Africa’s bats could survive climate change – if they can find somewhere to live
Originally published by The Conversation – Articles (AFRICA) — Read the original article →
Climate change and changes in the way land is used are the two biggest threats to wildlife because they change the environment in which animals survive and thrive. Knowing how species respond to these pressures is central to planning conservation actions.
A number of studies have modelled how climate change will affect vertebrate distributions. But little is known about bats from tropical and subtropical regions, especially in Africa.
Bats are particularly sensitive to changes to their environment because of their slow reproductive rates, dependence on stable roosts, and sensitivity to climatic extremes that shape insect availability – their main source of food.
