In the United States and Canada,bats use one of two strategies to survive winter: They either migrate south,or they hibernate.Recently,those that hibernate seem to have come under attack by a fungus,Geomyces destructans (Gd),an attack that is occurring from Missouri to southern Canada.Many infected bats have a delicate,white filamentous mat on their muzzles,which is referred to as white-nose syndrome (WNS).The fungus invades the bat tissues,causes discomfort,and awakens the bat from its hibernation.The bat fidgets and wastes calories,using up its stored fat.The bat then behaves abnormally,leaving its cave during daytime in winter to search for food.Their food,primarily insects,is scarce during the winter,and the bats ultimately starve to death.Since 2007,it is estimated that up to one million bats have perished from WNS.
The Gd mat on the fur of the bats should be expected to consist of ________.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Gd mat on the muzzles of bats is described as a delicate, white filamentous mat, which is likely composed of hyphae, the branching, thread-like structures that make up the body of a fungus. Haustoria are specialized structures that some fungi produce for absorbing nutrients from a host, yeasts are single-celled fungi, and basidia are structures found in the fruiting bodies of certain types of fungi that produce spores.

In the United States and Canada,bats Use One of Two