Navigation Links
Smithsonian researchers show major role of bats in plant protection
Date:4/3/2008

Researchers at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute report that bats significantly reduce insect abundance and damage on plants. In a lowland tropical rainforest in Panama, bats can consume roughly twice as many plant-eating insects as do birds. This landmark study in the journal Science is the first to compare the ability of bats and birds to protect plants via insect predation in a natural forest ecosystem.

A previous study by the authors suggested that bats were underestimated predators of plant eating insects, based on video recordings of feeding events.

In the current study, Smithsonian short-term fellow Margareta Kalka, and co-authors Elisabeth Kalko, institute staff scientist and professor at the Institute of Experimental Ecology at the University of Ulm, and Smithsonian postdoctoral fellow Adam Smith, separated the insect-control effects of bats and birds by placing netting enclosures over five common tropical plant species only at night or only by day. Uncovered control plants accessed by both bats and birds lost merely 4.3 percent of their leaf area to insect herbivores. When only birds were excluded, plants lost 7.2 percent of their leaf area. When only bats were excluded, plants lost a striking 13.3 percent of their leaf area, demonstrating that in the tropical forest understory bats can be more effective pest control agents than birds.

Caterpillars, katydids, beetles and other insects devour tropical plant leaves. Plants directly defend themselves by producing tough leaves and toxic chemicals. Phyllis Coley, STRI research associate and University of Utah professor, who has documented tropical plant defenses for many years, considers this study to be a major contribution: The role of insect predators, such as birds and bats, is key to plant survival. However, the magnitude of this top-down pest control is still not well understood.

Previously, researchers estimating the top-down effects of birds on herbiv
'/>"/>

Contact: Beth King
kingb@si.edu
703-487-3772 x8216
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
Source:Eurekalert  

1

GOOD

Page: 1 2

Related biology news :

1. Smithsonians National Museum of Natural History reveals ants as fungus farmers
2. Turtle nesting threatened by logging practices in Gabon, Smithsonian warns
3. Rare North Island brown kiwi hatches at the Smithsonians National Zoo
4. Smithsonian announces Global Forest Carbon Research Initiative
5. Science, not romance, controls mating at Smithsonians National Zoo
6. Smithsonian study: Sediment prediction tools off the mark
7. Smithsonian scientists highlight environmental impacts of biofuels
8. Smithsonian scientists working to save microscopic threatened species
9. Smithsonian identifies invasive crab species in Panama Canal expansion area
10. Smithsonian identifies invasive crab species in Panama Canal expansion area
11. Smithsonian scientists help lead effort to barcode worlds species
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
Related Image:
Smithsonian researchers show major role of bats in plant protection
(Date:6/17/2013)... BOSTON , June 17, 2013 ... prolific, the need to secure them grows exponentially, ... the latest report from Heavy Reading Insider ... from Heavy Reading ( www.heavyreading.com ). ... Smartphones examines the market for biometric authentication on ...
(Date:6/17/2013)... The AGA Research Foundation and Horizon Pharma further ... gastroenterology with the 2013 AGA-Horizon Pharma Fellow Abstract Prizes ... "In its third year, this competition continues to grow ... promising careers in basic and clinical research," said Nicholas ... Foundation. "We are extremely proud of all that these ...
(Date:6/17/2013)... French . A ... Alzheimer,s disease can be reversed with treatment. The study by ... Neuro, at McGill University and at Universit de Montral found ... brain of mice with advanced Alzheimer,s disease (AD) recovers memory ... of Neuroinflammation in May, also suggest an underlying mechanism ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):Biometric Authentication Provides Better Mobile Device Security, Heavy Reading Finds 2Biometric Authentication Provides Better Mobile Device Security, Heavy Reading Finds 3Horizon Pharma Abstract Prizes recognize promising fellows and students 2Blocking overactive receptor in Alzheimer's recovers memory loss and more 2
... cancer drug asparaginase fails to help cure some children ... certain cells in the bone marrow counteract the effect ... Children's Research Hospital. , The researchers showed that ... niche for leukemic cells by releasing large amounts of ...
... Using a biochemical version of a computer chip, a team ... related to the mating habits of yeast cells. ... Publication of the journal Nature, shed new light on the ... from the environment through a process called signal transduction. That ...
... Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) finds that polio vaccination ... of over $180 billion, even without including the large, intangible ... to retrospectively demonstrate the enormous benefits of polio vaccination appears ... December 2006 issue of Risk Analysis. , The history of ...
Cached Biology News:Leukemic cells find safe haven in bone marrow 2Leukemic cells find safe haven in bone marrow 3Microfluidic chip helps solve cellular mating puzzle 2Microfluidic chip helps solve cellular mating puzzle 3Billions of dollars saved in US by polio vaccination 2
(Date:6/18/2013)... PA (PRWEB) June 18, 2013 Demanding ... Ball Lenses engineered of synthetic Sapphire and Glass Ball ... sizes from Swiss Jewel Company , of Philadelphia ... by expanding and collimating the light beams without the ... optical clarity and natural durability (9 mohs) make it ...
(Date:6/18/2013)... , June 18, 2013 ... the release of the HELM biomolecular representation standard ... source MIT licence. HELM (Hierarchical Editing ... wide range of biomolecules (e.g. proteins, nucleotides, antibody ... small-molecule and sequence-based informatics methodologies impractical or unusable. ...
(Date:6/18/2013)... , June 18, 2013 Mapi ... (APIs), generic and innovative intermediates, and finished dosage forms based ... has been granted a United States ... Europe for the oral treatment of ... is titled Intermediate Compounds and Processes for the Preparation ...
(Date:6/18/2013)... THE WOODLANDS, Texas , June 18, 2013 ... LXRX ), a biopharmaceutical company focused on ... that John Northcott has joined the ... strategy, and operations. Mr. Northcott brings extensive commercial ... on-market commercialization across a variety of therapeutic areas. ...
Breaking Biology Technology:Swiss Jewel Introduces the Crown Jewels of Fiber-Optic Connectors 2The Pistoia Alliance Releases HELM Biomolecular Representation Standard Open Source Tools 2Mapi Pharma Granted United States Patent for Pain Relief Medication "Tapentadol" 2John Northcott Joins Lexicon as Vice President of Marketing, Commercial Strategy and Operations 2John Northcott Joins Lexicon as Vice President of Marketing, Commercial Strategy and Operations 3
... applaud Senator Ted Kanavas for his desire to align best ... to see the senator refer to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of ... at this concept a little closer. President Bush signed Sarbox ... corporate accounting scandals, most notably Enron and WorldCom. , ,Sarbox ...
... in the field and navigating at the helm of several ... (which is located in Woodridge, Ill. across from Argonne ... advance his drug discovery company. , ,Following a six-month ... the next few weeks with financial adviser Legg Mason ...
... with Congresswomen Tammy Baldwin at her Madison office about ... for technology development, as well as how we can ... best known for her unwavering commitment to farmers, senior ... is emerging as a leader in the Wisconsin technology ...
Cached Biology Technology:My View - State Government Needs Integrity To Build Investor Confidence 2Advanced Life Sciences to Hit the Road For $30 Million in Funding 2Advanced Life Sciences to Hit the Road For $30 Million in Funding 3Advanced Life Sciences to Hit the Road For $30 Million in Funding 4WTN Interview with Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin: Facilitating technology growth and regional economic development is a priority 2WTN Interview with Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin: Facilitating technology growth and regional economic development is a priority 3WTN Interview with Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin: Facilitating technology growth and regional economic development is a priority 4WTN Interview with Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin: Facilitating technology growth and regional economic development is a priority 5WTN Interview with Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin: Facilitating technology growth and regional economic development is a priority 6
Reacts with the 80 kDa fragment of the M-chain of human merosin....
Goat polyclonal to Rabenosyn 5 ( Abpromise for all tested applications). Antigen: Synthetic peptide: ELKHTLAKQKGGTD, corresponding to C terminal amino acids 771-784 of Human Rabenosyn 5. Entr...
Acetyl CoA Carboxylase Antibody...
Anti-Human IFN-Gamma Receptor Chain 2 (beta chain) [CD119], Rabbit serum, NON-neutralizing polyclonal antibody...
Biology Products: