White Nose Syndrome Coordination Meeting - Identification of Priorities

(Please copy this page into the body of an email message or to a word document, complete as much of it as you like, and send it via e-mail to wnsliaison@caves.org by no later than Friday, June 6.) 

NAME ___________________________________________ NSS __________________

E-MAIL __________________________________________ PHONE ________________

1. What agency or organization do you represent?

State natural resource agency (specify state):
State health department (specify state):
USGS
USFS
USFWS
USDA
Academic institution (specify):
Non-governmental organization (specify):
Other (please specify)

2. What is your PRIMARY area(s) of involvement with bats / WNS to date? (Check all that apply)

Conducting field work at WNS sites
Conducting field work at non-affected sites
Monitoring spring emergence weights
Summer mist-netting surveys
Summer roost/maternity colony surveys
Conducted lab work on WNS-affected bats
Developed protocols for caving/mist netting, etc.
New to WNS issue
Media/Outreach on WNS issue
Coordination of WNS activities/response
Academic interest
Have been reading publicly available information but not directly involved with WNS activities to date
Other (please specify)

3. If you have not been directly involved with WNS, please rate the following information sources relative to how important they have been in helping you gather information. (If you have been involved with WNS please skip to question 4)

News media
Not important
Somewhat important
Very important

US Fish and Wildlife Service Web Page
Not important
Somewhat important
Very important

Colleagues
Not important
Somewhat important
Very important

Professional journals
Not important
Somewhat important
Very important

Blogs
Not important
Somewhat important
Very important

Internet searches
Not important
Somewhat important
Very important

Other
Not important
Somewhat important
Very important

4. Please assign a priority level to the following FIELD LEVEL NEEDS. (5 = immediate need; 3 = high priority; 1 = low). (Immediate-priority outcomes from the Albany meeting may have access to immediate SWG funding)

Continued monitoring of affected sites
Immediate need
High priority
Low priority

Increased surveillance of unaffected sites
Immediate need
High priority
Low priority

Identification of equipment needs/cost estimates
Immediate need
High priority
Low priority

Train field personnel in surveillance/monitoring/specimen collection
Immediate need
High priority
Low priority

Region-wide coordination through a designated coordinating entity
Immediate need
High priority
Low priority

Identification of summer maternity colonies suitable for WNS surveillance (e.g., those with existing baseline data and/or high likelihood of long-term monitoring availability).
Immediate need
High priority
Low priority

Monitoring to develop existing baseline data at summer maternity colonies or collecting baseline data for future use.
Immediate need
High priority
Low priority

Discussion of implementation or usability of decontamination protocols for winter and summer activities (including caving and mist netting protocols)
Immediate need
High priority
Low priority

Develop priority research needs and protocols for fall/winter 2008 season. Must include non-affected sites for comparison (i.e., is a small amount of fungus normal? etc.)
Immediate need
High priority
Low priority

Develop priority research needs and protocols for fall/winter 2008 season in unaffected states/regions.
Immediate need
High priority
Low priority

Identification of field effort/tasks that will assist the science team in obtaining the data/samples they need.
Immediate need
High priority
Low priority

Information and/or coordination re: collecting/submitting samples
Immediate need
High priority
Low priority

Investigation of tree bat condition during summer mist netting/wind sites
Immediate need
High priority
Low priority

5. What is your highest priority for FIELD-LEVEL INVESTIGATIONS?

6. Next, please assign a priority level to the following COORDINATION NEEDS. (5 = immediate need; 3 = high priority; 1 = low)

Developing monitoring protocols for affected hibernacula
Immediate need
High priority
Low priority

Developing a database to track search effort/affected sites/mortality/etc
Immediate need
High priority
Low priority

Developing a database for public reports of abnormally behaving bats, dying bats and/or lack of return to summer colonies?
Immediate need
High priority
Low priority

Developing a coordinated response protocol for public reports
Immediate need
High priority
Low priority

Hiring/assigning State-level coordinators to handle WNS coordination of communications, field investigations, laboratory effort, funding opportunities
Immediate need
High priority
Low priority

Coordinated pursuit of funding opportunities
Immediate need
High priority
Low priority

Region-wide coordination through a designated Œcoordinating entity
Immediate need
High priority
Low priority

Regional suggestions and/or decisions regarding cave closure
Immediate need
High priority
Low priority

Identification of barriers and obstacles to progress
Immediate need
High priority
Low priority

Development of winter/summer disinfection procedures based on available science.
Immediate need
High priority
Low priority

Update USFWS website with lab results regularly
Immediate need
High priority
Low priority

7. What are your highest priority COORDINATION NEEDS?

8. We'd also like you to assign a priority to a range of LABORATORY INVESTIGATION NEEDS.(5 = immediate need; 3 = high priority; 1 = low)

Develop agreements re: data sharing
Immediate need
High priority
Low priority

Develop agreements re: specimen distribution
Immediate need
High priority
Low priority

Develop agreements re: citing work
Immediate need
High priority
Low priority

Develop agreements re: publication of findings
Immediate need
High priority
Low priority

Identification of sample sizes needed for various investigations
Immediate need
High priority
Low priority

Agreement(s) on housing/maintaining specimens
Immediate need
High priority
Low priority

Specific assignments and/or identification of who is doing what
Immediate need
High priority
Low priority

Agreement upon 2008-09 investigations
Immediate need
High priority
Low priority

Region-wide coordination through a designated Œcoordinating entity¹
Immediate need
High priority
Low priority

Identification of field-level needs/tasks that will support laboratory efforts. Immediate need
High priority
Low priority

9. What other agencies/labs that are not currently involved that should be approached? What do you see as their contribution to the effort?

10. What are your primary goals for the June 2008 meeting?

11. Given that there may be immediate funding available to pursue the outcome(s) of the June Coordination Meeting, what are the top 3 solid deliverables you would like to see come out of this meeting?

12. Additional comments, questions, or suggestions?