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Scienmag: 30-Year Review on Great Plains Bats Exposes Research Gap

The limited amount of research on North American bat species is hindering conservation efforts.

  • published: 2026/10/13
  • contact: Jazlynn Sanders - Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications
  • email: unonews@unomaha.edu
A small brown bat spreads its wings while being gently held in blue-gloved hands during a research examination against a dark background.

UNO’s Jeremy White, Ph.D., and Han Li, Ph.D., conduct research on bats on Friday, June 14, 2024, at the Glacier Creek Preserve in Bennington, Nebraska. (Ryan Soderlin/UNO)

UNO in the news: Research by Assistant Professor Han Li, Ph.D., and Thomas Raad on Great Plains bats was featured in Scienmag. The article outlines the lack of research on grassland bats and the threats that complicate conservation efforts.

Why it matters: As a surprise to many, bats are among the most effective natural pest controllers, and their eating habits are equal to billions of dollars in agriculture services. Despite these benefits, research on the mammals is limited, and is hindering conservation planning at a time when bats face unprecedented threats.

Zoom in: Li and Raad co-led the research, reviewing three decades of peer-reviewed field research and finding only 94 publications on Great Plains bats. They documented 22 species across the region, which includes Nebraska, and highlighted where more research would be helpful to scientists.

Related: Read more about how UNO research supported by a Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom grant will conserve bats and help protect Nebraska agriculture.

Read the full article on Scienmag.

About the University of Nebraska at Omaha

The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) is Nebraska’s premier metropolitan university, committed to innovating for the public good, advancing social mobility, powering workforce development, and serving as a hub for community engagement. Nearly 15,000 Mavericks choose UNO for its hands-on education experiences, nationally ranked online and graduate programs, military-connected student support, and innovative approaches to supporting lifelong learning. UNO holds the Carnegie Research Activity “R2” designation, securing more than $40 million annually in external research funding and counts its faculty among the world’s most cited scholars. Sixteen Omaha Athletics programs compete in NCAA Division I as members of the Summit League and National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC). 

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