A Miscellany of Bats: (Bat Biology and Conservation)

Bats have long been the focus of fascination, and sometimes fear: they move faultlessly through the darkness and spend the day hanging upside down in gloomy caverns and cracks – most at home where humans are least comfortable. Bats also represent a hugely important, numerous and varied group, accounting for 20% of all mammal species worldwide. Covering their biodiversity, ecology and natural history, A Miscellany of Bats offers a hoard of insights into the lives of these creatures. For over a quarter of a century Brock Fenton and the late Jens Rydell collaborated on projects involving bats. Here they bring together a collection of stories and anecdotes about bat research, brought to life by stunning photographs of these animals in action. Key topics include flight and echolocation, diet and roosting habits, and the complex social lives of bats. Jens and Brock also address issues of conservation and the interactions between bats and people, ranging from matters of disease to bats’ role as symbols, and our fixation with vampire bats. They explore how echolocation and flight shape batkind, from their appearance to where they go and why. Overall, this book is an entertaining and personal vision of bats’ central place in the universe. More than 150 species are covered.

Table of Contents:
Preface Acknowledgements 1. Introducing bats Wings and size Blind as a bat Catching and identifying bats Marking and tagging Brock’s initiation Jens’ start Box: What on Earth? 2. Bat wings and flight Wing anatomy White wings How fast do bats fly? Drinking Flying antics Box: Colour in bats 3. Seeing with sound The perils of generalization Basic echolocation Why echolocate? Echolocation and the faces of bats Box: Beam control and bite power 4. Echolocation: a window onto bat behaviour Biologists as eavesdroppers on bats Insect prey Bat communication Air traffic control Box: Echolocation and foraging 5. What bats eat, part 1 Learning how much a bat consumes Some bats eat birds Versatility What insects do bats eat? Specialized hunting Trawling Box: Diets of bats 6. What bats eat, part 2 Fruit-eating species Bats and flowers Box: The curious case of bananas 7. Vampire bats 8. Where bats occur and where they roost Temperature Bat roosts Box: Patterning in bats Lingering challenges Bats up north Box: Bat boxes 9. Social lives of bats Reproduction What is a colony of bats? Food availability and social patterns Box: Observational learning 10. How bats use space Box: Bats get around 11. Threats to bats Predators Mishaps Parasites Wind turbines Light pollution A world without bats? Global change Box: Keeping bats away 12. Bats and people Attitudes towards bats Bats and disease Bats as symbols 13. Bats as beings A last word to the bats Cast of bats Notes Index

About the Author :
Brock Fenton is Emeritus Professor of Biology at the University of Western Ontario. He is Deputy Executive Editor-in-Chief of Canadian Science Publishing. Over his long career he has published widely on bats, from detailed research papers to books intended for the general reader.     Jens Rydell was a Swedish scientist and noted bat photographer, writing more than a hundred scientific papers on bats and insects. Renowned as a great teacher and conservation advocate, he was awarded the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences conservation prize in 2017.

Review :
A Miscellany of Bats is a well-written and interesting—and often absorbing—book, in which the authors convey their enthusiasm for studying this unique group of animals...Difficult concepts are simplified and the very readable text is largely accessible to general readers who might be interested in bats but have no particular background in either biology or natural history. Fascinating and wonderful...I can't find any fault with this book. And would recommend it to anyone, with just about any level of existing knowledge of bats. ...a thoroughly readable book of batty facts, and batty mysteries. If you have an interest in bats (and what naturalist does not?), this book is a good read and a very accessible way into bat research... The book is written by renowned experts and with world class photography and is a valuable addition to a natural history book collection. It is not just that A Miscellany of Bats provides facts and figures, it is that there is so much more to know about bats than most of us realize, and both Brock Fenton and the late Jens Rydell convey that knowledge to the lay audience, the text filtering the multifaceted and often highly technical aspects of bat study through the lens of accessibility to the non-scientist. Three things set A Miscellany of Bats apart. For one, the authors are outstanding photographers. The images in this book are second to none. Second, there is a lovely exploration of the roles bats play in human cultures, and much of what is covered here is not in those other volumes. With its blend of compelling facts, breathtaking imagery, and an enthusiastic, yet informative tone, A Miscellany of Bats is an essential read for bat enthusiasts, researchers, conservationists, and anyone with an interest in the natural world. Whether you are well-versed in bat biology or simply curious to learn more, this book will leave you with a newfound appreciation for these extraordinary creatures. Highly recommended!