The organism’s genus, species and common name is Eptesicus fuscus, which is commonly referred to as the big brown bat.
The big brown bat’s natural habitats stretch from North America down to the state of Maryland. It can be witnessed throughout the USA and Canada. The species that I have read about in the textbook is the big brown bat (Reid et al., 2016). The big brown bat lives in the temperate deciduous forest biome. In its habitat, it predominantly dwells in forests, woods, and even urban environments.
In ecological interpretation, the big brown bat is a nocturnal insectivore that has the vital function of regulating insect populations. It Foraging on other insects such as beetles, moths, flies, and mosquitoes. The big brown bat, being a predator, helps to keep the insect population in check (Reid et al., 2016). Therefore, there will be none or few outbreaks preventing the diseases from spreading. It is a vital component of the local ecosystem as it participates in nutrient cycling by eating insects and producing manure that is rich in nutrients and can be used to re-supply plants.
The location of big brown bats on the conservation status list is due to two significant reasons, which are habitat loss and degradation alongside white-nose syndrome. This fungal disease affects bat populations (Reid et al., 2016). Habitat loss and degradation occur in the framework of urbanization, deforestation, and destruction of roosting sites, for example, caves and trees.
Negatively, we have impacted the big brown bat’s survival through human activities like habitat loss, roost disturbance, and utilization of pesticides. Urbanization and deforestation have been the major causes of the decrease in sites for roosting and feeding for bats. Also, the disruption of hibernation sites may create a problem with reaching the cycle of mating and hibernation. Applying pesticides and insecticides can diminish the insect population, which is the food source of bats, thus directly affecting the bats’ feeding pattern.
However, on the flip side, people realize the significance of bats and thus are conserving their populations. Conservation initiatives include the conservation of the roosting sites, the installation of bat boxes and bat roosts, and the creation of bat-friendly habitats (Reid et al., 2016). Education and broad public campaigns have helped spread awareness of the bats’ conservation and acknowledged their ecological importance as well.
I think that the necessary way to protect endangered species like the big brown bat is to put in as much effort as possible to save them. Bats are the main actors in their system’s aerodynamics and provide a wide range of valuable ecosystem services like pest control. Conserving and shielding the big brown bat, as well as other endangered species, is one of the most essential factors in maintaining the health and security of the ecosystem.
The big brown bat needs some help to prevail, and these are some of the measures to take. First of all, the efforts should be concentrated on safeguarding and revitalizing its habitat. This involves maintaining forests and woodlands along with protecting the natural roosting sites such as caves and trees. Also, reducing the use of pesticides and insecticides is an important measure to enhance the survival prospects of the big brown bat. Integrated pest management practices, whose priority is the use of natural and non-toxic methods to control pests, can help yield healthy insect populations for bats to feed on. Additionally, it is necessary to educate people about the ecological significance of bats and knock myths and fables out of their minds so that they can better comprehend and value those species.
Reference
Reid, F., J Arroyo-Cabrales, A.D. Cuarón, P de Grammont, & Miller, B. (2016, August 8). IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Eptesicus fuscus. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species; Name. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/7928/22118197
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