Ann Holmes

How Yolo County bats help sustainable farming methods

My dissertation research on free pest control (ecosystem services) provided local bats was highlighted in this article by Lisa Thibodeau in The Sacramento Observer.

Bats (order Chiroptera) are an important part of local ecosystems, but are often underrepresented in conservation plans. To demonstrate the importance of native bats, I looked at insect DNA found in the guano of local Mexican free-tail bats. The results revealed a diversity of prey, including agricultural pests and disease-carrying mosquitoes. In the future, bat diet analysis could serve as natural surveillance system for early detection of new crop pests in agricultural landscapes, a concept known as chirosurveillance (Maslo et al. 2017). This research contributes to a broader understanding of the ways bats benefit humans and highlights the need for bat conservation.

DNA methods are an incredibly sensitive way to survey biodiversity- stay tuned for the upcoming scientific publication covering this study!

Lisa Thibodeau’s article was published 9 September 2024. The Sacramento Observer is a local Black-owned newspaper that elevates community-relevant stories.