April is Earth Month and a time to be aware of the issues affecting our home planet. Whether raising awareness of the effects of climate change or helping to collect trash and clean up local parks — the efforts of organizations, communities, and individuals can have lasting effect for future generations. Here at EPRI, we’ve looked at ways to help one of Earth’s most misunderstood inhabitants: the bat.
In addition to helping plants flourish through pollination and dispersing seeds, bats are remarkable at pest control – estimated to save the U.S. more than $1 billion in crop damage and pesticide costs each year. However, a disease called white-nose syndrome (WNS) has been crippling bat populations across North America. During their critical hibernation period, bats affected by WNS end up depleting their bodies’ fat and energy reserves to fight off the disease — the result of which is deadly.
EPRI, with the support of Bat Conservation International (BCI), have tested one method to increase the chances of survival for vulnerable cave-dwelling bat populations on land managed by energy companies. The multi-year experiment attracted insects and prey to bat hibernation spots using UV light lures — with the goal of boosting foraging habitats to sustain bats during their hibernation cycle. Launched in 2019, the results of the study have just been released — and the results show promising potential.
Using acoustic detectors to record bat echolocation and foraging activity from Fall and Spring, researchers found that UV light lures had a significant positive effect. Even accounting for fluctuating temperatures, insect availability and behaviors, the results showed evidence of increased bat foraging and feeding activity during both testing periods.
During the Fall, bat foraging activity was three times greater with 16.7 times greater insect biomass at UV lure sites — and the results from Spring were even more substantial, with foraging activity 8.5 times higher and insect biomass 26.1 times higher. And while there was no meaningful difference in echolocation activity using nighttime UV lights in the Fall – where bats locate objects & prey through reflected sound – during the spring there was a significant spike when using the UV lights.
The experiment showed researchers that UV light lures acting as ‘prey patches’ did in fact increase bat foraging activity. Even with certain bats responding differently depending on the species and season— little brown bats during the Spring were especially active – the overall increased foraging will help bats maintain positive energy balances and fat reserves.
Beyond WNS, EPRI is also looking at bat populations being impacted from other causes, including wind turbines that have become an obstacle for migratory bats. To determine how widespread the issue is, researchers are looking into ways to record and analyze the occurrence with acoustic monitoring. In looking at patterns and trends — seasonal, behavioral, structural — researchers hope to identify a solution that goes beyond fixing isolated incidents and address widespread, preventable bat fatalities from wind turbines.
Whether it is April or not, doing what we can to protect Earth’s creatures and their habitat is a cause we can all care about. Regardless of if it is your local park, lake, highway — or perhaps cave — the life that exists all around us is a part of our home.