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Standard Operating Procedure for Lyssavirus Surveillance of the Bat Population in Taiwan
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Neuroethology of bat navigation
Daria Genzel1, Yossi Yovel2, Michael M Yartsev1
1Department of Bioengineering, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94708, United States; Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94708, United States.
Current Biology : CB
|September 12, 2018
Summary
Each year, 15 million Mexican free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) migrate to Texas
Area of Science:
- Zoology
- Ecology
- Conservation Biology
Background:
- Mexican free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) undertake a significant annual migration.
- These bats travel up to 1,500 km from wintering grounds to Bracken Cave, Texas.
- Bracken Cave serves as a crucial summer roost from March to October.
Purpose of the Study:
- To document the migratory patterns and ecological role of Mexican free-tailed bats.
- To highlight the importance of Bracken Cave as a bat habitat.
- To understand the bats' foraging behavior and contribution to pest control.
Main Methods:
- Observational study of bat migration and roosting behavior.
- Tracking of bat movements to foraging grounds (up to 50 km).
- Assessment of bats' impact on insect populations and agriculture.
Main Results:
- Approximately 15 million bats congregate in Bracken Cave annually.
- Bats forage nightly, traveling considerable distances for insect prey.
- They provide significant natural pest control services for local agriculture.
Conclusions:
- The annual migration and roosting of Mexican free-tailed bats are vital ecological events.
- Bracken Cave is an essential habitat supporting a large bat population.
- These bats play a critical role in insect pest management in Texas.
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