January 31 2024 at 2.pm, Maria Mas – P.hD, Bat Monitoring Program technician and winner of the second best presentation during BritBats Symposium – will be hosting the following webinar [1] :
Bats and wetlands :
the role of Mediterranean humid habitats for bat conservation
Abstract :
Humid habitats have been managed and exploited for centuries for human benefit, jeopardising the conservation of their associated fauna and flora. Understanding the role of these habitats for animal conservation is essential for developing appropriate management plans and minimising the effects of human activities and climate change.
In this presentation, I will present a study that assessed the essential role that wetlands play during the wintertime for bats and how changing temperatures increase bat arousal bouts during winter. Moreover, and using some of the future climate scenarios, we will estimate how humid habitats could improve or sustain bat populations in Mediterranean regions in the next 100 years. Finally, we will see why artificial humid habitats such as rice paddies could never replace the role of well-preserved wetlands to protect bat populations in highly degraded areas. The presence of Natura 2000 areas and their connection through the territory significantly contribute to the conservation of bat species of priority concern and their resilience under new environmental scenarios.
With this presentation, I hope to shed some light on the interconnection between bat and wetland conservation, providing new tools for policymakers, researchers, and other organisations to help them define new conservation plans for endangered species.
In a nutshell, because wetlands might represent the last remaining natural habitats in some highly degraded areas, providing unlimited resources for bats in a rapidly changing world, bats could effectively act as umbrella species to protect new humid areas worldwide.
Note: The presentation will be held in English.
This webinar is part of the Rest-Chir’Eau project.