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https://theconversation.com/pacific-island-bats-are-utterly-fascinating-yet-under-threat-and-overlooked-meet-4-species-165765>
"A whopping 191 different bat species live in the Pacific Islands across
Micronesia, Melanesia, and Polynesia — but these are, collectively, the most
imperilled in the world. In fact, five of the nine bat species that have gone
extinct in the last 160 years have come from this region.
For too long, the conservation of Pacific Island bats has been largely
overlooked in science. Of the 191 existing species, 25% are threatened with
extinction, and we lack information to assess the status of a further 15%.
Just as these bats are rare and far-flung across the Pacific islands, so is the
expertise and research needed to conserve them along with the vital ecosystem
services they provide, such as pollination, seed dispersal, and insect control.
The first-ever Pacific Islands Bat Forum, held earlier this month, sought to
change this, bringing together a new network of researchers, conservationists,
and community members — 380 people from 40 countries and territories —
dedicated to their survival."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
