(MENAFN- Jordan Times) Conservationists will start using echolocation in their studies of bat species in Jordan, whose habitats are facing several environmental threats, researchers at the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN) said on Monday.
Jordan is home to 26 bat species belonging to nine families, according to a recent study, which also indicated that three of these species are listed on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature's Red List of endangered animals, said Thabet Shara, a researcher of animal studies at the RSCN.
"Studies indicated that bats in Jordan are subject to several threats, such as the use of pesticides, shrinking forests and urban expansion. All these factors are negatively affecting bats' habitat," Shara underscored.
The researcher noted that bats in Jordan are divided into two groups: megabats, whose diet mainly consists of fruits, and microbats, which feed entirely on insects.
"Bats play a major role in controlling the spread of insects, as they feed on thousands of them every day, protecting crops from disease. In addition, megabats help spread the seeds of fruit trees," Shara said.
Omar Abed, another researcher of animal studies at the RSCN, said that the society planned to start using echolocation in its studies of bats in the Kingdom.
"Different species of bats emit different sounds. The echolocation devices will help record bats' ultrasound frequencies and analyse their types," Abed explained.
Bats are mammals whose forelimbs form webbed wings, making them the only mammals naturally capable of true and sustained flight. Bats represent about 20 per cent of all classified mammal species worldwide, with about 1,240 bat species, according to web sources.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.