Final answer:
The study of an Indiana bat maternity colony likely relates to research on the conservation of this species, particularly in response to the threat of white-nose syndrome, which has decimated bat populations in North America.
Step-by-step explanation:
The long-term effort to study an Indiana bat maternity colony was likely part of targeted research focusing on changing geographic distributions and the conservation status of endangered species such as the Indiana bat, Myotis sodalis. The mention of a fungal pathogen, Geomyces destructans or Pseudogymnoascus destructans, suggests that the study could be connected to the spread of white-nose syndrome, a disease that affects cave-hibernating bats and has led to significant declines in bat populations, especially in eastern North America. This syndrome was first identified near Albany, New York, and further evidence suggests its introduction from Europe, possibly by recreational cavers.
While the question does not specify the exact location of the Indiana bat maternity colony study, it does reference the spread of the fungus from western New York State and highlights the significant impact of white-nose syndrome on bat populations. The study of such a colony is critical for the development of conservation strategies to protect threatened bat species, especially the endangered Indiana bat.