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Population Growth Of Mexican Free-Tailed Bats (Tadarida Braziliensis Mexicana) Predates Human Agricultural Activity, A. L. Russell, M. P. Cox, V. A. Brown, Gary F. Mccracken

Gary F. McCracken

Background

Human activities, such as agriculture, hunting, and habitat modification, exert a significant effect on native species. Although many species have suffered population declines, increased population fragmentation, or even extinction in connection with these human impacts, others seem to have benefitted from human modification of their habitat. Here we examine whether population growth in an insectivorous bat (Tadarida brasiliensis mexicana) can be attributed to the widespread expansion of agriculture in North America following European settlement. Colonies of T. b. mexicana are extremely large (~106 individuals) and, in the modern era, major agricultural insect pests form an important component of their …