Chemically Induced Pollution Affects Bat Population Decline

Overview

• Post By : Kumar Jeetendra


• Source: University of York


• Date: 14 Jun,2016

Bats are mammals. Come under order Chiroptera whose forelimbs are winged. According to Bat Conservation Trust now, many bat species are endangered because of several factors. Include habitat fragmentation, food supply and more as a hunting or killings of species.

Researchers from University of York explained one of the major causes of Bat population decline in the U.S. is exposure of chemical pollution which high toxic effect over Bats. Beatrice Hernout, who recently received her PhD from York's Environment Department, studied metal levels in 190 common pipistrelle bats, found dead in locations across England and Wales. Bat organs and tissues were analyzed for a range of metals, and the results compared to levels known to cause toxic effects in mammals.

"As bats are exposed to a wide range of environmental stresses, a better understanding of stressor interactions would be beneficial to bat conservation. Further studies could investigate whether different sources of metal pollution in habitats, such as water and sediments, affect accumulation, and further research into how metals interfere with the immune system could be carried out."

Story source: University of York

Journal References:

Béatrice V. Hornet, Kathryn E. Arnold, Colin J. McClean, Michael Walls, Malcolm Baxter, Alistair B.A. Boxall. A national level assessment of metal contamination in bats. Environmental Pollution, 2016; 214: 847 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2016.04.079