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In the News • April 3, 2025

The other bat man

UChicago Magazine features Eyal Frank, Harris Public Policy assistant professor, who quantifies the harms of biodiversity loss.

Via UChicago Magazine
If there’s one animal in need of a rebrand, bats are a strong contender. Many bat species sleep in caves, hanging upside down. They typically fly at night, giving them an inherently spooky vibe. And, of course, bats are known to carry a wide range of coronaviruses. But for Eyal Frank, Harris Public Policy assistant professor, bats and several other maligned creatures—vultures among them—offer essential insights into some of today’s most urgent environmental and economic challenges.

In a study published last fall in Science, Frank, who has been a faculty member at the University since 2018, demonstrates how the decline of bats in North America has contributed to a rise in infant mortality. The study highlights a key factor driving this trend: Most bats in North America feed on insects, including crop-damaging pests like moths. With fewer bats to control these pests, farmers are forced to rely more heavily on insecticides. The study shows that increased insecticide use correlates with greater exposure to harmful chemicals, which is known to adversely affect the health of newborns.

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