The Anthropocene is the "age of human influence", an epoch well known
for its urban impact. More than half of all people already live in
cities, and this proportion is expected to rise to almost 70 percent by
2050. Like other species in urban areas, bats must contend with the
pressures of profound and irreversible land cover change and overcome
certain unique challenges, such as the high density of roads, lights,
glass, and free-ranging domestic animals. Research on urban bats in
recent decades indicates that when it comes to urban life, some bats are
synanthropes. In other words, although most species of bats are
negatively impacted by urbanisation, many appear to not only succeed,
but also thrive in cities and towns. This observation has inspired
interesting questions about bats in relation to urbanisation. Which
traits and behaviours equip bats for urban success? What features of
urban areas increase the likelihood that bats will successfully persist
there or even colonize new areas? And how does the success of urban bats
affect co-habiting humans?
Our book explores the interactions between bats and urban environments
through case studies and reviews. Understanding how different species
interact with urban environments can reveal potential opportunities to
mitigate urban threats to bats and threats posed by bats to other urban
organisms, including humans. With this book, we thus aspire to provide a
knowledge base to help guide current and future efforts to conserve
bats.
