Review
"Bat Ecology presents the distilled wisdom of some of the world's greatest bat experts. Covering far more than the title promises, there are chapters on sensory ecology, migration, and physiology, along with rabies, and the challenge of educating people so bats get the appreciation they deserve. . . . Just about every bat lover will find something to interest and surprise them, while the more general reader will find a rich vein of information that may be mined with pleasure."-- "New Scientist"
"An attractive, well-edited book. . . . Bat Ecology is worth its weight in gold."-- "Journal of Mammalogy"
"Instead of 'bats in the belfry, ' there is now the unique opportunity to place a large quantity of bats on the bookshelf with Bat Ecology. This extensive volume gives a comprehensive overview on the current status of research on bats, with the main emphasis on advances in bat ecology. It will undoubtedly become 'the' standard book on bat ecology for the next decade(s). . . . The editors have done an excellent job of bringing together a group of internationally recognized specialists representing a broad range of topics and disciplines. . . . The book is not only essential for bat ecologists with a keen interest in scientific progress in this field but also for a broader readership interested in the behavioral, ecological, morphological, and physiological underpinnings of this species-rich and highly diverse group of mammals."-- "Animal Behaviour"
"Kunz and Fenton have enlisted an outstanding group of bat biologists, who, without exception, have done a superb job summarizing and synthesizing the material in their respective chapters. . . . This is a very valuable book."-- "Ecology"
"Should all ecologists also have a copy of this book? The answer is yes, because . . . the topics are presented in a theory-driven and problem-oriented style and cover current concepts and issues in the field in open and nondogmatic discussions. The book demonstrates that bat ecology offers advantageous approaches to macroecological, ecomorphological, and functional concepts in general ecology."-- "Trends in Ecology & Evolution"
"The editors deserve praise. . . . Will I tell my students to read it? Damn straight. . . . For something of this overall quality, I might even be generous and give them a copy!"-- "Journal of Wildlife Management"
"The imperative now is to sustain the momentum of research into the ecology of bats. This book does a great deal for those who are trying to see where bat ecology has reached and what is needed next. Fellow bat ecologists, add this book to your shelves, you will use it for many years to come."-- "Australian Mammalogy"
From the Back Cover
In recent years researchers have discovered that bats play key roles in many ecosystems as insect predators, seed dispersers, and pollinators. Bats also display astonishing ecological and evolutionary diversity and serve as important models for studies of a wide variety of topics, including food webs, biogeography, and emerging diseases. In Bat Ecology, world-renowned bat scholars present an up-to-date, comprehensive, and authoritative review of this ongoing research. The first part of the book covers the life history and behavioral ecology of bats, from migration to sperm competition and natural selection. The next section focuses on functional ecology, including ecomorphology, feeding, and physiology. In the third section, contributors explore macroecological issues such as the evolution of ecological diversity, range size, and infectious diseases (including rabies) in bats. A final chapter discusses conservation challenges facing these fascinating flying mammals.
Bat Ecology is the most comprehensive state-of-the-field collection for scientists and researchers.
Contributors:
John D. Altringham, Robert M. R. Barclay, Tenley M. Conway, Elizabeth R. Dumont, Peggy Eby, Abigail C. Entwistle, Theodore H. Fleming, Patricia W. Freeman, Lawrence D. Harder, Gareth Jones, Linda F. Lumsden, Gary F. McCracken, Sharon L. Messenger, Bruce D. Patterson, Paul A. Racey, Jens Rydell, Charles E. Rupprecht, Nancy B. Simmons, Jean S. Smith, John R. Speakman, Richard D. Stevens, Elizabeth F. Stockwell, Sharon M. Swartz, Donald W. Thomas, Otto von Helversen, Gerald S. Wilkinson, Michael R. Willig, York Winter
About the Author
Thomas H. Kunz (1938-2020) was professor of biology and director of the Center for Ecology and Conservation Biology at Boston University. He is coeditor, most recently, of Bat Biology and Conservation.
Melville Brock Fenton is emeritus professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Western Ontario. He is the author or editor of several books, including Bat Ecology, also published by the University of Chicago Press.
