Research progress on the impacts of urbanization on bats in China

doi:10.17520/biods.2024109

Abstract

Abstract:

Background & Aim: There are more than 140 species of bats in China, accounting for about 10 percent of the world’s bat species. China is one of the countries with the richest bat species diversity in the world. With the development of urbanization, the species diversity of bats in China has been seriously threatened. This paper aims to discuss the current state of research on bats in China under the background of urbanization, and then, based on the threats of urbanization factors faced by bats in China, to propose targeted conservation recommendations.

Progresses: The review preliminarily defines urban bats as those whose life history is not directly controlled by humans, but whose stages such as foraging, roosting, and migration are completed in urban and surrounding areas affected by urbanization. Thus, their morphological, physiological, behavioral, and genetic adaptive characteristics are influenced by the urbanization In the process of urbanization, bats face a range of threats, including human hunting, human buildings, roads, light pollution, noise pollution, and chemical pollution; this is mainly manifested in three aspects in China: loss of habitat, utilization of biological resources, and disturbance of habitat. Despite this, preliminary bibliometric analysis indicates that research on the impacts of urbanization on bats in China is relatively lacking, and this field needs more attention.

Conservation Measures: In view of the significant impact of urbanization threats on the existence of bats in China and the scarcity of related research, it is necessary to strengthen the protection of bats in the process of urbanization in China. We suggest that research in the fields of taxonomy and conservation genomics should be intensified, special surveys for urban bats should be conducted, and the protection of bat habitats should be valued. As a result, the management of light and noise pollution should be strengthened, legislative protection should be carried out for bats that are unique to China and have a higher level of threat, and science popularization education related to bats should be carried out for the public, i to better protect bats in the process of urbanization.

Key words: urbanization, Chinese bats, research progress, conservation

Jiangtian Geng, Fei Wang, Huabin Zhao. Research progress on the impacts of urbanization on bats in China[J]. Biodiv Sci, 2024, 32(8): 24109.

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URL: https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/10.17520/biods.2024109

https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/Y2024/V32/I8/24109

Figures/Tables 4

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序号 No.	威胁因素 Threatening factors	受胁的蝙蝠物种数 Number of threatened bat species	濒危 EN	易危 VU	近危 NT
1	生物资源利用 Bio-resource utilization	26	3	6	17
2	农业 Agriculture	23	2	6	15
3	人类入侵与干扰 Human intrusions and disturbance	20	1	3	16
4	采矿与采石 Mining and quarrying	18	0	3	15
5	自然系统改造 Natural system modifications	9	0	2	7
6	住宅和商业开发 Residential and commercial development	7	0	2	5
7	交通相关 Traffic related	4	1	2	1
8	生境退化与丧失 Habitat degradation and loss	2	1	1	0
9	种群密度过低与特殊生境需要 Low population density and specialized habitat requirement	1	0	1	0
10	未知 Unknown	18	0	5	13

序号 No.	威胁因素 Threatening factors	受胁的蝙蝠物种数 Number of threatened bat species	濒危 EN	易危 VU	近危 NT
1	生物资源利用 Bio-resource utilization	26	3	6	17
2	农业 Agriculture	23	2	6	15
3	人类入侵与干扰 Human intrusions and disturbance	20	1	3	16
4	采矿与采石 Mining and quarrying	18	0	3	15
5	自然系统改造 Natural system modifications	9	0	2	7
6	住宅和商业开发 Residential and commercial development	7	0	2	5
7	交通相关 Traffic related	4	1	2	1
8	生境退化与丧失 Habitat degradation and loss	2	1	1	0
9	种群密度过低与特殊生境需要 Low population density and specialized habitat requirement	1	0	1	0
10	未知 Unknown	18	0	5	13