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Pollinators in the Dark: Bats and their Flowers with Dr. Winifred Frick
February 8, 2022 @ 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Pollinators in the Dark: Bats and their Flowers with Dr. Winifred Frick
Tuesday, February 8, 6 – 7:30pm
Bat diversity around the world includes remarkable adaptations, including species that are highly specialized to drink nectar and pollinate flowers. Worldwide, bats pollinate about 500 different plant species, some of which are commercially important, such as durian in southeast Asia, columnar cacti that produce pitaya fruits in Mexico, and, of course, the wild cultivars of agave for mescal and tequila. Nectar feeding bats live in tropical habitats, although some nectar-feeding bat species perform long distance migrations, following a nectar corridor in Mexico into the southwestern United States.
During this talk hosted by the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, Dr. Winifred Frick will illuminate the fascinating features of these pollinators of the dark.
What to Expect
-Follow the latest guidelines for COVID safety and wear a mask at all times.
-The program will occur inside the Museum and we will limit the number of people who can attend so that some distancing can occur.
-The gift shop will be open and our new exhibit Pollinators will be on view for you to explore before and after the presentation.
-Restrooms and water fountains are available, but there will not be any food so please snack before coming!
About the Speaker
Dr. Winifred Frick is Chief Scientist at Bat Conservation International and an Associate Research Professor in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at UC Santa Cruz. She has studied bats for over 20 years and has worked around the world, including places such as Mexico, Rwanda, Guinea, Fiji, and Jamaica to study and protect bat populations.
This program is in support of our new exhibit, Pollinators: Keeping Company With Flowers, on view January 15-March 6. Sponsored by 90.3 KAZU, Kenneth S. Norris Center for Natural History, and UCSC’s Center for Agroecology.
