For decades\, scientists at the Smithsonia
n Tropical Research Institute have studied the remarkable biodiversity of
bats on Barro Colorado Island in Panama\, where an astonishing seventy-six
species coexist. Now\, for the first time\, Smithsonian scientists&rsquo\
; expertise pairs with the stunning photography of \;National Geog
raphic \;contributor Christian Ziegler for a captivating visual j
ourney into the fascinating world of these elusive night creatures\, to br
ing you the book \;Bat Island: A Rare Journey into the Hidden Worl
d of Tropical Bats.
Bats are unique among mammals: they ha
ve acquired true flight\, they provide essential ecosystem services\, and
represent the ecologically most diverse group of mammals worldwide. Synthe
sizing decades-worth of intensive study\, Drs. Rachel Page\, Dina Dechmann
\, Teague O&rsquo\;Mara\, and Marco Tschapka provide authoritative insight
alongside 150 photographs that showcase bats&rsquo\; extraordinary enviro
nmental adaptations and rich natural history.
This presentation
will cover topics from the book\, such as the \;diverse sensory abili
ties of bats\, their foraging strategies\, roosting ecologies\, and social
systems. \;Bat Island \;presents decades of study of the
hyper diverse bat population on Barro Colorado Island in addition to the
most comprehensive and long-term datasets on tropical bats. The book and t
his presentation highlights how bats are threatened by habitat fragmentati
on and land degradation\, and communicate the initiatives needed to ensure
the survival of these animals\, which are critical to maintaining healthy
\, balanced ecosystems.
And let&rsquo\;s not forget\, the award
-winning photojournalist Christian Ziegler&rsquo\;s photography as the ima
ges within the book illuminate the unique beauty and allure of bats and th
e tropical rainforest in Panama. Register now for this rare look into \;Bat Isla
nd! \;
About the Presenters: \;
Dr. Rachel A. Page
\;is a staff scientist at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in P
anama\, where she leads the Smithsonian Bat Lab (www.noseleaf.org). She is broadly interested in animal behav
ior\, but her focus is understanding the sensory and cognitive tools bats
use to navigate their worlds and interact with each other. After completin
g a BA at Columbia University and a PhD at the University of Texas at Aust
in\, Page conducted postdoctoral research as an Alexander von Humboldt fel
low at the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology in Seewiesen\, Germany. Pa
ge has studied bats on Barro Colorado Island and the surrounding areas for
over two decades. She has a passion for understanding rich\, tropical eco
systems and the myriad species interactions they encompass. In addition to
conducting her own research\, Page mentors a large group of students. Pag
e lives at the edge of the rainforest in Gamboa\, Panama.
Dr. M. Teague O&rsqu
o\;Mara \;is the Director of Conservation Evidence at Bat Con
servation International\, where he works on data-driven strategies for the
conservation of global bat populations. O&rsquo\;Mara has studied animal
behavior\, movement\, and physiology across the globe\, with an emphasis o
n bats in Panama. He is a research associate at the Smithsonian Tropical R
esearch Institute and the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior\, and an
adjunct professor at Southeastern Louisiana University. He received his P
hD from Arizona State University studying lemur development and social beh
avior\, and then switched to research with bats during postdoctoral work a
t the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute\, the University of Konstanz
\, and the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior in Germany. He lives in
Baton Rouge\, Louisiana.
Please Register for link to program.
Live Virtual Author Talks \;- \;This new series
through Library Speakers Consortium offers live online talks by bestsellin
g authors of books in a variety of genres. Participants receive a link to
the program when they register. Please see https://libraryc.org/gailborden \;to register and also
view recorded videos of past speakers.