ML12090A837
| ML12090A837 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Indian Point  |
| Issue date: | 04/01/2011 |
| From: | Boyles J, Cryan P, Kunz T, Mccracken G American Association for the Advancement of Science |
| To: | NRC/SECY |
| SECY RAS | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML12090A819 | List:
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| References | |
| RAS 22161, 50-247-LR, 50-286-LR, ASLBP 07-858-03-LR-BD01 | |
| Download: ML12090A837 (2) | |
Text
ENT000504 I
CONSEFlVAT!ON Submitted: March 30, 2012 Economic Importance of Bats Inseltivorou5 bat populations, adversely impacted by white-nose syndrome and wind in Agriculture turbines, may be worth billions of dollars to ~~o(th !~mtri(?in agriculture, Justin G. Boyles,'* Paul M. Cryan,2 Gary F. McCracken,3 Thomas H. Kunz4 hite-nose syndrome (WNS) and At the same time, bats of several migra- Economic Impact W the increased development of wind-power facilities are threaten-ing populations of insectivorous bats in North tory tree-dwelling species are being killed in unprecedented numbers at wind turbines across the continent (6, 7). Why these spe-Although much of the public and some policy-makers may view the precipitous decline of bats in North America as only America. Bats are voracious predators ofnoc- cies are particularly susceptible to wind tur- of academic interest, the economic conse-turnal insects, including many crop and forest bines remains a mystery. and several types quences of losing so many bats could be pests. We present here analyses suggesting of attraction have been hypothesized (6). substantial. For example, a single colony that loss of bats in North America could lead There are no continental-scale monitor- of ISO big brown bats (Epte.l'icus /iISCUS) to agricultural losses estimated at more than ing programs for assessing wildlife fatali- in Indiana has been estimated to eat nearly ......
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$3.7 billion/year. Urgent efforts are needed to ties at wind turbines, so the number of bats 1.3 million pest insects each year, possibly N educate the public and policy-makers about killed across the entire United States is dif- contributing to the disruption of popula- ......
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the ecological and economic importance of ficult to assess, However, by 2020 an esti- tion cycles of agricultural pests (8). Other .c insectivorous bats and to provide practical mated 33,000 to II [,000 bats will be killed estimates suggest that a single little brown ~
C\l conservation solutions. annually by wind turbines in the Mid-Atlan- bat can consume 4 to 8 g of insects each :::2:
tic Highlands alone (7). Obviously, mor- night during the active season (9, 10), and c o
Infectious Disease and Wind Turbines tality from these two factors is substantial when extrapolated to the one million bats E!'
Insectivorous bats suppress popUlations of and will likely have long-term cumulative estimated to have died from WNS, between o OJ nocturnal insects (!, 2), but bats in North impacts on both aquatic and terrestrial eco- 660 and 1320 metric tons of insects are no C\l America are under severe pressure from systems (5, 7). Because of these combined longer being consumed each year in WNS- E CD two major new threats. WNS is an emerg- threats, sudden and simultaneous population affected areas (11). u c
ing infectious disease affecting populations declines are being witnessed in assemblages Estimating the economic importance of Q)
'0 of hibernating cave-dwelling bats through- of temperate-zone insectivorous bats on a bats in agricultural systems is challenging, UJ out eastern North America (3). WNS is likely scale rivaled by few recorded events alTect- but published estimates of tbe value of pest caused by a newly discovered fungus (GeonlY-ces destructans). This fungus infects ing mammals. suppression services provided by bats ranges ~
E the skin of bats while they hibernate .g and is thought to trigger fatal altera- '0 Q) tions in behavior and/or physiology '0 C\l (e.g., premature depletion of energy .Q reserves) (3, 4). Since February 2006, c 3:
when vVNS was first observed on bats o in upstate New York, G. destrllctans o has spread west of the Appalachian Mountains and into Canada. To date, over one million bats have probably died, and winter colony declines in the most affected region exceed 70%
(5). Populations of at least one spe-cies (little brown bat, Myotis luc(fi.t-gus) have declined so precipitously that regional extirpation and extinc-tion are expected (5).
'Department of Zoology and Entomology, Uni-versity of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa.
'U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, CO 80526, USA, 'Depart- 0-1020 340D-4800 8700-nooo 17000-20000
- 29000-36000 ment of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Uni-1020-2100 4800-6600 11000-14000 20000-24000 36000-50000 versity ofTennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996. USA.
'Center for Ecology and Conservation Biology, 2100-3400 6600-8700 14000-17000
- 24000-29000
- 50000-73000 Department of Biology, Boston University, Bos-ton, MA 02215, USA, The worth of insectivorous bats. Estimated annual value of insectivorous bats in the agricultural industry at the
'Author for correspondence. E-mail: jgboyles@ county level. Values (xSl000 per county) assume bats have an avoided-cost value of -S74/acre of cropland (]Zl.
zoology.up.ac.za (See SOM for details.)
www.sciencemag.org SCIENCE VOL 332 1 APRIL 2011 41 Published by AAAS
POLlCYF() f~U fv1 from about $12 to $173/acre (with a most wind turbines continues unabated, we can of new threats and at assessing their economic likely scenario of$74/acre) in a cotton-dom- expect noticeable economic losses to North and ecological importance. We as scientists inated agricultural landscape in south-central American agriculture in the next 4 to 5 years. should also make concerted eHorts to develop Texas (J 2). Here, we extrapolate these esti- and use more effective methods for educating mates to the entire United States as a first Policy the public and policy-makers about the eco-assessment of how much the disappearance A recently stated goal of the United Nations system services provided by bats.
of bats could cost the agricultural industry Environment Programme is to demonstrate Bats are among the most overlooked, yet
[see supporting online material (SOM)]. the value of biodiversity to policy-makers economically important, nondomesticated Assuming values obtained from the cot- and the public (17). In keeping with this goal, animals in North America, and tbeir conser-ton-dominated agroecosystem in Texas, and we hope that the scale of our estimates and vation is important for the integrity of ecosys-the number of acres of harvested cropland the importance of addressing this issue will tems and in the best interest of both national across the continental United States in 2007 resonate both with the general publ ic and and international economies. In our opin-(13), we estimate the value ofbats to the agri- policy-makers. Bats provide substantial eco- ion, solutions that will reduce the popula-cultural industry is roughly $22.9 billion/ system services worldWide, and their benefits tion impacts ofWNS and reduce the mortal-year. If we assume values at the extremes of to human economies are not limited to North ity from wind-energy facilities are possible in the probable range (12), the value of bats may America. For example, pioneering research the next few years, but identifying, substan-be as low as $3.7 billion/year and as high as in tropical ecosystems shows the impor- tiating, and applying solutions will on ly be
$53 billion/year. These estimates include the tance of plant-visiting bats in the pollination fueled in a substantive manner by increased ..--
o reduced costs of pesticide applications that are of valuable fruit crops (18, 19). Although the and widespread awareness of the benefits of N not needed to suppress the insects consumed economic impacts of mass mortality of bats insectivorous bats among the public, policy- ..--
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by bats (12). However, they do not include associated with WNS appear to be confined, makers, and scientists. ..c the "downstream" impacts of pesticides on at present, to North America, wind turbines ~
ro ecosystems, which can be substantial (14), or are also causing bat fatalities in Europe (20), References :2:
- 1. M. B. Kalka, A. R. Smith, E. K. V. Kalka, Science 320, c other secondary effects of predation, such as and the potential for WNS to spread to other 71 (2008). o reducing the potential for evolved resistance parts of the world is unknown. Z. K. Williams-Guillen, I. Perfecto, J. Vandermeer, Selena OJ of insects to pesticides and genetically modi- We suggest that a wait-and-see approach 320, 70 (2008). o
- 3. D. S. Blehert el 01., Science 323, ZZ7 (2009). OJ fied crops (15). Moreover, bats can exert top- to tbe issue of widespread declines of bat pop- ro
- 4. P. M. Cryan, C. U. Meteyer, J. G. Boyles, D. S. Blehert, down suppression of forest insects (1, 2), but ulations is not an option because tbe life his- BMC Bioi. 8, 135 (2010).
E CJ.)
our estimated values do not include the ben- torics of these flying, nocturnal manunals- 5. w. F. Frick el 01., Science 329,679 (Z010). u c
efit of bats that suppress insects in forest eco- characterized by long generation times and 6. P. M. Cryan, R. M. R. Barclay,]. Mammal. 90, 1330 (Z009). Q.)
- 7. T. H. Kunz el 01., Franl. Ecol. Environ 5, 315 (Z007). '0 systems because economic data on pest-con- low reproductive rates-mean that population 8. J. O. Whitaker, Jr., Am. Midi. Nat. 134, 346 (1995).
(/)
trol services provided by bats in forests are recovery is unlikely for decades or even centu- 9. E. l. P. Anthony, T. H. Kunz, Ecology 58,775 (1977). ~
lacking. Even if our estimates are halved or lies, ifat all. Currently, there are no adequately 10. A. Kurta, G. P. Bell, K. A. Nagy, T. H. Kunz. Physial. Zoot.
62, B04 (1989).
~
quartered, they clearly show how bats have validated or generally applicable methods for E
- 11. J. G. Boyles, C. K. R. Willis, Front. Ecol. Environ 8, 92 enormous potential to influence the econom- substantially reducing the impacts of WNS (Z010). .g ics of agriculture and forestry. or wind turbines on bat populations. To date, 12 C.). Cleveland el 01., Front. Ecol. Environ 4, 238 (Z006). -0 CJ.)
Although adverse impacts ofWNS on bat management actions to restrict the spread of 13 USDA, 2007 Census of Agriculture: United Stoles
-0 populations havc occurred relatively rapidly. WNS have been directed primarily toward summory and State Data, vol. 1, Geographic Area Series ro (AC-07-A-S1, USDA, Washington, DC, Z009) .Q impacts of wind energy development appear limiting anthropogenic spread (e.g., cave and 14. D. Pimentel. in Integrated Pest Management: Innavation- c
~
to pose a more chronic, long-term concern. mine closures and fungal decontamination Development Process, R. Peshin and A. K Dhawan, Eds. o WNS has caused rapid and massive declines protocols) (21). Other proactive solutions for (Springer Media, Houten, Netherlands, 2009), o pp.89-111.
ofiJibernating bats in the northeastern United understanding and ameliorating the eHects of 15. P. Federico et 01., Ecol. Appl. 18,826 (2008).
States, where this disease has persisted for at WNS include developing improved diagnos- 16. D. l. Elliot, C. G. Holladay, W. R. Barchet, H. P. Foote, least 4 years (5). Thus, the coming growing tics to detect early-stage infections and fun- W. F. Sandusky, Wind Energy Resource Atlas of the United States (Solar Energy Research Institute, U.S. Department season may be the first in which the adverse gal distribution in the environment; defining of Energy, Golden. CO. 1986).
effects of this disease will become notice- disease mechanisms; investigating the poten- 17. The Economics of Ecosystems and 8iodiversity, able. Because of regional differences in crop tial for biological or chemical control of the www.leebweb.org/.
- 18. S. Burnrungsri, E. Sripaoraya, T. Chongsiri, K. Sridith.
production, the agricultural value of bats in fungus; and increasing disease resistance P. A. Racey,]. Trap. Ecol. 25, 85 (2009).
the U.S. Northeast may be comparatively through habitat modification, such as creation 19 S. Burnrungsn el 01.,]. Trap. Ecol. Z4, 467 (2008).
small relative to much of the United States of artificial or modified hibcrnacula that are ZOo ) Rydell et 01., Acta Chiropt. 12.261 (2010).
Zl. U.S. FIsh and Wildlife Service, www.fws.gov/
(see the figure) (SOM). However, evidence less conducive to disease development and wh;tenosesyndrome/.
of the fungus associated with WNS was transmission (11,22). Other approaches, such 22. J. Foley, D. Clifford, K. Castle, P. Cryan. R. S. Ostfeld, recently detected in the Midwest and Great as culling of infected bats have been widely Canserv. Bioi. 25, Z23 (Z011).
Plains, where the estimates of the value of discussed and dismissed as viable options 23. T. G. Hallam, G. F. McCracken, Canserv. Bioi. 25,189 (2011).
bats to agriculture are substantial (see the for control (23). New research also shows Z4. E. F. Baerwald, J. Edworthy. M. Holder, R. M. R. Barclay, figure). Additionally, because this rcgion has that altering wind turbine operations dur- ]. Wildl. Manage. 73, 1077 (Z009).
the highest onshore wind capacity in North ing high-risk periods for bats significantly 25. E. Arnett et 01 .. Front. Ecal. Environ 16, (2010).
10.1890/100103 America, increased development of wind reduces fatalities (24, 25). Specific action energy facilities and associated bat fatalities on these issues will benefit from scientific Supporting Online Material research carefully aimed at providing practi- WNW.sciencemag.org/cgi/contentifuIU33Z/6025/411DC1 in this region can be expected (J 6). Thus, if mortality of bats associated with WNS and cal conservation solutions for bats in the face 10.1126/sc;ence.1201366 42 1 APRIL 2011 VOL 332 SCIENCE www.sciencemag.org Published by AAAS