SMITHSONIAN MAGAZINE HIGHLIGHTS THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN BATS AND WINEMAKERS IN PORTUGAL PROMOTED BY CIBIO-InBIO RESEARCHERS

The prestigious publication dedicated to anthropological themes has recently highlighted a project developed with the collaboration of CIBIO-InBIO researchers that are currently working with the Organization for Bat Conservation. This project aims to place bat-boxes at vineyards, in order to contain the proliferation of vine-munching insects. Since bats are efficient predators of insects, the introduction of these animals might allow farmers to cut back on pesticides and produce more and better wine.

CIBIO-InBIO researchers are currently collaborating with Herdade do Esporão, studying the genetic material present in guano taken from the bat boxes, in order to identify which insects are these bat populations mostly predating on.

Even though there are not specific numbers that can allow to quantify how much bats have contributed to pest control in the property studied, it is already certain that these kind of initiatives contribute to fight the bad publicity typically granted to bats and improve the conservation efforts of these species.

To know more about this topic, please follow the link:
“Winemakers Are Building Houses for Bats to Make Vineyards Greener”| Smithsonian Magazine| Aug 24, 2015

Image Credits: Available at www.smithsonianmag.com | Courtesy of the Organization for Bat Conservation