PM)
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Post edited by healyje
() on Jan 24, 2010, 12:58 PM
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