Featured Post

THIS IS WHAT I DO

Barbed wire | Rescue | THIS IS WHAT I DO checking barbed wire in my own time. volunteer.

Bats perform 'vital pest control' on crops


Bats provide a service worth an estimated US $1bn (£649m) globally by controlling pests on corn crops, a study has suggested.

Scientists carried out a series of experiments to assess the economic and ecological importance of the nocturnal insect-eating mammals to farmers.

Globally, bat populations are under pressure as a result of habitat loss and the spread of diseases.

The findings appear in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

"The results of this study are a testament to the value of ecosystem services," said co-author Josiah Maine from Southern Illinois University.

In North America, many bat populations are under threat from a disease called White-Nose Syndrome. Since 2007, the disease has killed millions of bats and continues to spread.

The US National Wildlife Health Centre estimated that bat populations in the north-east of the country have declined by about 80% since the first reported cases of bat fatalities as a result of the disease.

It added: "The true ecological consequences of large-scale population reductions currently underway among hibernating bats are unknown. However, farmers might feel the impact."

Mr Maine told BBC News that he was interested in finding out how effective bats were in terms of providing a pest control service to farmers growing corn (maize).

The team constructed a number of exclosures (a controlled, open-air experimental area) measuring 20 metres by 20 metres and seven metres high, consisting of netting that was suspended by cables.

"This netting allowed the insects to move freely but prevented bats from foraging in those areas," He explained.

"We were only interested in excluding the bats so we constructed the exclosures so all the netting could be slid to one end so we could open them up during the day to allow birds to forage in the area."

Using the data gathered from the field study and combining with other previously published data, the team was able to extrapolate the findings to a global scale and estimate a monetary value for the ecological service provided by bats in terms of pest control in cornfields.

The team wrote: "We estimate that the suppression of herbivory by insectivorous bats is worth more than US$1bn globally on this crop alone."

Mr Maine told BBC News: "Bear in mind that this figure does not take into account for the impacts of bats on the fungal diseases we found in the corn, or the micro-toxins produced by those fungal species.

"It also does not account for the reduced amount of pesticides used in fields, as bats could be providing an additional valuable service to agriculture by suppressing pest populations below the threshold where pesticides are necessary."

Farmers' friend

According to the IUCN's Bat Specialist Group (BSG), bat species account for one fifth of all terrestrial mammals.

As well as being an important predator of insects, bats are also considered to be key seed dispersers and pollinators for many plants.

Yet, the BSG observed: "They are among the most endangered of the world's creatures, primarily because much of their habitat has been eliminated by human development or because they are persecuted.

"Their loss has serious consequences for the ecosystems to which they belong."

An earlier study, publish in Science in April 2011, warned that the loss of bat species in North America could lead to agricultural losses in the region of US$3.7bn each year.

The authors observed: "Urgent efforts are needed to educate the public and policymakers about the ecological and economic importance of insectivorous bats and to provide practical conservation solutions."

Mr Maine echoed this view: "Bats are maligned in the media and there is a public fear, so if we can demonstrate a valuable, positive impact of bats then it is good for the species and it is good for society.

"What it suggests is that conservation is necessary not just from an ethical stance but from an economic standpoint as well."

COMMENTS

BLOGGER
Name

Articles,51,Audio,23,Backyard,24,Barbed Wire,35,Bat Art,56,Bat Books,94,Bat Box,27,Bat Clothing,16,Bat Issues,642,Bat Stamps,1,Bats,4,Bats for Children,39,Bats for the Home,70,Electrocution,9,Events,39,info on bats,643,Jackie Sparrow,26,Microbats,469,Misc,121,Netting,40,Newsletter,5,Promoting,152,Rehab,92,Rehab 2011,7,Rehab 2012,25,Rehab 2013,15,Rehab 2014,6,Rehab 2015,108,Rehab 2016,136,Rehab 2017,73,Rehab 2018,29,Rehab 2019,2,Release Cage,2,RESCUE,74,Rescue 2011,1,Rescue 2012,7,RESCUE 2013,18,RESCUE 2014,8,RESCUE 2015,25,Rescue 2016,20,RESCUE 2017,16,Rescue 2018,10,Rescue 2019,6,Rob Mies,11,Shooting,2,Vegetation,27,Video,399,Virus,128,WebSites-Bat,45,
ltr
item
BatsRule!: Bats perform 'vital pest control' on crops
Bats perform 'vital pest control' on crops
Bats perform vital pest control on crops
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpbtzw0nmOhw-wHu0GN2q4PWuvFoM-TfwicylIeXCU4Qi4PcGKaxh8CLQFiHaEMj58KgZCUaPKUkN_XYJAq8PrIsTrU9C0iQUFk6jdxDOXTQ8SFQf2yzzx7cvCkTNZ3_Ol-4SjKTPSa1I/s1600/Bats+perform+vital+pest+control+on+crops.JPG
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpbtzw0nmOhw-wHu0GN2q4PWuvFoM-TfwicylIeXCU4Qi4PcGKaxh8CLQFiHaEMj58KgZCUaPKUkN_XYJAq8PrIsTrU9C0iQUFk6jdxDOXTQ8SFQf2yzzx7cvCkTNZ3_Ol-4SjKTPSa1I/s72-c/Bats+perform+vital+pest+control+on+crops.JPG
BatsRule!
http://batsrule-helpsavewildlife.blogspot.com/2016/07/bats-perform-vital-pest-control-on-crops.html
http://batsrule-helpsavewildlife.blogspot.com/
http://batsrule-helpsavewildlife.blogspot.com/
http://batsrule-helpsavewildlife.blogspot.com/2016/07/bats-perform-vital-pest-control-on-crops.html
true
4238281482117672351
UTF-8
Loaded All Posts Not found any posts VIEW ALL Readmore Reply Cancel reply Delete By Home PAGES POSTS View All RECOMMENDED FOR YOU LABEL ARCHIVE SEARCH ALL POSTS Not found any post match with your request Back Home Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat January February March April May June July August September October November December Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec just now 1 minute ago $$1$$ minutes ago 1 hour ago $$1$$ hours ago Yesterday $$1$$ days ago $$1$$ weeks ago more than 5 weeks ago Followers Follow THIS PREMIUM CONTENT IS LOCKED STEP 1: Share to a social network STEP 2: Click the link on your social network Copy All Code Select All Code All codes were copied to your clipboard Can not copy the codes / texts, please press [CTRL]+[C] (or CMD+C with Mac) to copy