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PARIS: Scorching heatwaves linked to climate change have caused thousands of Australian bats to drop dead after flapping their wings in a desperate bid to cool off, scientists say. On one day alone in 2002, up to six per cent of the flying foxes in nine colonies in New South Wales, southeast Australia, died when temperatures hit 42°C, according to the study. Most alarming, said the biologists, was the mortality rate among young bats, which was as high as 50 per cent. "The effects of temperature extremes on flying foxes highlight complex implications of climate change for behaviour, demography and species survival," says the study, which is published today by the Royal Society, Britain's de-facto academy of sciences. Vulnerable species The fruit-eating, winged mammals play a critical role in local ecosystems, helping to pollinate wild and cultivated crops and disperse seeds, the researchers point out. Besides an increase in extreme weather, flying foxes, are also threatened by human encroachment of their habitat. They are often killed outright as pests. The two species most affected by heatwaves, the black flying fox (Pteropus alecto) and grey-headed flying fox (Pteropus poliocephalus), are listed as "vulnerable" on the New South Wales Threatened Species Conservation Act, adopted in 1995. Heatwaves damage health The U.N.'s climate change panel said in an authoritative report on global warming this year that rising average temperatures have already begun to provoke more intense and more frequent heatwaves. Humans are subject to the effects of such extremes as well: 15,000 deaths were attributed to a month-long hot spell in 2003 in France alone, the panel said. Exploring the impact of high temperatures on flying foxes, a team of British and Australian researchers led by Justin Welbergen of Cambridge University in the U.K. staked out several mixed-species colonies in Dallis Park, southeast Australia. On January 12, 2002, in the middle of the Australian summer, the scientists observed how the bats – hanging from exposed canopy trees – reacted to the heat. At first the animals sought shade and began "wing fanning" to cool themselves, they reported. Within a couple of hours the flying foxes were panting, and soon they were drooling saliva. Finally, "individuals began falling from the trees...and died within 10-20 minutes," the study found. The researchers estimate that over 30,000 flying foxes have died due to heatwaves since 1994 during 19 similar events. Readers' commentsBats Drop DeadI too am from Australia. Not all places in Australia are used to temperatures over 40c on a regular basis. The links below support the above article and are quite likely the source of the content. http://www.zoo.cam.ac.uk/zoostaff/BBE/Welbergen/GHFlyingFox.htm http://www.tvwc.org/HTML/disaster%20and%20hope%20at%20dallis%20park.htm However, personally I would think heatwaves in these areas are not unique though infrequent with this outcome having no doubt occured many times over the centuries. Habitat destruction and the increasing number of humans near bat populations would likely be the major contributor to decreases in bat populations. Submitted by Visitor on 1 December 2007 - 9:22pm.
Summer in AustraliaDear Visitor, No - not all places in Australia have summers over 40 deg centigrade (though, frankly, they would have to be the exception - just as other places in Australia also are the exception to regularly get to over FIFTY degs); but where those bats live they certainly do reach 40 degree temperatures ALL of the time during summer. This Parisian story is nothing less than a "The Sky is Falling" beat-up attempting to blame the deaths of bats in a typical 40 degree Australian summer somehow have something to do with Climate Change. And they can do this beacause most people in Europe do not have the slightest idea of Australia's climate. I read the articles you sighted (and several more on the subject) and nowhere do they actually bother to state that the temperatures concerned have CONSISTENTLY been reached in other heatwaves in the temperature records that go back to the beginning of the colonies - Australia has a history of temperature extremes and a history of the deaths of all sorts of animals from those very same happenings. The articles state RECORD temperatures - but by what percentage? 0.1 of a degree hotter than the same heatwave of other times? Take a look at this Website showing temperature extremes: http://www.ga.gov.au/education/facts/dimensions/climxtre.htm notice the highest temperature ever recorded was nearly 120 years ago in 1889?!? Interestingly, articles such as this: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/11/29/2105632.htm try to make some ridiculous connection to global warming by saying that deaths such as these will continue IF global warming reaches the dire predictions being made. It's pretty lame science to make that jump when the temperature that killed the bats has been recorded hundreds of times before in similar heatwaves over the centuries to some reference of a hypothetical climate disaster that just hasn't occurred. A little more balanced and objective reporting would be nice to see. Submitted by C. Jeffrey on 2 December 2007 - 11:16am.
heat waves any many batsheat waves like these are a common thing and have been such for all of my life. to blame something that already exists on global warming, whether it is agreed with or not cannot be used as proof for global warming. and paris, why if cosmos is base in sydney (like me) is it not plain to see that anyone can go to hyde park with its 100's of giant fig trees and see that the probably likely cause of death of bats would be lack of food due to overpopulation! and really a bat falls off a tree, "I know lets watch it and see what happends, not call RSPCA or WIRES or any other services available" and then wonder why they die! it was a hot day! they got hot and there is "bat baths" like there are bird baths I hope this article isnt used in proof of global warming ever Submitted by Eliot on 2 December 2007 - 9:08am.
The death of bats in theThe death of bats in the heat waves also has a lot to do with land clearing. Many of these heatwave sites were further inland than the original habitat of these mega bats. This was a stressful and traumatic time for both the bats and carers who were faced with so many sick, distressed and dead animals. One of the colonies that was affected now has a council trying to get a license to shhoot them. Go to www.otcs.info/bats for more information. Why are the Flying Foxes in the Sydney Botanical Gardens and Hyde Park? Look around outside of the gardens and see how much of their natural habitat is left. They congregate at the only available food source. Some Sydney Councils have now designed emergency plans to spray camps in heat extremes as they have recognised the ecological value of these highly intelligent mammals. Submitted by Visitor on 16 January 2008 - 9:47am.
Australia need its flying foxesIt is no secret that bats die due to heat waves. The problem is that these heat waves occur with a higher frequency due to climate change. Submitted by Visitor on 28 January 2008 - 7:04pm.
In my opinionThe fruit-eating, winged mammals play a critical role in local ecosystems, helping to pollinate wild and cultivated crops and disperse seeds, the researchers point out.Besides an increase in extreme weather, flying foxes, are also threatened by human encroachment of their habitat. They are often killed outright as pests"... This is bad news, a lot of things seem to be coming apart at the seams.A real Domino effect.Download Full Movies Online Submitted by Visitor on 19 March 2008 - 5:40pm.
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Bats Dropping Dead
Hello,
I live in Australia and your report (from Paris, of all places?) is just nonsensical. Australia constantly has summers with temperatures over 42 degress Celsius and all manner of animals and humans don't like it; but it doesn't kill off all the animals because that is how our climate is. And that's exactly how it has been for centuries, and it hasn't got one thing to do with climate change.