BIO405H5

Integrative Bat Biology

Bats (Chiroptera) are the most ecologically diverse order of mammals, second only to rodents in species number. Many are endangered, others are reservoirs for human disease. Bats provide various ecosystems services, from insect control to pollination and seed dispersal. This course will first focus on the otherwise rare combination of flight and echolocation in most bats. Specific species and families of bats will then be considered in a phylogenetically structured way to reveal aspects of their distinct biology, and strategies for their conservation and management.