Rife deforestation 500 years ago aligns with western barbastelle slump, finds study of bat DNA
The examples of flora and fauna disappearing because of human excesses over the past 50 years are manifold, but research has found that the decline of a characterful bat began in the UK when its trees were felled for shipbuilding 500 years ago.
Experts from the University of Exeter and the Bat Conservation Trust (BCT) have concluded that a 99% drop in Britain’s western barbastelle bat populations began when trees were chopped down in the early days of Britain’s empire building.
About Author
More Stories
Scientists record seismic tremors from title-clinching Liverpool win over Spurs
Measles outbreak: how contagious is it and what are the symptoms?
Ronan the head-bobbing sea lion proves animals can keep a beat: ‘No human was better’