Science and the Conservation of Bats

Abstract

The conservation implications of some recent advances in our knowledge about the ecology and behavior of bats are presented. A central question facing bat biologists is the relative importances of roosts and food as limiting factors in the population biology of bats. There is no reason to presume that the answer is the same for all species and the available data suggest intraspecific variation. This question is important for either conservation or behavior and ecology. Eavesdropping on the species-specific echolocation calls of bats has allowed documentation of distribution and habitat use by some bats although variability of calls complicates this picture. Radiotracking and surveys have produced data on use of space by bats. Although foraging areas and roosts are vital resources for bats, the associations between species of bats and habitats are not always clear. The mobility of bats and the low cost of flight together blur the link between bats and particular habitats. Radiotracking demonstrates how mobility gives bats access to mosaics of habitats, partly reflecting their size and flight characteristics, and the scale of habitat availability. For some species, access to mosaics of habitats for foraging is critical. Activities of humans influence the habitats available to bats and can generate feeding and roosting opportunities. The use that roosting bats make of buildings is an obvious example of bats benefitting from activities of humans. Another is bats feeding in the concentrations of insects at lights. In promoting the conservation of bats, it is important to consider people's perceptions of these animals, which are colored by the impact of bats on public health. Public interest in bats has vastly outstripped scientific research about them, presenting interesting challenges and opportunities for bat biologists.