Press releases
16.10.2020
Ziehende Fledermäuse sparen Energie durch Einschränkung energetisch kostspieliger Immunfunktionen
Bats save energy by reducing energetically costly immune functions during seasonal migration
Picture: Migrating Nathusius pipistrelle ((c) Christian Giese)
23.9.2020
Generationenwechsel hilft Fledermäusen, mit der Erderwärmung Schritt zu halten
Generational shifts help migratory bats keep pace with global warming
Picture: Common nocutle bat ((c) Anton Vlaschenko)
9.7.2020
Neuerscheinung: Buch zu Vereinbarkeit und Konflikt von Klima- und Artenschutz am Beispiel des Fledermausschutzes in Windkraftvorhaben
Picture: Nathusius pipistrelle killed by wind turbine
13.7.2020
Wenn es laut ist, wird Echoortung für Fledermäuse teuer
When calling loudly, echolocation is costly for small bats
9.7.2020
Windenergie und Naturschutz: Warum die Beteiligten einander kaum vertrauen und wie das zu ändern ist
Trust me if you can: why stakeholders in the “wind energy vs biological conservation” conflict have low mutual trust and how to increase it
17.6.2020
Windparks am Schwarzen Meer könnten negativen Einfluss auf Fledermauspopulationen in großen Teilen Osteuropas haben
Wind farms in the Black Sea coast region could have a negative impact on bat populations in large parts of Eastern Europe
Picture: Nathusius pipistrelle killed by a wind turbine
25.4.2020
Fledermäuse sind in Agrarlandschaften auf die gemeinsame Jagd mit Artgenossen angewiesen
Bats depend on conspecifics when hunting above farmland
20.12.2019
Der Himmel über Berlin: Fledermäuse bevorzugen dunkle Gebiete in der hell erleuchteten Stadt
Berlin’s bright sky isn’t a bat’s thing
11.12.2019
Beleuchtung von Höhlen vertreibt Fledermäuse – die Farbe des Lichts spielt nur untergeordnete Rolle
Illumination drives bats out of caves – no matter the colour of the light
Picture. Experimentally illuminated cave entrance ((c) Stefan Greif)
26.11.2019
Windenergie oder biologische Vielfalt? Wie Beteiligte den grün-grünen Konflikt bewerten – und wie Lösungen aussehen könnten
Wind energy or biodiversity? How stakeholders evaluate the green-green dilemma – and how solutions can look like
Picture: Nathusius pipistrelle killed by a wind turbine
4.4.2019
Der Spiegeltrick: Nächtliche Orientierung migrierender Fledermäuse hängt von Richtung des Sonnenuntergangs ab
Mirror experiment proves that compass orientation of a migratory bat species depends on sunset direction
Picture: flying Nathusius pipistrelle ((c) Christian Giese)
25.3.2019
Künstliches Licht und Baumbestand beeinflussen die Aktivität von Fledermäusen in der Stadt
A complex relationship: How light from street lamps and trees influence the activity of urban bats
Picture: Flying Nathusius pipistrelle ((c) Christian Giese)
21.3.2019
Lösungen für einen grün-grünen Konflikt: Tagung zum Fledermausschutz im Kontext der Energiewende
25.2.2019
Batmobile with cruise control: Bats migrate at the most energy-efficient flying speed for maximum range
Batmobil mit Tempomat: Fledermäuse wandern mit idealer Reisegeschwindigkeit für höchste Reichweite
Picture: Flying Nathusius pipistrelle ((C) Christian Giese)
Bats in the Anthropocene: Conservation of Bats in a Changing World
Our book is now published online at the below address. You may download it for free.
This book focuses on central themes related to the conservation of bats. It details their response to land-use change and management practices, intensified urbanization and roost disturbance and loss. Increasing interactions between humans and bats as a result of hunting, disease relationships, occupation of human dwellings, and conflict over fruit crops are explored in depth. Finally, contributors highlight the roles that taxonomy, conservation networks and conservation psychology have to play in conserving this imperilled but vital taxon.
With over 1300 species, bats are the second largest order of mammals, yet as the Anthropocene dawns, bat populations around the world are in decline. Greater understanding of the anthropogenic drivers of this decline and exploration of possible mitigation measures are urgently needed if we are to retain global bat diversity in the coming decades. This book brings together teams of international experts to provide a global review of current understanding and recommend directions for future research and mitigation.
11.2.2015 Bats and wind turbines: German politics in conflict with international conservation goals
27.8.2014: Press release: conflict between cheetahs and humans studied by stable isotopes
14th August 2014: NEWS: Bats from near and far are killed at German wind turbines --> Read the press release and the accompanying paper
Press release on artificial light and tropical bats
Press release on importance of artifical hibernacula for tree-dwelling bats
Check out the media coverage about one of our study sites in Ecuador (Tiputini Biodiversity station)
http://www.nbcnews.com/id/21134540/vp/51768274
It is with uttermost sadness and despair that we learned about the untimely death of PD Dr. Björn Siemers. Björn was a worldwide leading expert on the sensory ecology of bats, a highly respected colleague and a dear friend to us. Our thoughts are with his family and his group at the Max-Planck-Institute for Ornithology in Seewiesen.
Björn, your inspiration and your vision will always accompany us, but we miss you desparately. Thank you for the time we were able to spend with you.
Christian Voigt
PS: We will honour Björn with a special symposium on 'Sensory Ecology of Bats' during the European Conference on Behavioural Biology in July in Essen, Germany (www.ecbb2012.org).
Bats: A good immune system ensures success in reproduction
Fledermäuse: Gutes Immunsystem sichert Erfolg bei der Fortpflanzung