At the end of 2021, a bat sighting and count was carried out in Cerro Blanco, in order to learn more about these animals.
There are many negative ideas about bats, like that they are blind, diabolical or that they ‘suck’ the blood of people. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, when it became known that it was one of the possible original carriers of the virus, rejection of them has increased.
The truth is that all these data are false, the origin of SARS-CoV-2 is still not entirely clear and the bats play important roles in nature, beneficial to people.
Since 2013, the Bat Conservation Program in Ecuador has carried out annual sightings and counts, for people to know more about bats, as these animals are also known (by the name of their order).
Due to the pandemic, this sighting was made only with biology students and guides from the Cerro Blanco Protective Forest. THE UNIVERSE was present in one of the study groups, which were four in total.
Nets were placed in various places where groups of bats live. The nets were checked every 20 to 30 minutes so that, if any were trapped, they would not hurt themselves trying to get loose. At dusk, the bats began to come out.
EL UNIVERSO participated in the group that collected two species: Greater Angler (Noctilio leporinus) and Greater Spearnose (Phyllostomus hastatus). Details were observed such as: approximate age, which can be measured by seeing the ossification of the phalanges (if they are translucent, the individual is young), sex, if they were pregnant or lactating, general health of the bat. Characteristics of each species were also detailed, for example, how the fisherman catches his prey at high speed in the water.
In the four study groups, they collected 20 individuals, from 9 species:
- Artibeus concolor
- Artibeus fraterculus
- Chiroderma villosum
- Micronycteris simmonsae
- Myotis nigricans
- Noctilio leporinus
- Phyllostomus hastatus
- Sturnira bakeri
- Uroderma convexum
In the Protected Forest Cerro Blanco 33 species have been recorded so far. According to Jaime Salas, university professor and coordinator of the Bat Conservation Program, this does not mean that there are no more, because in Guayaquil there are some other species that have not yet been seen in this protected area. Most, he says, eat fruits, nectar and pollen.
Salas explained that thanks to the sighting and counting, it has been confirmed that there are still species that use shelters in the area and that Cerro Blanco continues to provide a good habitat and provide a protection service to the diversity (of fauna) of the city.
“It is very rare for a bat to give a person rabies. This is more likely to happen if people are bitten by stray dogs or cats that have this disease,” he said.
Salas hopes that more people can participate in the next activities, as in previous years, because it is important that citizens know about the species with which they live and demystify ideas such as bats being blind, demons or harmful to people.
Also, there is only three hematophagous species of bats, of the 1,300 that are known.
At the end of the collection, most of the students learned to hold bats in such a way that they cannot get loose and to untie them from the nets. Some posed for photos with the animals. One animal of each species was kept in cloth bags for more detailed observations and the rest were released back into the forest.
Environmental services of bats
Bats pollinate flowers, as do some birds and insects. They dive into flowers, drink nectar and eat pollen. Much of this pollen gets stuck to their fur and skin. By going to other flowers, that pollen causes the flowers to fertilize. This ensures the genetic diversity of plants, making them less vulnerable to pests.
Bats also disperse seeds. They eat fruits and by making their stools, they carry seeds to other places, where new bushes and trees are born. Its feces are known as guano and it is one of the best organic fertilizers that exist.
They control pests. By feeding on insects, bats also act as pest controllers for all kinds of insects.
They are the subject of studies on virus issues. They are hosts to various types of viruses, but they do not develop diseases. Studying them is important to understand how their immune system works and what allows them not to catch many diseases, like people. (I)
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