Fungi associated with hibernating bats in New Brunswick caves: the genus Leuconeurospora

Two species of Leuconeurospora, Leuconeurospora capsici (J.F.H. Beyma) Malloch, Sigler & Hambleton and Leuconeurospora polypaeciloides Malloch, Sigler & Hambleton (Ascomycota: Pseudeurotiaceae), are reported from the fur and skin of hibernating bats and from other substrata in caves in New Brunswick, Canada. Separate analyses using ITS, RPB1, and RPB2 DNA sequence data are in agreement and show these two species and the type species, Leuconeurospora pulcherrima (G. Winter) Malloch & Cain, form discrete clades within a distinct Leuconeurospora clade. The three species are distinguishable morphologically by their anamorphs, having dark conidia in L. capsici, hyaline conidia in L. polypaeciloides, and no conidia in L. pulcherrima. Ascomata and ascospores are produced in L. pulcherrima and in mated isolates of L. polypaeciloides, but have not been observed in L. capsici. Leuconeurospora species are psychrotolerant, with faster growth and heavier conidial development at 7 degrees C than at 22 degrees C. Of 151 bats sampled from 10 caves, 51 yielded isolates of L. polypaeciloides and 15 yielded L. capsici. The results were not uniform: neither species was isolated from bats in three caves, while three caves yielded isolates of both species and two yielded L. polypaeciloides only. These species were also isolated from cave walls and arthropods in the cave.