There is an ongoing debate among policymakers and the general public about where SARS-CoV-2, the…
Browsing: Bats
Bats are mammals belonging to the order Chiroptera, characterized by their forelimbs adapted as wings, making them the only mammals capable of sustained flight. There are over 1,400 species of bats, making them one of the most diverse groups of mammals. Bats play crucial ecological roles, such as pollinating flowers, dispersing seeds, and controlling insect populations by feeding on vast numbers of insects, including agricultural pests. They are divided into two main groups: megabats (fruit bats) and microbats, with the latter often using echolocation to navigate and hunt in the dark. Despite their benefits, bats are often misunderstood and face threats from habitat loss, disease (such as white-nose syndrome), and human activities. Conservation efforts are essential to protect bat populations and maintain the ecological balance they help support.
Bat-virus adaptation may explain species spillover, researchers say. A University of Saskatchewan (USask) research team…
Editor’s note: Horseshoe bats in China are a natural wildlife reservoir of SARS-like coronaviruses. Some…
Bats do a lot of good for the world — they pollinate plants, they eat…
Bats play a huge but poorly understood role in humans’ lives — they pollinate our…
Lightweight wireless network enables precise mapping of bats’ social networks. To truly understand an animal…
Corrugated metal pipes have been installed at cave and mine entrances to help bats access…
It starts with a gradual buildup of trust, study finds. We humans can explain how…
Bats’ fierce immune systems drive viruses to higher virulence, making them deadlier in humans. It’s…
Scientists have detected Marburg virus in fruit bats in Sierra Leone, marking the first time…
At a time when kombucha is commonplace on cafe menus and “probiotic-fortified” has become the…
The metropolitan area of Berlin is mostly unsuitable as a habitat for bats because of…
Artificial light influences the behavior of many nocturnal animals such as bats, which are very…
Fire plays important role for Sierra Nevada bats. Bats face many threats — from habitat…
Infectious diseases spilling over from wildlife are not new — as of 2008, approximately 70…
Vampire bats that share food and groom each other in captivity are more likely to…
Identifying how groups of animals select where to live is important for understanding social dynamics…
In the arms race between predators and prey, each evolves more and more sophisticated ways…