Lacki, M. J., J. P. Hayes, and A. Kurta (eds.). 2007. Bats in Forests: Conservation and Management. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, Maryland, 329 pp. ISBN: 0-8018-8499-3, price (hardbound), $85.

Abstract

M. J. Lacki, J. P. Hayes, A. Kurta (eds.). 2007. Bats in Forests: Conservation and Management. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, Maryland, 329 pp. ISBN: 0-8018-8499-3, price (hardbound), $85. “We”re not protecting the environment, as some of our critics say, for the sake of the fishes and the birds, we‧re protecting nature because we recognize that nature is the infrastructure of our communities &” (Kennedy 2007:1). For many species of bats, forests are their infrastructure, and humans are just now beginning to realize that they also are enmeshed in the same community as the rest of life. Forests are a major component of infrastructure that has been the focus of numerous conservation efforts. Following a highly successful symposium in 1995 (Barclay and Brigham 1996) and subsequent surge in research on bats in forests, a 2nd Bats and Forests Symposium and Workshop was held in Hot Springs, Arkansas, in 2004. Similar to the founding symposium, the quality and quantity of research presented at the 2nd symposium reflected an increase of interest and progress in forest bat biology. From this, a book that highlights this research would be expected to result in a 2nd pulse in promulgating bat conservation through informed management. The book, Bats in Forests: Conservation and Management , contains chapters designed to synthesize scientific knowledge on key topics on ecology and management of bats. The 27 authors who contribute to 11 chapters, were “peer-reviewed” by 21 professionals (9 of which also were authors) to provide uniformity. The book is attractively designed, but it is disheartening to see it full of black and white photographs that do not provide sufficient detail; color plates include the cover, and 2 figures of maps. A list of photo credits (instead of credits in figure legends) would have been useful and would be consistent with the very complete author, subject, and species indices. Misusing terms such as “methodology,” although minor, is noticeable. Major content areas include presentations of roosting ecology, foraging ecology, …