wildingthings

[wildingthings]

Mangroves

This week we will be exploring one of the most important ecosystems of the ocean, the mangroves. These coastal forests are the filtration system for the coasts providing a first defense between land pollution and the water as well as storing carbon. They also provide the perfect safe spaces for the juveniles of many fish species. These magnificently evolved trees are crucial to coastal places like Florida, and they, like many other species, are in danger from humans.

[wildingthings]

Natural History of Bats

Class: Mammalia

Order: Chiroptera (Greek meaning “hand-wing)

Suborders: Megachiroptera and Microchiroptera

These adorable creatures are the only flying mammals that we know of, and are a very vital part of ecosystems all over the world from deserts to the tropics. In fact, the only places they aren’t found is in arctic climates and on remote isolated coastal islands. They are important for pest control, pollination, and seed dispersal as their diet consists mainly of fruits and insects (besides the infamous vampire bat who prefers to eat blood). What makes them so unique as mammalian hunters is their use of echolocation to track prey, which leads to their nocturnal nature since they don’t require sight, giving them the advantage of less competition.

Bats live in groups to protect from individual predation, but don’t pair off monogamously. Females will have one pup at a time, but can have multiple pups in a breeding season by multiple different fathers. When females are pregnant they congregate in maternal colonies until the young are born, because ladies support each other. Babies are born pretty well-developed but with non-functional wings so they need to be cared for for a few weeks before they can fly off and live on their own. Bats can live up to 30 years, and range anywhere from 6 in. to 67 in. wingspans. 

Even though it seems that with the wide variety of sizes and species of bats would mean they are numerous and everywhere, it is actually the opposite. Bats have not escaped the environmental consequences of climate change and human development. Several species have gone extinct already and most are at least have been put under watch. One of the most common causes are habitat loss and a fungal disease that humans carry between caves and therefore spreads to bat populations that otherwise would have been isolated from each other. 

This only scratches the surface of the life of bats, and as you will see in a later post we are still discovering more to this day. So spread the good word about bats, stop the stigma, and appreciate these furry little flying foxes whenever you see them! 

Sources of info:

https://www.si.edu/spotlight/batshttps://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/blog/bat-fact-sheet/#:~:text=Bats%20comprise%20the%20order%20Chiroptera,worldwide%2C%20with%20over%201%2C300%20species.

[wildingthings]

Animal of the week: Bats

This week the animal of focus will be bats. While these tiny creatures get a bad rap in western cultures, they are vital to the ecosystem and are actually considered omens of happiness and good luck in eastern cultures. There is a lot to know about these flying furry friends, and I have a lot of great fun facts and new discoveries to bring to you!

[wildingthings]

I am of the firm belief that science and information should be accessible and understood by anyone with any background. This is why I've created this blog, to create a space to communicate scientific breakthroughs and marvel in the wonder that is this world that we live in. I am going to be sharing diverse topics ranging from medicine, to physics, to cool animal facts and natural histories. I hope everyone enjoys and has come to learn some cool stuff about science!