BAT CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL
ISSUE 2 • 2018 // BATCON.ORG
CHIROPTERAN
Research and development seeks to unlock and harness the secrets of bats’ techextraordinary capabilities
THE CAVERN SPECIES SPOTLIGHT: THE SWEETEST OF YOUTH TRI-COLORED BAT FRUITS BECOME a MONTHLY SUSTAINING MEMBER Photo: Vivian Jones Vivian Photo: Grey-headed flying fox(Pteropus poliocephalus)
When you choose to provide an automatic monthly donation, you allow BCI to plan our conservation programs with confidence, knowing the resources you and other sustaining members provide are there when we need them most. Being a Sustaining Member is also convenient for you, as your monthly gift is automatically transferred from your debit or credit card. It’s safe and secure, and you can change or cancel your allocation at any time. As an additional benefit, you won’t receive membership renewal requests, which helps us reduce our paper and postage costs. BCI Sustaining Members receive our Bats magazine, updates on our bat conservation efforts and an opportunity to visit Bracken Cave with up to five guests every year. Your consistent support throughout the year helps strengthen our organizational impact.
TO BECOME A SUSTAINING MEMBER TODAY, VISIT BATCON.ORG/SUSTAINING OR SELECT SUSTAINING MEMBER ON THE DONATION ENVELOPE ENCLOSED WITH YOUR DESIRED MONTHLY GIFT AMOUNT. 02 }bats Issue 23 2017 20172018 ISSUE 2 • 2018
bats INSIDE THIS ISSUE
FEATURES 08 CHIROPTERAN TECH For sky, sea and land, bats are inspiring waves of new technology
THE CAVERN OF YOUTH 12 Bats could help unlock secrets of healthy aging Photo: Laura Kloepper
OFF THE BAT [PAGE 6] BAT SQUAD BCI Executive Director Mike Daulton Artist Amanda Kadatz discusses 02 explains why saving bats is “a thing” 21 the inspiration behind her bat art
SPECIES SPOTLIGHT MAKING A DIFFERENCE A look at the tri-colored bat Recognizing the many generous 06 23 friends and members who have recently supported BCI
BAT CHATS ON THE WING Conservationist, researcher and BCI Bats, agaves and industry 16 scholar Veronica Zamora-Gutierrez 25 Photo: Jim Kennedy/BCI Jim Photo:
NEWS & UPDATES
BAT SIGNALS FIELD NOTES BCI news and Research news from 03 conservation updates 17 around the globe
First-ever delisting of a bat from The importance of bats for endangered status pollinating pitaya Fungus that causes White-nose A day in the life of Syndrome spreads into Central Texas Bracken Cave Director ON THE COVER Researchers are looking to Two new species of dog-faced Fran Hutchins bats for future technology. TO BECOME A SUSTAINING MEMBER TODAY, VISIT [PAGE 18] BATCON.ORG/SUSTAINING bats named Photo: Michael Durham/
OR SELECT SUSTAINING MEMBER ON THE DONATION ENVELOPE Hutchins/BCI Fran Photo: Minden Pictures ENCLOSED WITH YOUR DESIRED MONTHLY GIFT AMOUNT. batcon.org bats { 01 batoff the A FEW WORDS OF INTRODUCTION FROM YOUR FRIENDS AT BCI
Bat Conservation International (BCI) is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to protecting bats and their One Bat at a Time essential habitats around the world. A copy of our current financial statement and registration filed by By MIKE DAULTON the organization may be obtained by contacting our office in Austin, below, or by visiting batcon.org. hen I tell people what I do the extraordinary and unusual wall- Main Office Washington DC for a living (“I save bats,” I climbing bats, but from all bats. 500 North Capital of 1012 14th Street NW like to say), sometimes I get In the field of biomimicry, Texas Highway, Building 1 Suite 905 W Austin, TX 78746 Washington, D.C. 20005 a quizzical look. “I didn’t know that scientists look to nature for 512-327-9721 512-327-9721 was a thing,” is a response I’ve heard solutions to real-world problems. more than once. Scientists have studied shark skin Editor Usually what transpires next is a to learn how to make hydrodynamic Katie Jepson quick explanation from me of why swimming suits. They have studied Publication Management GLC saving bats is, in fact, a thing. Bats spider silk to Bats welcomes queries from writers. Send your article are incredibly valuable ecologically, learn how to proposal in a brief outline form and a description of I tell them. They pollinate, they make strong, TALK TO US any photos, charts or other graphics to the Editor at . control insects, they spread seeds lightweight Share your thoughts [email protected] in the rainforest. Bats not only help synthetic fibers. and feedback with Members: We welcome your feedback. Please send letters to the Editor at . Changes keep our environment healthy and Because bats have Bats magazine at [email protected] [email protected]. of address may be sent to [email protected] in balance, they help farmers too. such amazing or to BCI at our Austin, Texas, address above. Please allow We need them, and they are gravely abilities, they too four weeks for the change of address to take effect. threatened here in America and are emerging as a From time to time, BCI exchanges mailing lists with all over the world. Usually, that’s wellspring of potential insights. other like-minded conservation groups to make more enough for a light to go on. Bats have unique flight dexterity, people aware of the importance of bats. If you wish But it also isn’t the whole story. As a unique ability to communicate to opt out of these exchanges, please let us know at . a reader of Bats magazine, you know and navigate by echolocation, and [email protected] that bats have amazing abilities. unusual longevity for the animal Founder: Dr. Merlin D. Tuttle My most recent favorite example is world. Scientists are studying bat Board of Directors Dr. Cullen Geiselman, Chair Donald R. Kendall, Jr. Spix’s disk-winged bat, which can genomes to gain insights about Steven P. Quarles, Dr. Gary McCracken climb a wall like Spider-Man. As human aging, bat echolocation to Vice Chair Alexander R. Read this issue of our magazine shows create better self-driving cars, and Danielle Gustafson, Dr. Wes Sechrest us, we all have much to gain by bat flight to develop better drones. Treasurer Susan Wallace learning all we can, not just from Bats are valuable not just for what C. Andrew Marcus, Joe Walston Secretary George ‘Timo’ Hixon they do for us in nature but Dr. Charles C. Chester Eileen Arbues Talk about a tech-head! This biomimetic robotic sonor for what we can learn from head was inspired by the distinct facial features of Science Advisory Committee horseshoe bats. them to advance our goals as a civilization. Dr. Kate Jones (emeritus) Dr. Paul Racey If bats were to vanish, all Dr. Tigga Kingston Dr. Charles Rupprecht Dr. Gary McCracken, Dr. Thomas O’Shea of that value would be lost. Board liaison Dr. Stuart Parsons That’s why we all should be Dr. Rodrigo Medellín Dr. Nancy Simmons concerned that the global rate of extinction is 100 to 1,000 Senior Staff Mike Daulton, Executive Director times higher than it was before Kevin Pierson, Chief Conservation Officer humans came on the scene Mylea Bayless, Senior Director, Network and Partnerships tearing down forests and Winifred Frick, Chief Scientist, Conservation Science paving over wild habitat. Kenda Lovecchio, Chief Development Officer It’s why saving bats is a thing. Visit BCI’s website at batcon.org and the following social media sites: Mike Daulton Facebook.com/batcon Twitter.com/BatConIntl
Photo: Logan Wallace / Virginia Tech BCI Executive Director
02 }bats Issue 2 2018 SUCCESSFUL RECOVERY bat
BCI UPDATES AND CONSERVATION NEWS
A Historic Moment First-ever delisting of a bat from endangered status
Every year, April 17 marks Bat Appreciation Day—a celebration of bats and the critical role they play for the planet. This year, there was an extra special reason to celebrate—the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced that the lesser long-nosed bat (Leptonycteris yerbabuenae) had recovered to the point of being removed from the U.S. endangered species list. This marks the first time a bat species has been delisted due to recovery. The lesser long-nosed bat was first listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 1988, when less than 1,000 individuals at 14 known roosting sites were identified. Today, there are an estimated 200,000 individuals at 75 known roost locations in the South- west U.S. and Mexico. Dr. Rodrigo Medellín, a senior professor at the Instituto de Ecología, UNAM, as well as a member of BCI’s scientific advisory committee, spearheaded recovery efforts in Mexico, where the species was removed from Mexico’s equivalent of the endangered species list in 2015. >
Lesser long-nosed bat BRINGING AGAVE BACK (Leptonycteris yerbabuenae) feeds Learn more about BCI’s agave restoration efforts on pollen from an agave blossom. at batcon.org/batsneedagave. Photo: Bruce Taubert D.
batcon.org bats { 03 bat Ten bat species have been confirmed with White–nose Syndrome in North America. RESEARCH
“The story of the lesser long-nosed bat shows that conservation and science can work together to provide species the chance to recover and persist,” says Winifred Frick, BCI’s Chief Scientist. “Scientists and conservation groups in both Mexico and the U.S. have worked together over the years toward recov- ering these bats; it’s an exciting success story for collaborative conservation efforts and the Endangered Species Act.” BCI is proud to work alongside partners to create positive change for this and other imperiled bat species across the U.S. and abroad. Roost disturbance and destruction are the primary threats Cave myotis are one of the species identified to the lesser long-nosed bat. BCI’s Sub- with diagnostic symptoms of WNS.
terranean Team has been instrumental Photo: J. Scott Altenbach in identifying new roost sites, working closely with federal and private partners to ensure habitat protection. “After working with this species for close to 20 years, working with a cadre White-nose Syndrome of dedicated professionals on the delisting efforts and putting my heart and soul into seeing this Fungus Detected in bat recovered, I am filled with nothing P. destructans spreads to Central Texas, found on new bat species but joy at the news of Central Texas this magnificent crea- irst detected in the Texas Panhandle in early 2017, the fungus that causes White- ture coming off of the U.S. nose Syndrome (WNS), P. destructans, has now spread into Central Texas. The Photo: Bruce Taubert D. endangered species list,” Ffungus was detected on four different bat species, including a single Mexican remarks Jason Corbett, free-tailed bat—the same species that resides in Bracken Cave. Director of BCI’s Sub- While there have been no bat deaths attributed to WNS in Texas, BCI has been terranean Program. working closely with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) to monitor Texas It is critical to caves for signs of the disease. recognize that “The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has been a valued partner of BCI’s since delisting a species we first moved to Texas nearly 30 years ago,” says Mylea Bayless, BCI’s Senior Director does not mean of Network and Partnerships. “They are really proactive and are leading by example, but removal of its also are considerate and sensitive to the delicate nature of the work. Considering Texas is protection. home to the largest number of bat species in the U.S., they are a valuable ally as we work While this news to mitigate the potential effects of WNS.” certainly represents WNS is most associated with bat species that hibernate for long periods each winter. a win for bat conservation, While there is some concern that Mexican free-tailed bats can carry the fungus to BCI will work closely with their wintering grounds in Mexico (as well as Central and South America), they are not partners to assist in the monitor- typically a hibernating species. Therefore, BCI and its partners are not yet sure how ing of the species post-delisting, contact with the fungus will affect these bats. ensuring that this bat continues on its Currently, BCI is working with the TPWD, Western Michigan State University and recovery trajectory. Ball State University on noninvasive experimental treatments in North Texas.
04 }bats Issue 2 2018 In Bracken, baby bats — called pups — roost separately from their mothers in tight clusters of up to 500 per square foot.
STUDIES DISCOVERIES
Early Migration Freeman’s dog-faced bat (Cynomops freemani) Adaptation to environmental change
It’s a sure sign of spring in Central Texas when millions of pregnant bats make their annual pilgrimage to the famous cavern. They arrive to feed on insects and give birth to their pups. Such an event causes the cave’s bat population to soar to upwards of 15-20 million, making it the largest concentration of mammals anywhere on earth. However, researchers have observed that since the 1990s, this annual migration has shifted approximately two weeks earlier. While that may not sound like much, it might signal a larger trend of warming temperatures in the region. Meteorologists Phillip M. Stepanian and Charlotte E. Wainwright noticed this trend after analyzing historical data from 22 years of nightly quantitative radar monitoring population counts. In addition to the early arrival of migrating bats, a small population has taken up permanent residency in Bracken—this was not happening two decades ago. A year-round population indicates warming temperatures; the bats are now finding adequate food sources during the winter months. When these food sources usually mean crop pests and other insects, this is not necessarily good news. While researchers are still examining the extent and effect of this shifting migratory pattern, this study has revealed how bats, like many animals, are adapting to environmental change. Sattler Thomas Photo:
Mexican free-tailed bat Sky Puppies GaloreTwo new species of dog-faced bats named esearchers at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History have recently named two new Rspecies of dog-faced bats, according to a study published in Mammalian Biology. The Freeman’s dog-faced bat (Cynomops freemani) from Panama and the Waorani dog-faced bat (Cynomops tonkigui) from Ecuador now join the ranks of six other recognized species of dog-faced bats (Cynomops), a genus of bats named for their distinct pup-like faces. Dog-faced bats are notoriously difficult to study, as they tend to fly faster and higher than their non- canine-faced comrades. The researchers were able to determine the two new species through a combination of field observation and comparison to existing museum specimens. The new discovery helps broaden our understanding of bats and the complex ecosystem in which they live. And we all can agree: more sky puppies is a good thing!
Photo: Ann Froschauer/USFWS batcon.org bats { 05 species spott THERE ARE 1,331+ SPECIES OF BATS IN THE WORLD. THIS IS ONE OF THEM. light
Tri- colored Bat
bat stats BINOMIAL Perimyotis subflavus
FAMILY Vespertilionidae
COLONY SIZE 1–100+
WINGSPAN 21–26 cm
DIET Insectivorous
STATUS Imperiled
REGION
North A healthy tri-colored bat America (Perimyotis subflavus) Photo: Ann Froschauer/USFWS Ann Photo:
06 }bats Issue 2 2018 For tri-colored bats, mortality has been between 75–100 percent in hibernation sites affected by White-nose Syndrome.
As one of the longest condensation on them, and it looks like hibernators, the adorable they’re bejeweled.” ‘Pip’ values beauty rest Tri-colored bats are among the first to emerge at dusk, f bats were social media stars, the darting around the tri-colored bat would be a beauty treetops in search Iinfluencer. This bat’s style game of moths, beetles, is on point, boasting individual mosquitoes, midges, strands of hair that exhibit a bugs, ants and other beautiful tryptic of colors. And like insects. all good social media influencers, The bat’s penchant this bat has a catchy nickname— for grain moths and Pip. “I know at least three bat beetles suggests that biologists who named their pets it holds important after the tri-colored bat. There are agricultural value. definitely a few cats and dogs out Tri-colored bats there named Pip,” says Winifred typically live around Frick, BCI’s Chief Scientist. “This 4 to 8 years, with one species definitely holds a place in bat found in the wild people’s hearts.” at the ripe old age of Photo: R. Andrew King/USFWS This adorable nickname is a 14. These bats will Tri-colored bat (Perimyotis subflavus) reference to the bat’s original commonly give birth to Reeves Cave, Indiana. The droplets are condensation, not fungus. designation as the eastern twins after a gestation pipistrelle. Though it is now period of roughly 60 classified in the genus Perimyotis days. Pups will usually (the sole member), the nickname has be flying within a month after birth. considered for listing under the stuck. After all, it’s a fun nickname This species was once one of Endangered Species Act. for such a small bat species. the most common bats found Tri-colored bats join little brown In fact, the tri-colored bat is one throughout the east coast of Mexico bats and northern long-eared bats of the smallest species of bat found into northern Central America. as one of the species most heavily in North America. Coming in at However, tri-colored bats face impacted by White-nose Syndrome. a minute 4–6 grams, it is roughly myriad threats from habitat loss, “We’re worried about the tri-colored the same weight as a quarter. And impacts from wind turbines and bat, as we’ve seen populations decline this bat loves to hibernate. The White-nose Syndrome. Because of rapidly in most places where tri- tri-colored bat is one of the first this, the species is currently being colored bats hibernate. They are a species to enter hibernation each species we definitely need to learn fall and among the last to emerge more about,” Frick adds. in spring. Hibernation sites are BCI is partnering with bat found deep within caves or mines physiology experts Dr. Liam in areas of relatively warm, stable McGuire and Dr. Justin Boyles to temperatures. Once these bats find conduct experimental research a winter hibernation site they like, on the microclimate preferences they will often return to the same of tri-colored bats exposed to the exact location year after year. fungus that causes White-nose “Tri-colored bats stand out when Syndrome. This you do your hibernacula surveys. research will hopefully You can have hundreds in a site, but inform future ways LEARN they tend to hang out by themselves, to mitigate the MORE not in a big cluster. They will tuck devastating effects of Visit batcon.org/wns themselves into little cracks and the disease on for more on White- Photo: Pete Pattavina/USFWS Pete Photo: crevices,” says Frick. “When they A healthy tri-colored bat (Perimyotis subflavus) tri-colored and other nose Syndrome. hibernate, they will get some water roosts in Ellison’s Cave, Georgia. bat species. batcon.org bats { 07 COVER STORY
CHIROPTERAN Photo: Laura Kloepper
bats Issue 2 2018 tech 08 } hough the character Laura Kloepper studies the behind Batman’s cowl emergence and echolocation is just an everyday dynamics of large bat colonies. She hopes her research can RESEARCH AND human, his techie tools help unlock the key to effective elevate his abilities autonomous vehicle technology. DEVELOPMENT to the heroic. Jack Nicholson’s cinematic Joker said SEEKS TO UNLOCK Tit best: “Where does he get such AND HARNESS THE wonderful toys?” But bats, it seems, are born with SECRETS OF BATS’ true superpowers—from the ability to nab airborne insects at night EXTRAORDINARY using only echolocation, to their CAPABILITIES capacity to avoid collision even when navigating amidst thousands of fellow flyers—a veritable army of scientists and technologists are hard at work unraveling chiropterans’ many finely tuned adaptations. The goal: to further translate bats’ biological gifts into mathematical algorithms, models and principles that are already being used to advance the frontiers of technology.
From Biology to Engineering Three steps comprise that process, according to neuroecologist Yossi Yovel. First, characterize an animal’s behavior and movements. Second, describe that behavior as a mechanical or mathematical principle. Third, mimic it. Mexican fishing bats (Myotis CHIROPTERAN vivesi) have inspired Yovel, based in Tel Aviv, Israel, to work toward developing a series of swarming robots that use sound MICHELLE Z. DONAHUE By to communicate and coordinate the location of each member of the group. Mexican fishing bats, which work together in small groups over open water in the Gulf of California, eavesdrop on each other to listen for good fishing spots. Yovel hopes to have a group of working prototypes to demonstrate in a year’s time. The idea of designing robots to communicate with one another in such a fashion enables greater autonomy: no base stations to relay or report to, only a “mission,” tech batcon.org bats { 09 FEATURE Scientists have used bat sonar to research and develop an algorithm for an agricultural robot designed to predict crop yields.
from close study of how each joint works Great roundleaf bats to change the wing shape during flight. (Hipposideros armiger) tagged Watching it flap at a distance leaves no with GPS. These lightweight devices doubt about the source of its inspiration. help researchers track velocity, body Impressive as it is, however, the Bat temperature, heart rate and other Bot isn’t quite ready for market. Truly data on the bats. autonomous flighted vehicles will require even more sophisticated sensing and feedback systems than the Bat Bot is currently equipped with in order to “see” and process the features of the environment they’re navigating. At Virginia Tech, mechanical engineer Rolf Mueller is investigating that very idea, hoping to build a drone that can navigate a forest as blithely as a bat. Mueller has been recording video of wrinkle-lipped bats emerging from their roost in Deer Cave in Gunung Mulu National Park on the island of Borneo. He plans to use the video to characterize mathematically how the bats change their flight path from a long, streaming ribbon into a donut-like torus as they evade
Photo: Yossi Yovel hungry hawks on the hunt. “When we look at what can fly— achieved with the help of the rest insects, birds, bats and airplanes—bats have the “ When we look of the group. “It makes them very most degrees of freedom,” Mueller says. They efficient and able to take advantage are able to rapidly change direction and speed at what can of many different environments,” without significantly compromising function. fly—insects, Yovel says. Several species of birds and many types of Ironically, Yovel found the need insects approach bat-like levels of dexterity, but birds, bats and to develop new tools to gather only bats use echolocation to determine their the necessary data from the bats flight path. airplanes—bats he studies, all in the pursuit of developing other new technologies. have the most For example, his lab built an Laura Kloepper and her team ultra lightweight GPS tag—only used trained hawks outfitted degrees of with special cameras to better 2 grams—capable of recording understand how bats fly sound, velocity and bearing, heart en masse without collision. freedom.” rate, body temperature and other —Rolf Mueller, environmental data. mechanical engineer, “Bats have these amazing abilities, Virginia Tech and now we’re able to quantify what they do, based on equations of sound and physics,” Yovel says. “So we develop technology to study bats, and we study bats to develop technology.”
Sorting Out Sensing CalTech’s Bat Bot, a semi- autonomous drone modeled after
a bat’s many-jointed wings, came Photo: Laura Kloepper
10 }bats Issue 2 2018 Other animals that use forms of biological sonar include dolphins, whales, some birds and even shrews!
Sound of Sonar Though sound-based range finding and imaging Outfitted with three ultrasonic emitters, Mwiti’s instruments came into use in the early 1900s, Sixth Sense device alerts the user to obstacles bats evolved the ability to use sonar millions of years ago. From a technological standpoint, says overhead, directly ahead or on the ground with biosonar researcher Laura Kloepper, our tools only approximate what bats can do, but we still directional buzzes. haven’t been able to build anything as small and powerful as those that exist in nature. Practically speaking, sonar is a very simple Outfitted with three ultrasonic tactic, says Kloepper, an assistant professor of emitters, Mwiti’s Sixth Sense device biology at St. Mary’s College in Notre Dame, alerts the user to obstacles overhead, Indiana. Send a sound wave out, then adjust directly ahead or on the ground with your trajectory based on the sound that bounces directional buzzes. The vibrations back to you. The engineering challenge lies in grow in intensity as the user gets understanding how bats process and use that nearer to the obstacle, or as people information so well. or objects approach the user. “Bats defy what we can do with our technology,” “We’re building all this cool Kloepper says. “Their mouth, the emitter, is tiny, technology and moving forward but they can tell objects apart with incredible in the technology revolution, and resolution. We can’t quite explain why yet.” people are still using sticks to walk,” Using drones, a camera on a zip line and even Mwiti says. “Bats perceive their a hawk fitted with a recording device, Kloepper environments so well. I thought we Yossi Yovel studies how bats use records swarming bats to understand how could borrow from them to help echolocation when flying through individuals emit and receive their own signals people who can’t see.” narrow corridors. amid thousands of others. Her work could help self-driving cars better discern their own signals from a noisy world. That could require a device that can use feedback to adjust its sonar signals. Wu-Jung Lee, an acoustics researcher at the University of Washington, worked with Cynthia Moss at Johns Hopkins University to discover the mechanism for how Egyptian fruit bats adjust their sonar on the wing: The bat produces a unique double click with its tongue, and adjusts the angle and frequency of sound between each click of a pair as it homes in on a target. “That’s a very adaptive behavior, and something our systems currently don’t do,” Lee says. Current sonar systems can’t adjust any characteristic of the sound beam based on feedback received from the environment—one reason why our self- driving vehicles turn so slowly. But even a basic understanding of how bats echolocate is already helping people in a very real way, specifically those without the sense of sight. In Kenya, bats’ echolocating abilities inspired engineer Brian Mwiti to build a handheld device for the visually impaired to help them navigate
their surroundings. Photo: Yossi Yovel batcon.org bats { 11 FEATURE
the cavern
12 }bats Issue 2 2018 BATS COULD HELP UNLOCK SECRETS OF HEALTHY AGING
Many bats in the Myotis genus can live OF YOUTH more than 20 years.
here’s a rule of thumb about birthdays in the animal kingdom: The bigger you are, cavernthe more of them you celebrate. “Ancient” in the mouse world is about 4 years, Twhile 200 years is perfectly normal for some whales. Unless you’re a bat, and then you break a bunch of different rules about aging. For starters, several species of bats can live up to 10 times longer than expected. New research into their genetics is underway to learn why and apply those lessons to aging in humans. > Photo: Bruce Taubert D.
batcon.org bats { 13 FEATURE Telomeres are found at the ends of chromosomes and function sort of like the protective plastic caps on the ends of shoelaces (agelets).
One reason for this lifespan could be how they maintain their chromosomes. In mammals, aging is linked to degraded ends of chromosomes, or telomeres. Usually, cells will self-destruct once the cell cannot properly rebuild these protective end caps, a process regulated by the protein telomerase. In humans, telomerase also plays an essential role in cell longevity—but it is also implicated in many age-related cancers, which “switch on” telomerase production to become immortal. Many bats are curiously cancer-free. Emma Teeling, a bat researcher at University College Dublin, recently found that some Myotis bats may maintain their cells’ genetic integrity through genes that code for DNA repair instead Photo: Stephen Mahony Stephen Photo: of with telomerase. A greater mouse-eared bat Mysterious Lifespans Myotis bats also have hyperactive anti- (Myotis myotis) in the hand. Relative to their body size, only 19 inflammatory mechanisms that protect their mammal species live longer than bodies from the effects of stress that, in humans, humans, and 18 of those are bats are a prime driver of aging. (the other is the naked mole rat). “We need to find ways to make our cells behave Many Myotis can live more than like bat cells,” Teeling says. “But first we need 20 years, and a handful are known to know the differences between us and them to live more than 30. Bats usually before we can test for these differences.” succumb to starvation, dehydration or predation well before that, but Mice Aren’t Humans, and Bats the bat that avoids these can have Aren’t Rats many happy returns; at least one Most human health studies are based on the Brandt’s bat (Myotis brandtii) is humble lab rodent. With their ease of care and known to have lived for 41 years. ample fecundity, mice and rats have been ideal study subjects. In human health studies, many techniques RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN BODY MASS AND MAXIMUM LIFESPAN IN BIRDS AND MAMMALS that work to reduce the effects of aging on mice haven’t worked on people, says Jay Phelan, a Andean African biologist at UCLA who studies the evolution of condor elephant aging. Humans aren’t simply blown-up versions of mice, and it’s high time for a new animal model to study aging, he says. Bats are an obvious Myotis brandtii, Naked choice, given their human-like lifespans, but 1.5 Brandt’s bat mole rat Volant birds and mammals they have one major downside: They don’t thrive
Non-volant under lab conditions. birds and One solution could be to use vampire bats, mammals suggests Steven Austad. At the University of 1.0 Alabama-Birmingham, Austad works with Emu an assortment of long-lived animals to better understand what makes them tick. Though the vampire bat isn’t as long-lived as Brandt’s bat or LOG LONGEVITY (YEARS) other Myotis, they have a specialized diet that is Papuan 0.5 Forest forest-wallaby relatively easy to maintain, and as a result, seem shrew Pied kingfisher to do reasonably well in captivity. That highlights the need to know more about 2 4 6 the genetics of both long- and short-lived species, LOG BODY MASS (G) he says.
14 }bats Issue 2 2018 Bowhead whales can live for over 200 years—making them the longest living mammal species.
“ The project has so much promise to advance our understanding not just about bats, but so many aspects of science, from human health to wildlife conservation.” —Winifred Frick, BCI Chief Scientist
“To understand the long-lived bats, you need something from the short-lived ones, so you can separate out ‘bat stuff’ from ‘longevity stuff,’” Austad says. That will help target areas of the genome involved in aspects of aging that most affect humans: declining memory, hearing and muscle tone; disease; and impacts of persistent inflammation. Teeling and a consortium of other bat researchers have launched the Bat1K for just Mahony Stephen Photo: that reason. The initiative seeks to sequence the can investigate ways of slowing Members of the Teeling genomes of as many bat species as possible, with those effects. Ageless research group the goal of building a catalog that can be used to But genetics are only part of and Bretagne Vivante measuring and sampling not only study how bats’ unique traits evolved, but what can be learned from bats, and bats in Brittany, France. also compare them more accurately with humans. Austad says that science is still “The project has so much promise to advance catching up with a new generation our understanding not just about bats, but so of tech-forward tools that have given many aspects of science, from human health to researchers almost more than they wildlife conservation,” adds BCI Chief Scientist know what to do with. Winifred Frick, who serves on the Bat1K steering For example, the study of committee. “It will also aid bat conservation metabolites, the molecules that efforts by enabling biodiversity assessment and fuel cellular processes, is still an informing various efforts to protect vulnerable emerging field; science has only bat populations around the world.” identified about 10 percent of the 10% several thousand metabolites that are Ticking Time Bombs thought to exist in the human body, One issue that the genetics work will help reveal Austad says. A better understanding is which genes aren’t weeded out by a failure to of what’s common between bats Science has only reproduce. In organisms with long lifespans, and humans—metabolites, proteins natural selection can’t eliminate harmful genes and other compounds—as well as identified about that switch on in humans and bats later in life, what’s unique to each, could help 10 percent of the usually after they’ve reproduced. Those genes unlock their secrets and perhaps several thousand get passed on. And they’re scattered throughout guide the development of new metabolites that our DNA. pharmaceuticals. are thought “The reason we don’t see a fountain of youth Or how to fight aging by getting to exist in the is because there’s not just one problem—we better sleep. all carry these little ticking time bombs that “It’s increasingly clear that human body. manifest as aging, but we need to look at huge sleeping well is a key to lifelong swaths of genomes to see which ones are most health,” Austad says. “By looking active in a bad way at advancing age,” Phelan at genes and more, we hope to see says. Then by comparing what works in bats what’s novel—what bats have that with a similar region in humans, researchers we don’t.” batcon.org bats { 15 bat QUESTIONS FORchats A NOTED EXPERT
for the pollination of are similar as for pitayas, a columnar biodiversity in general: cacti fruit (Stenocereus extremely high rates queretaroensis) that is of deforestation, cultivated and sold in indiscriminate Jalisco, Mexico. Using extension of exclusion experiments agricultural and for different pollinator grazing areas, plus the taxa, we found that synergetic negative bats are the most effects of changes important pollinators in climatic patterns for this economically around the globe. important fruit in the region, and that Bats: Why do we need pollination-by-bat to protect these bats? not only produces Gutierrez: If bats more fruits, but the eventually have to most commercially change their ranges to Veronica Zamora-Gutierrez desirable fruits—as find a more suitable takes a break from field work. flowers pollinated by climate, there will be
Photo: César Guzmán César Photo: bats gave the biggest mismatches between and sweetest fruits, bats, their food sources which are the most and their roost sites. The Sweetest Fruits expensive in the If bats are no longer market. This shows there to pollinate Researcher demonstrates the importance of bat pollination how important bats plants that depend are for maintaining highly upon them or for pitaya crops the economic system to suppress the insect of local communities, population, we will eronica Zamora-Gutierrez is a passionate conservationist, researcher, which depend highly have to somehow and BCI scholar who aims to reduce the loss of biodiversity in bats. on the pitaya income. replace those natural VCurrently, she is working alongside her colleagues at the University and free ecosystem of Southampton to illustrate the value of bat pollination services in an Bats: What are some services or be willing effort to inspire future conservation efforts. Bats sat down with her to threats facing these to lose them. That will learn more about this research. bats? translate to possible Gutierrez: I published pest outbreaks, loss of a study focusing on crops by insect damage Bats: What is the pests, we then focus we are studying, to the effects of climate and lack of pollination, focus of your research? on what will happen estimate the economic and land use change among extinction Gutierrez: We are cur- if bats are removed input bats provide to on Mexican bat cascades that we may rently focusing on bat from the system— how the studied economic distribution. Results not even be aware of. pollination and their much that will affect us system. were not promising, pest suppression ser- in monetary terms. The as the Mexican bat vices. We are studying socioeconomic aspects Bats: What were the fauna is projected to READ the interaction of bats, are very important for results of this study? lose environmental MORE flowers and insects. these projects, so we We had suitability in large Learn more about Gutierrez: this research in Once we have deter- conduct interviews amazing results. We portions of most Field Notes: Better mined that bats either to develop the value focused on how species ranges. The Yields and Quality. pollinate or consume chain of the products important bats are main threats for bats
16 }bats Issue 2 2018 AGRICULTURE Fruits being sold at las 9 esquinas, a famous market in Guadalajara dedicated to the sale of pitayas.
field notes RESE ARCH N E WS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE
By CONSTANCE TREMLETT BirdsBetter and bees can’t Yields match the bat whenand it comes Quality to pollinating pitaya
ows of cacti with huge white flowers frame the The pitaya (not to be confused with dragon fruit, the starry Mexico night sky. Against a backdrop of pitahaya) is economically and culturally important to Rmountains, hundreds of bats zoom from flower to the local economy. However, what a lot of people don’t flower to shove their heads deep inside, feeding on the realize is that bats are responsible for pollinating the sweet nectar and pollen. Coyotes call in the distance. The flowers, allowing the pitaya to develop. cool air is refreshing after a hot day; the rains won’t arrive When thinking about pollinating animals, most for another few months, and the valley is dusty and dry. people picture bees or other ‘buzzy’ insects. But in This is a typical evening for the cactus plantations fact, bats are important pollinators of lots of plants, in the Sayula Basin of Jalisco. The basin is a part of including many that people use for food. This especially central-western Mexico renowned for the production of holds true in the tropics. Some of the species that the pitaya—a delicious fruit harvested from these cacti. benefit from bats include several mango species, Photo: César Guzmán
batcon.org bats { 17 field notes Over the years, BCI has awarded 384 scholarship awards, totaling over $1.1 million. banana, cocoa, durian and agave. So, without bats we’d have no chocolate, tequila or pitaya! Our research team—a collaboration between the University of Southampton, U.K., and CIIDIR Durango, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico—was lucky enough to spend the last couple of summers researching this interaction. The research took place in a small and welcoming community in Jalisco, Techaluta de Montenegro, whose town motto proudly reads: “The home of the pitaya.” Every year, town life is dominated by the production of pitayas, which mostly go on to be sold in the nearby state capital, Guadalajara. Locals commonly work 20 hours a day because, with a shelf life of only two days, the fruits need to be harvested, cleaned of spines, packaged carefully and sold all on the same day.
Photo: César Guzmán César Photo: The money generated goes a A bat visiting a flower: the principal long way toward maintaining pollinating bat species in the area the entire town. BRACKEN CAVE is Leptonycteris yerbabuenae, the Experiments from our team lesser long-nosed bat. showed conclusively that bats are essential for the production of these fruits. We placed bags of different mesh sizes over flowers at different times of day and night to expose the flowers to different pollinators. So, for example, the bags prevented birds and bees from accessing flowers during the day, but enabled Steward of bats to reach them at night—or vice versa. The fruits were then monitored to record fruit production and quality (fruit From trail maintenance to bird counts, and size and the number of seeds inside). everythingthe Landin between, see what it takes to keep Not only was there more fruit when flowers were pollinated by bats instead of other animals, such as birds this Texas jewel shining or insects, but the fruits were larger and had more seeds. As fruit size determines market price, bats are increasing By KATIE JEPSON both yield and quality of a crop that is important to the local economy. This emphasizes the urgent need for conservation f you’re the Director of Bracken Cave, you should probably of bat populations and increased awareness of the benefits be a morning person, because your day is going to start that bats provide. A decline of bats or their pollination Inice and early. Also add to that list a love of the outdoors, services would result in substantial loss of income for local interacting with visitors and, of communities, as well as the sad loss of such a delicious fruit! course, bats. These are all key ingredients necessary to keep the Bracken Cave Preserve— Constance Tremlett is a conservation biologist, with a back- nearly 1500 acres of wild Texas ground in both practical conservation and ecological research. Hill Country—thriving. Which She is currently a Ph.D. student at the University of Southampton begs the question, what does a researching the ecological and economic benefits of bat pollination. day in the life of Fran Hutchins, This project is a collaboration between Dr. Kelvin Peh and the Director of Bracken Cave, Dr. Marije Schaafsma at the University of Southampton and look like? Dr. Veronica Zamora-Gutierrez, a bat biologist at the Instituto
Politécnico Nacional CIIDIR-Durango, Mexico. 6:00 a.m. I meet Hutchins Photo: Alan Schmierer at the gate to the Preserve. Golden-cheeked warbler.
18 }bats Issue 2 2018 Fran Hutchins works with over 45 volunteers to help keep the Bracken Cave Preserve thriving.
and members of a local fire crew. Most of them arrived by ATV from neighboring housing “ Whether it be developments. In fact, many of the volunteers a member of come from neighborhoods in the area. They’ve all volunteered to help with some trail maintenance. a scout troop, “One of the greatest things about this job is the opportunity to share this special place with community people,” Hutchins remarks. “Whether it be a member of a scout troop, service community service organization or area fire crew that needs to practice chainsaw skills, there is organization, opportunity to do it here. It’s a rewarding part of the deal—to share this space.” or area fire We head on over to the work sites and begin to crew that need clear brush and low hanging branches from cedar Protecting the trees along the break. Every so often a white-tail to practice ecosystem: deer will dart through the thick cedar. Hutchins Fran Hutchins tells us to keep our eyes peeled for deer, porcupine, chainsaw and volunteers armadillo and even the occasional wild boar. Oh, conduct weekly and not to be alarmed if a 10-inch walking stick skills, there is bird surveys of the Preserve. drops onto your back when you’re working on a tree. We work for about four hours, and by noon, opportunity to Photo: Fran Hutchins/BCI Fran Photo: it’s a toasty 90 degrees out. The small brigade of Overhead, the sky is riddled with bats returning ATVs takes off, but he notes that we’ll see some do it here.” home from a successful night’s hunt. You can of the volunteers again when they return in a few — Fran Hutchins, Director barely make out their tiny bodies against the inky short hours to help with that night’s bat flight. of Bracken Cave pre-dawn sky, but a faint buzzing sound fills the air. Hutchins explains that this sound is from the 1:30 p.m. We take a break to prepare for that bats tucking in their wings to divebomb into night’s bat flight. For me, that means catching a the entrance of the cave—all in an effort to avoid quick nap. For Hutchins, that means it’s time to the nearby hawks who are looking to snag a answer email, meet with partners, or head to the quick breakfast. Austin office for a few hours. We go over the day’s plan as we drive up the 2 mile-long dirt path to the cave. Fran Hutchins educates visitors about the residents of Bracken Cave. 6:15 a.m. We meet with a group of Texas Master Naturalists for the weekly bird inventory. We walk a transect of the property, stopping every 300 feet at a predetermined station to document the birds we observe. For the next two hours, we witness brightly-colored painted buntings, black- crested titmouses and a few wild turkeys. Every time we pass a stand of cedar trees, we keep our eyes peeled for a golden-cheeked warbler, a federally listed endangered species that is known to frequent the property.
8:45 a.m. We conclude the transect. No warbler sightings today, but there is always next week. The volunteers head home.
9:30 a.m. We jump in his truck and drive over to a different section of the property. There,
we meet with another group of BCI volunteers Alonzo Jonathan Photo: batcon.org bats { 19 field notes The guano inside Bracken Cave is over 75 feet deep!
5:30 p.m. The BCI members and their guests start arriving. Everyone trickles over to the camping area and sets up their tents.
6:30 p.m. Hutchins begins his talk near the mouth of the sinkhole. Behind him, millions of bats chatter as they slowly move toward the front of the cave. Once in a while, one will dart out of the opening, but the full emergence is still an hour or so away. An observant member spies a 6-foot-long coach whip hanging over the mouth of the cave, readying itself to snag an errant bat.
7:23 p.m. The stars of the show emerge. For the next four hours, nearly 15 million Mexican free- Photo: Jonathan Alonzo Jonathan Photo: tailed bats will stream out of Bracken Cave. The From bats, boars and crowd is nearly silent, save for a few exclamations coyotes, to even the as nearby hawks swoop into the bat stream in an occasional friendly turkey, attempt to grab some dinner. the Bracken Cave Preserve is home to a host of wildlife. 8:15 p.m. The sun starts to dip below the horizon. In the distance, you can hear some coyotes call. Some of the guests have walked to the opposite side of the sinkhole for a different view of the emergence. Though the light is fading, the river of bats pouring out of the cave’s mouth is still going strong—and will continue for the next several hours. The fading light drives off the hawks, who have now been replaced by owls.
9:00 p.m. Most of the guests have retreated to the camping area. Hutchins has the fire pit going, and the customary s’mores have already come out. Some of the volunteers head off for the night. Never one to turn down a good s’more, I stick around. I ask Hutchins if today was typical.
Photo: Jonathan Alonzo Jonathan Photo: “Part of what makes this job fun is that there is something different every day. When we’re out at the cave you never know if you’re going to see a bobcat, a warbler, a coyote or heck, even a trespasser. It’s one of those jobs where you just 4:45 p.m. Long-time volunteers Don and Edith can’t believe you get to do this for work.” Bergquist, along with a few volunteers from I ask him how many pots of coffee he downs before, meet us at the cave parking lot. We walk a day. around the viewing area to make sure everything “I don’t drink coffee,” he laughs. I’m shocked. is ready for that night’s emergence, which, he It’s now pushing 10 p.m. The Bergquists and explains, usually means checking the area for I say our goodbyes to Hutchins, who is going to rattlesnakes. Since tonight is a camping night, he spend the night on the property—he wants to heads over to the campground to make sure the make sure guests get up in time to see the bats fire pit is set and ready as well. return at dawn. All in a day’s work.
20 }bats Issue 2 2018 FOR THE YOUNG CONSERVATIONIST
Bats Illustrated Artist Amanda Kadatz discusses her bat art
i there! My name is Amanda Kadatz, and I have been Hdrawing my whole life. For the past six years I have worked as a professional digital illustrator and concept artist. My interest in bats began when I was in elementary school and my grandfather took me to a visiting bat exhibit at the Royal Alberta Museum in Edmonton, Alberta. That day, I bought a plush bat, and I still have it today!
Your art is incredibly expressive! How did you choose the personalities for each of the species? I have always found bats to be very cool. Now that I am older, I can articulate their “coolness” a bit better. It is their visual features and the sheer variety of bat species that I love the most. They have so many different ear shapes, nose shapes, colors, sizes—I can browse through bat species for hours and never stop being amazed. Plus, they are such important animals for the ecosystems in which they live.
How did you choose the species to illustrate? Some of the species I chose were long-standing favorites of mine, This October, like the pallid bat and the spectral Amanda bat. But for other illustrations, I combined her two would search through encyclopedia loves—bats and resources until I came across a art—to participate species that jumped out at me. Then in ‘Inktober,’ an online challenge I would sketch a light drawing in to produce artwork pencil before getting to work with each day of the ink. > the month. batcon.org bats { 21 FOR THE YOUNG CONSERVATIONIST
Cartoons and comics are a staple in much of the art that I create, so adding personality to each bat came as second nature to me. I tried to capture my first impression from reference images—for example, the Egyptian fruit bat appears really excited with its open mouth and wide eyes, or the bulldog bat has a droopier face, which lends itself better to a dopey expression. It is Amanda Kadatz a bit of bat physiognomy! (Physiognomy: facial features or expression thought to reveal qualities of mind or character.)
Do you have a favorite illustration? Of all 31 illustrations, my favorite is definitely the fringe-lipped bat. I love the shape of its head, and it was fun drawing all the bumps around its mouth.
What is your favorite species of bat? My favorite species of bat overall? Such a hard question because I love them all, but I would say the spotted bat or the pallid bat are at the top of my list.
Do you have any tips for budding artists? For any young or up-and-coming artists out there, I echo my peers when I say practice your fundamentals, first and foremost! Keep practicing life-drawing, perspective, light studies, etc., because these fundamentals will be the cornerstone of your career as an artist. But always stay true to your interests and create work around subject matter you are passionate about, regardless of how frivolous it might seem to someone else. When you are creating art that you enjoy, people you share it with will enjoy it even more.
22 }bats Issue 2 2018 MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Marc and Kate Weinberger Dennis and Victoria Roberts Tillie Page Laird THANK YOU! Wildlife Acoustics, Inc. Bonnie and Fred Shapiro *Scott and Joy Linn We offer our deepest gratitude to all BCI *Kay Sibary and Buck Shaw Pamela Maher members and contributors who support Golden-Crowned Flying *Mary and Jason Smith *Vaughn Maley and Blake the conservation of the world’s bats. Fox $1,000-$1,499 *Donna K. Thalacker Spraggins Anonymous Donation (1) Helen Todora *Barbara A. Malizia Janne Ackerman Charles Van Tassel and Dorothy and Thomas Mayer LaRonda McAndrew We thank these donors $10,000-$49,999 *Michael Adami-Sampson Kirsten J. Winter Carl A. Vickery, III *Kevin McCarthy whose gifts were Anonymous Donations (3) Andrew Baerst Leslie Williams *David G. McKay received in the BAND Foundation Rebecca Brock *Beth Zelten *Vera and Andy McLean 12 months between Benevity Ulista J. Brooks-Hoover *Louis McLove and April 1, 2017, and Estate of Suzanne M. Corbett *Cindy Cobb and Raymond Straw-Colored Fruit Bat Beverly Wolcott March 31, 2018. Detroit Zoological Society Bruijnes $500-$999 Patrick McNally EarthShare *David Cohn Bob and Elaine Miller $100,000-$999,999 EarthShare of Texas Peter Compo Air Products & Chemicals Inc. *Cassandra Miller-Butterworth Cullen Geiselman Deupree Family Foundation *Donna Y. Aragona Stephen Holman and *Ms. Robin K. Moates The Jacob and Terese Hershey Larry W. deNeveu Mike Bellin Margo Thomas Julie Morley Foundation Frank C. Eliot Susan Billetdeaux Maltz Family Foundation Fran D. Moskovitz The Tim and Karen Hixon *Barbara Fanta *Pamela Blake Woodtiger Fund *Lawrence and Eileen Moyer Foundation *Michael Forwood Greg Brendel *Laura C. Murphy William N. Mayo Robert B. Gordon William D. Burrows $50,000-$99,999 *Renee Orme-Orander Leo Model Foundation, Inc. Graham Holdings Matching Howard and Penny Burt Anonymous Donation (1) Stephen Pratt Natural Bridge Caverns, Inc. Gifts Program Brian Buttazoni Ann and Stephen Ramsey Austin Community The Pattee Foundation Inc. *Danielle Gustafson and Stephen H. Casey William and Catherine Ruhling Foundation Read Foundation Brad Klein *Tim Cliffe *Rhonda Sanders Bailey Wildlife The Resources Legacy Fund Patricia Jacobina David Crabb Kirk and Kerri Scarbrough Foundation Shared Earth Foundation Jo Kurth Jagoda Ms. Jennifer Dean *Shannon Scroggins Duke Energy Foundation The Carter Chapman Shreve *Mary Jasnowski *Barbara Dickinson Rebecca Shapley Terry and Bill Pelster Family Foundation JPMorgan Chase Foundation Doris Duke Charitable *Pamela Small George W. Schmidt Jr. West Star Foundation *Michael J. Koski Foundation Ernest W. Smith Living Trust The White Pine Fund *Diane Lamb Ralph Earlandson Jonathan Stillerman, Ph.D. Anna L. Lawson Kenneth Erickson Michael Sullivan We thank these donors MiriMiri $1,500-$4,999 *Kenda Lovecchio Christian Gainsley *Christopher Svara whose gifts were Anonymous Donation (1) Medtronic Foundation Volunteer Panna Gattyan Glenn Taylor received in the 4 months Jane K. Brown Grant Program *Laura Glynn *Paula Thiede and between January 1, 2018 Greater Good Mennen Environmental Steven L. Griffith Charles Martin and April 15, 2018. Judith M. Joy Foundation Polly and Lars Hansen TIAA Charitable Inc. *Monthly Sustaining C. Andrew and Courtney Marcus Kevin and Iris Neelley *David Heberling *Laura and Curtis Thurman Donors Dennis and Roberta Myers Lynne and Edward Nelson *Katherine Hoff *Richard Vaughan Judith Schultz and Anne and Charles Parrish Katheryne Igo *Ginger and Bill Vermooten Honduran White Bat Glenna A. Dowling Anita K. Pearson *Peter Jaszi *Andrew and Christina Walker $5,000-$9,999 Sandra and Denny Simonson *Kent Purdy *Charles Jones Dr. David J. Watts, M.D. Gerald N. Banta Ann C. Smith Quill Fund of the New Hampshire Katz Coffee *Lee Weiskott Residual Trust Adele M. Thomas Charitable Charitable Foundation Lois Kail Daniel and Barbara Williams Butte Creek Foundation Foundation, Inc. *Mrs. Charles Richey Angela Kaplan John and Carole Wooldrik
batcon.org bats { 23 MAKING A DIFFERENCE
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24 }bats Issue 2 2018 on the
Agaves are chiropterophilous, meaning ON E they are pollinated by bats in the wild, L A S T who subsequently depend on this LOOK energy-rich nectar as a food source.
Interdependence Bats, agaves and industry
he landscape of Mexico and the southwestern United States has changed dramatically in the last few centuries. TOnce a diverse ecosystem full of unique flora and fauna, anthropogenic pressure has all but eliminated many keystone species of the region. And perhaps no other lifeform is as emblematic of this change as the agave plant. Agaves, the striking sentinels that dot this desert landscape, are intrinsically tied to the history and culture of the region. This is in no small part due to the fact that the genus is responsible for the massive industry that is tequila, mezcal and pulque, among other things. In turn, over 100,000 workers depend on the agave for their livelihoods. However, the agave is not merely the soul of an industry, it is also quite literally the lifeblood of the murciélago—the bat. For the endangered Mexican long-nosed bat and lesser-long nosed bat, flowering agaves are the food and habitat that are critical to their survival. Work is underway to restore fractured Western landscapes and create habitat of wild agave to feed these bat species. Stay up to date with this project over at batcon.org.
batcon.org bats { 25 NONPROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID MADISON, WI PERMIT NO. 1259
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