A multiscale perspective on multitrophic interactions of bats, their parasites, and pathogens

Project name in Czech
A multiscale perspective on multitrophic interactions of bats, their parasites, and pathogens
Annotation in Czech
As biodiversity adapts to global changes, conservation interventions must consider multi-scale relationships among hosts of special concern, their parasites and pathogens, and the environment. We will use bats as a model system to study interactions and feedbacks among hosts, an emerging fungal disease (White-Nose Syndrome, caused by Pseudogymnoascus destructans or Pd), and parasitic bat flies and fly-associated parasitic microfungi. We will apply integrative taxonomy to delimit and describe new species of the poorly-studied flies and fungi. We will examine ecological dynamics of the multitrophic network, analyzing how biotic and abiotic (climate, habitat) factors affect parasitism across trophic levels. We will improve our understanding of how Pd affects parasitism of bats and of the influence of geography in these dynamics. Finally, we will leverage a whole-system sampling scheme and develop a model for “extinction cascade” studies to assess potential biodiversity collapse of parasites when hosts become extinct. The implications of this study will be translational to other systems.

R&D category
ZV - Basic research
OECD FORD - main branch
10618 - Ecology
OECD FORD - secondary branch
10619 - Biodiversity conservation
OECD FORD - another secondary branch
10606 - Microbiology
CEP - equivalent branches <br>(according to the <a href="http://www.vyzkum.cz/storage/att/E6EF7938F0E854BAE520AC119FB22E8D/Prevodnik_oboru_Frascati.pdf">converter</a>)
EE - Microbiology, virology<br>EH - Ecology - communities

Confidentiality
S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů
Data delivery code
CEP26-GA0-GM-R
Data delivery date
May 4, 2026

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