yes, I am procrastinating, but this is nerd-tastic

Researchers have found a vertebrate with a symbiont (smaller organism in a symbiotic relationship where host species may or may not benefit, think coral or the casiopia jellyfish )! This is literally unheard of! They are dubbing it the Solar Salamander. This "solar salamander" is really the spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) and is a widely studied species.

Now I know some of you are giving me the tilted head, what on Earth are you talking about now Bri look, BUT hear me out!  This is a fascinating find because vertebrate cells, as the article points out, have what's known as an adaptive immune system.  In theory this defensive line should destroy the algal cell and make it impossible for it to thrive.  This study shows it doesn't!  This finding challenges the doctrine of how cells work...this is why I love science.  You can't prove things in biology, only disprove, which always leaves room for new discoveries!  Evolution has so many tricks up its sleeve we haven't even begun to understand yet!  We are playing catch up with an ever-dynamic process. Biologists know this and account for it!  We get to live in the middle of this big mystery and try and figure out what's going on around us! We get to be that curious little kid always asking why.  Biology rocks my socks!

Back to this salamander find....the hypothesis that the ability of salamander cells to house algae is due to pluripotency is really interesting.  Does the fact that regeneration can occur in salamanders somehow lessen the effects of the adaptive immune system? Is this specific to A. maculatum or are other salamanders exhibiting this too? What if it has nothing to do with pluripotency, does that mean vertebrates can actually house symbionts contrary to the common consensus?   I am excited for these studies!

Hope you enjoyed the article, subsequent science speak and my boundless nerdiness!

I should be studying...

But, I think this is more important and not discussed enough outside the biological sciences community. I have been reading a lot of articles recently about the decline of regional bat populations due to a fungal infection known as white-nose syndrome (caused by Geomyces destructans). This is still not well understood, but it affects the populations when they are hibernating, or should be rather. It seems to cause the bats to exert energy when they should be conserving it for their hibernation period.  Bats form colonies as part of their life strategy, leading to large scale infections due to close quarters and in turn increased vulnerability.  Some studies are suggesting an infected colony will lose 90-100% of bats during the winter.  The devastating effects of this fungus will definitely be seen during this season, massive losses are expected for the Eastern US bat populations.  The infection is spreading westward, but the new range cannot be determined until this hibernation period is over.  

This has unfortunate and obvious parallels to the chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) causing worldwide amphibian declines. Chytrid is far more wide spread at this point, but began in similar localized regions.

Scary.

Here's some literature if you feel like reading more about white-nose syndrome:

Bat Conservation International article

Discovery article

Discovery article 2

Nature article

Bats are unique, fascinating creatures.  If you haven't checked out the Bat Conservation International website before spend some time on their after you finish the article.

Depressing post I know, but it is cases like this that demonstrate why wildlife biology and conservation are of the utmost importance.