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Most Important Creature Is Most Maligned

by thunderbird
23 replies
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The most important beings to the world's ecosystems are the most maligned: Bats. Nature would do just fine without humans, but needs bats.

Intro to Bats
"Bats are essential to the health of our natural world. They help control pests and are vital pollinators and seed-dispersers for countless plants. Yet these wonderfully diverse and beneficial creatures are among the least studied and most misunderstood of animals."

Rainforest Canopy—Bats
"Because so many plant species, including kapok, eucalyptus, durian, mango, clove, banana, guava, avocado, breadfruit, ebony, mahogany, and cashew trees, depend exclusively on bats for pollination and seed dispersal, bats play a monumental role in the health of the rainforest. For example, bats are the dominant pollinators of forests on remote Pacific islands. Since many plant species on such islands coevolved features to facilitate specific bat pollination, once bats are eliminated there are no other pollinators to fill the niche. Bats also play a crucial role in controlling insects. In several locations, municipal bat roosts have been proposed to stymie malaria-carrying mosquitos. "
#bat nature #bat pollination #bats ecosystem
  • Profile picture of the author MoneyMagnetMagnate
    However...it could be argued that Ants, are the most important beings to the world's ecosystems...

    But then, they don't have a cool super-hero lobby - :rolleyes:







    *I just said it could be argued, I didn't say I was going to...
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  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    You're right there. The fruit bats generally only do good. It is a shame that they often encroach on peoples homes, and are killed or moved. It is HARD to imagine a mammal that weighs about what a penny does, but baby kangaroos aren't TOO much larger.

    Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author hardraysnight
    they were very good in rambo too
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  • Profile picture of the author GT
    Bats are cool to observe. In the right conditions and with the right nighttime lighting I can stand in the yard and watch them flying around, catching insects.

    I wanted to build "bat boxes" for them to live in, but my spouse is against the idea!

    GT
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    • Profile picture of the author MissTerraK
      Originally Posted by GT View Post

      Bats are cool to observe. In the right conditions and with the right nighttime lighting I can stand in the yard and watch them flying around, catching insects.

      I wanted to build "bat boxes" for them to live in, but my spouse is against the idea!

      GT
      Yes they are cool to watch, GT.

      We have our own little Eco system happening at our place in the summer. Just before sunset, a drove of dragonflies come out and zoom all over the three acres eating insects and if you sit real still, a pack of about 15 to 20 will come and fly around you forming a dome. I think they are after the almost microscopic little gnats that fly around trying to land on you and "bug" you to death, lol! Anyway, it is the coolest thing! I call them my little Evinrudes, lol!

      Then, just like clockwork, the sun starts going down, the dragonflies disappear almost like magic and not too much later, the bats come out flying and swooping and eating more bugs! It is such a cool phenomenon to watch.

      Hey, one of our neighbors has built bat boxes all along the top of his garage and I'm sure that's where many of the bats come from. Maybe you could convince a neighbor to put some up at his house for you.

      Terra
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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    Bats are awesome. I'm not sure why people are so damned scared of them. Of course, mice are adorable, too but send many people to jumping on chairs if they see them.

    As far as needed - everything in an ecosystem is needed. Just recently it was discovered that the grassland savannah biome in Africa is majorly dependent on the termites there.

    MMM - ants play extremely important roles in their ecosystems. In Africa they swarm on leaves of certain trees and deter browsers (mostly elephants) from stripping the trees. They help break down fallen trees so they decompose faster, and they provide food source for other small creatures. Their tunneling also helps to areate and "turn" soil.

    Any part of an ecosystem, no matter how small, is a necessary part of that web of life. Any disturbance can set off chain reactions that can destroy an ecosystem.

    No creature, no matter how repugnant we find it, should be considered worthless.
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    Sal
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    • Profile picture of the author thunderbird
      Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

      Bats are awesome. I'm not sure why people are so damned scared of them. Of course, mice are adorable, too but send many people to jumping on chairs if they see them. <snip>
      Bats are really amazing and actually kind of cute. They're closely related to monkeys. Here's a site where you can "adopt" a bat:
      Sponsor a Bat in Need « Bat rescue, bat rehabilitation bat conservation and sanctuary for bats. A non-profit organization dedicated to bats!
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      Project HERE.

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    • Profile picture of the author seasoned
      Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

      Bats are awesome. I'm not sure why people are so damned scared of them. Of course, mice are adorable, too but send many people to jumping on chairs if they see them.

      As far as needed - everything in an ecosystem is needed. Just recently it was discovered that the grassland savannah biome in Africa is majorly dependent on the termites there.

      MMM - ants play extremely important roles in their ecosystems. In Africa they swarm on leaves of certain trees and deter browsers (mostly elephants) from stripping the trees. They help break down fallen trees so they decompose faster, and they provide food source for other small creatures. Their tunneling also helps to areate and "turn" soil.

      Any part of an ecosystem, no matter how small, is a necessary part of that web of life. Any disturbance can set off chain reactions that can destroy an ecosystem.

      No creature, no matter how repugnant we find it, should be considered worthless.
      Well, humans have abused this world SO much, that even the nasty viruses that merely kill and injure PEOPLE have a purpose. I Might try to kill mice, etc... but ONLY if they get bad around my home, or they come into it. Luckily, I have NEVER had that problem. I only saw a real live bat up close when I was a little kid. Where I lived, there was a bat in the attic, and the owner flushed it out and scared it away. It probably lived a decent live, it wasn't hurt.

      Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author MoneyMagnetMagnate
    No creature, no matter how repugnant we find it, should be considered worthless.
    I understand Sal,

    But if we could get rid of just one...juuuust one...can we make it flies?

    I know they are important to the ecosystem and all - but they really "tick" me off...:p

    Sometimes, it seems the main purpose in life for a fly, is just to be a royal pain in the .....:rolleyes:
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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    There are some really tiny little bats that I've seen pictures of people holding, too that just kind of cling to their fingers - maybe an inch or two long as babies. Absolute little cuteness overdoses. Wish I could remember what they were called.

    Anyhow - there are a lot of caves that are being closed off to preserve bats now because spelunkers started to threaten their environments. Also old mine shafts are often grated when shored up instead of completely closed off to leave the environments for the little guys. A lot of work being done to save them. It makes me cringe to see areas being sprayed with poisons to kill insects in areas where bats are prevalent. Makes me cringe to see it anywhere actually - but we need to stop that crap. Let the bats thrive and they will take care of the pests naturally. I can't remember the figures, but bats can devour one huge mass of insects in one night.
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    Sal
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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    I dunno, TB - considering the rest of the movie, I'm thinking they were inspired by either the poppies, mushrooms, or just a good old fashioned hit of window pane.


    MMM - I'm kinda a fly hater myself. Need some pet bats to keep them under control I guess.
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    Sal
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    • Profile picture of the author thunderbird
      Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

      I dunno, TB - considering the rest of the movie, I'm thinking they were inspired by either the poppies, mushrooms, or just a good old fashioned hit of window pane.<snip>
      I only watched the beginning. Just wanted a video of a flying fruit bat. What I found was more than I asked for.
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  • Profile picture of the author whateverpedia
    The most important creature?

    Bees.

    No contest.
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  • Profile picture of the author MoneyMagnetMagnate
    We call those "almost microscopic little gnats" - 'No-see-ums'

    Aussies have a cure for blow flies, deer flies, no-see-ums, and the like...:rolleyes:

    Rather stylish,
    (if you don't go cross-eyed...:rolleyes
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    • Profile picture of the author MissTerraK
      Haha! Why not just have strips of double sided sticky fly paper dangling all around? :rolleyes:

      I think I'll just keep my Evinrudes!



      They're cuter.:p

      Terra
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  • Profile picture of the author MoneyMagnetMagnate
    Evinrudes! LOL!

    Dragon Flies get good PR because of their looks...:rolleyes:

    Most flies are just "rude"!
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    • Profile picture of the author MissTerraK
      Originally Posted by MoneyMagnetMagnate View Post


      Most flies are just "rude"!
      Well, there's no debate about that! LOL!

      Terra
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  • Profile picture of the author bailbondsguys
    Bees are also some of the most important creatures on this planet as they help pollinate a large portion of plants. When tomatoes were first brought to Europe from the Americas they did not pollinate and reproduce effectively and Europeans were baffled. They found that they had to manually pollinate tomato plants using something similar to a paint brush. Later it was discovered that bees were the primary source of pollination for these plants (although they are not the only method tomato plants can pollinate each other).
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    • Profile picture of the author ThomM
      Originally Posted by bailbondsguys View Post

      Bees are also some of the most important creatures on this planet as they help pollinate a large portion of plants. When tomatoes were first brought to Europe from the Americas they did not pollinate and reproduce effectively and Europeans were baffled. They found that they had to manually pollinate tomato plants using something similar to a paint brush. Later it was discovered that bees were the primary source of pollination for these plants (although they are not the only method tomato plants can pollinate each other).
      Insects in general. First there are more insects on earth then anything, that includes mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and vegetation.
      Second in one way or another everything living depends on insects.
      Without the organisms at the bottom of the food chain, the organisms at the top couldn't survive.
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