Paul Cryan, PhD
Paul Cryan is a Research Biologist at the Fort Collins Science Center.
Mysteries, underdogs, and gadgets have always fascinated me, so for the past two decades I have focused my research on using technology to reveal how some of the 43+ species of U.S. bats live their cryptic lives. My particular interests include uncovering bat migration behaviors and seasonal movements, discovering the details of their winter hideouts and survival strategies, and understanding how infectious diseases influence bat populations. What began as general interest in an understudied group of mammals has grown into a practical search for answers to two of the most pressing threats currently facing U.S. bats - fatalities at wind turbines and the emerging disease known as white-nose syndrome. My basic research approach is to start by synthesizing natural history and existing information, then test plausible new hypotheses in a scientifically defensible way through observational and experimental field studies. I gravitate toward new collaborations and technologies that take us beyond existing methods and expand our abilities to follow and discover what (and how) bats are doing out there in the dark.
Professional Experience
2003 to present, Research Biologist, USGS Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, CO
1999 to 2003, Student Trainee (SCEP), USGS Arid Lands Field Station (Fort Collins Science Center), Albuquerque, NM
1994 to 1997 & 1999 to 2002, Graduate Teaching Assistant, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
1998 to 1999, Wildlife Biologist, USGS Arid Lands Field Station (Fort Collins Science Center), Albuquerque, NM
1995 to 1997, Biological Science Technician, USGS Arid Lands Field Station (Fort Collins Science Center), Albuquerque, NM
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. Biology, University of New Mexico, 2003
M.S. Biology, University of New Mexico, 1997
B.A. Biology, The Evergreen State College, 1991
Science and Products
Alphacoronaviruses in New World Bats: Prevalence, Persistence, Phylogeny, and Potential for Interaction with Humans
Bat white-nose syndrome in North America
Monitoring behaviors and activity of bats at wind turbines with near infrared videography
Wind Turbines as Landscape Impediments to the Migratory Connectivity of Bats
Investigating and managing the rapid emergence of white-nose syndrome, a novel, fatal, infectious disease of hibernating bats
Experimental infection of bats with Geomyces destructans causes white-nose syndrome
Economic importance of bats in agriculture
Bats of Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado: Composition, reproduction, and roosting habits
Bat ecology and public health surveillance for rabies in an urbanizing region of Colorado
White-nose syndrome fungus (Geomyces destructans) in bats, Europe
Migratory structure and geographic origins of hoary bats (Lasiurus cinereus) inferred from stable isotope analysis
Evidence of mating readiness in certain bats killed by wind turbines
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Science and Products
- Science
- Data
- Multimedia
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 84
Alphacoronaviruses in New World Bats: Prevalence, Persistence, Phylogeny, and Potential for Interaction with Humans
Bats are reservoirs for many different coronaviruses (CoVs) as well as many other important zoonotic viruses. We sampled feces and/or anal swabs of 1,044 insectivorous bats of 2 families and 17 species from 21 different locations within Colorado from 2007 to 2009. We detected alphacoronavirus RNA in bats of 4 species: big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus), 10% prevalence; long-legged bats (Myotis volaAuthorsChristina Osborne, Paul M. Cryan, Thomas J. O'Shea, Lauren M. Oko, Christina Ndaluka, Charles H. Calisher, Andrew D. Berglund, Mead L. Klavetter, Kathryn V. Holmes, Samuel R. DominguezBat white-nose syndrome in North America
* The newly described fungus, Geomyces destructans, causes an invasive skin infection in bats and is the likely agent of white-nose syndrome (WNS). * With immune system functions and body temperatures reduced during hibernation, bats may be unusually susceptible to a pathogenic fungus such as G. destructans. * WNS was first observed in a popular show cave near Albany, New York, leading some investAuthorsDavid S. Blehert, Jeffrey M. Lorch, Anne E. Ballmann, Paul M. Cryan, Carol U. MeteyerMonitoring behaviors and activity of bats at wind turbines with near infrared videography
No abstract available.AuthorsPaul M. Cryan, P. M. Gorresen, F.J. Bonaccorso, M. A. HayesWind Turbines as Landscape Impediments to the Migratory Connectivity of Bats
Unprecedented numbers of migratory bats are found dead beneath industrial-scale wind turbines during late summer and autumn in both North America and Europe. Prior to the wide-scale deployment of wind turbines, fatal collisions of migratory bats with anthropogenic structures were rarely reported and likely occurred very infrequently. There are no other well-documented threats to populations of migAuthorsPaul M. CryanInvestigating and managing the rapid emergence of white-nose syndrome, a novel, fatal, infectious disease of hibernating bats
White-nose syndrome (WNS) is a fatal disease of bats that hibernate. The etiologic agent of WNS is the fungus Geomyces destructans, which infects the skin and wing membranes. Over 1 million bats in six species in eastern North America have died from WNS since 2006, and as a result several species of bats may become endangered or extinct. Information is lacking on the pathogenesis of G. destructansAuthorsJanet Foley, Deana Clifford, Kevin Castle, Paul M. Cryan, Richard S. OstfeldExperimental infection of bats with Geomyces destructans causes white-nose syndrome
White-nose syndrome (WNS) has caused recent catastrophic declines among multiple species of bats in eastern North America. The disease's name derives from a visually apparent white growth of the newly discovered fungus Geomyces destructans on the skin (including the muzzle) of hibernating bats. Colonization of skin by this fungus is associated with characteristic cutaneous lesions that are the onlAuthorsJ.M. Lorch, C.U. Meteyer, M.J. Behr, J.G. Boyles, P.M. Cryan, A.C. Hicks, A.E. Ballmann, J.T.H. Coleman, D.N. Redell, D.M. Reeder, D.S. BlehertEconomic importance of bats in agriculture
White-nose syndrome (WNS) and the increased development of wind-power facilities are threatening populations of insectivorous bats in North America. Bats are voracious predators of nocturnal insects, including many crop and forest pests. We present here analyses suggesting that loss of bats in North America could lead to agricultural losses estimated at more than $3.7 billion/year. Urgent effortsAuthorsJustin G. Boyles, Paul M. Cryan, Gary F. McCracken, Thomas H. KunzBats of Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado: Composition, reproduction, and roosting habits
We determined the bat fauna at Mesa Verde National Park (Mesa Verde) in 2006 and 2007, characterized bat elevational distribution and reproduction, and investigated roosting habits of selected species. We captured 1996 bats of 15 species in mist nets set over water during 120 nights of sampling and recorded echolocation calls of an additional species. The bat fauna at Mesa Verde included every speAuthorsThomas J. O'Shea, Paul M. Cryan, E. Apple Snider, Ernest W. Valdez, Laura E. Ellison, Daniel J. NeubaumBat ecology and public health surveillance for rabies in an urbanizing region of Colorado
We describe use of Fort Collins, Colorado, and nearby areas by bats in 2001–2005, and link patterns in bat ecology with concurrent public health surveillance for rabies. Our analyses are based on evaluation of summary statistics, and information-theoretic support for results of simple logistic regression. Based on captures in mist nets, the city bat fauna differed from that of the adjacent mountaiAuthorsThomas J. O'Shea, D.J. Neubaum, M.A. Neubaum, Paul M. Cryan, Laura E. Ellison, T.R. Stanley, C. E. Rupprecht, W.J. Pape, R. A. BowenWhite-nose syndrome fungus (Geomyces destructans) in bats, Europe
White-nose syndrome is an emerging disease in North America that has caused substantial declines in hibernating bats. A recently identified fungus (Geomyces destructans) causes skin lesions that are characteristic of this disease. Typical signs of this infection were not observed in bats in North America before white-nose syndrome was detected. However, unconfirmed reports from Europe indicated whAuthorsG. Wibbelt, A. Kurth, D. Hellmann, M. Weishaar, A. Barlow, M. Veith, J. Pruger, T. Gorfol, T. Grosche, F. Bontadina, U. Zophel, Hans-Peter Seidl, P.M. Cryan, D.S. BlehertMigratory structure and geographic origins of hoary bats (Lasiurus cinereus) inferred from stable isotope analysis
No abstract available.AuthorsPaul M. Cryan, Craig A. Stricker, Mike B. WunderEvidence of mating readiness in certain bats killed by wind turbines
Bats consistently die at wind turbines during late-summer and autumn. Migratory, tree-roosting species show increased susceptibility compared to other bats, yet the exact causes remain unknown. A hypothesized cause with strong conservation implications is that migratory tree bats die at turbines while seeking mates around tall tree like structures. In this pilot study we histologically examinedAuthorsPaul M. Cryan, Joel W. Jameson, Erin F. Baerwald, Craig K. R. Willis, Robert M.R. Barclay, Elise A. Snider, Elizabeth G. CrichtonNon-USGS Publications**
Cryan, P.M. 1997. Distribution and roosting habits of bats in the southern Black Hills, South Dakota [M.S. Thesis]. Albuquerque, NM: University of New Mexico. 98 p.Perry, T.W., P.M. Cryan, S.R. Davenport, and M.A. Bogan. 1997. New locality for Euderma maculatum (Chiroptera: vespertilionidae) in New Mexico. Southwestern Naturalist. 42(1): 99-10.Bogan, M.A., T.J. O’Shea, P.M. Cryan, A.M. Ditto, W.H. Shaedla, and L. Ellison. 1996. Status and trends of bat populations at Los Alamos National Laboratory and Bandelier National Monument, Jemez Mountains, New Mexico. Annual report to Los Alamos National Laboratory and Bandelier National Monument. 1-18 p.Cryan, P.M. and M.A. Bogan. 1995. Ecology and distribution of bats in the southern Black Hills: Annual report to cooperators. Annual report prepared for Jewel Cave National Monument, National Park Service, Custer, SD. 23 p.**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
- News