Cover photo: Biologist Luis Fernando Aguirre examines the Spectral Bat (Vampyrum spectrum), which is categorized as vulnerable.
Biologist specializing in bats, Luis Fernando Aguirre, who has devoted his professional life to the study of these mammals, recently shared his passion and expertise in an interview. He emphasized the importance of including bats in Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) for the conservation of biodiversity.
From a young age, Aguirre was captivated by bats, and throughout his career, he has discovered the pivotal roles these animals play in natural ecosystems and their benefits to humans. “They are incredibly important in pollinating over 300 million plants, dispersing seeds of more than 500 plant species, and controlling insect pests. Nearly 70% of bats worldwide are insectivorous, and some can eat approximately 300 individual insects per hour,” stated Aguirre. For example, the corn earworm, which causes significant agricultural losses, is a larva that, when it grows and matures, becomes a moth. Many insectivorous bats feed on these moths, thus reducing the occurrence of corn earworms, which substantially benefits agricultural productivity and farmers’ livelihoods. One bat can eat 150 to 200 moths per night. If these bats were not there, there would be many more of these insects,” he says.
In Bolivia, where Aguirre conducts his research, bats play a crucial role in agricultural pest control and reducing the population of disease-transmitting mosquitoes. Consequently, to promote the conservation of these mammals and their inclusion in KBAs is of paramount significance.
Aguirre underscored the importance of incorporating bats into KBAs, as they represent a substantial portion of the fauna, and their conservation is essential for maintaining ecosystem balance.“In tropical places especially, more or less 50% of the mammals that exist in a place are bats. So the representativeness of bats is very high by site,” he points out.
During the interview, Aguirre explained why bats had not been considered for KBAs in the past. Obtaining precise quantitative data on bats has been a significant hurdle in their inclusion in these conservation areas.
Regarding the diversity of bats in Bolivia, Aguirre highlighted that the country boasts one of the highest species diversities, with approximately 138 to 140 species. Of these, 12 are classified in the Red List of Threatened Species, with one species, the sword-nosed bat of Thomes, facing the peril of extinction.
The biologist issued a public plea for the importance of protecting bats and their habitats. He noted that habitat destruction, cave vandalism, and lack of accurate information pose substantial threats to these mammals.
Finally, Aguirre emphasized that the protection of bats not only benefits these animals but also has a direct impact on people’s quality of life by contributing to the prevention of insect-transmitted diseases and maintaining ecosystem equilibrium.
In commemoration of Bat Day in Latin America and the 25th anniversary of the Program for the Conservation of Bats in Bolivia, Aguirre celebrated the achievements obtained in the protection and knowledge of these mammals through the Latin American Network for the Conservation of Bats and encouraged to continue working on the conservation of these important species for biodiversity.
Photo: The Tomes Nose bat Phyllostomus hastatus, is omnivore/frugivore.