– LOS OJOS AGAVE BLOOM SUMMIT – On the Trail of Bats in Agave Flowers
Considering the constant fragmentation of habitat, or in other words the lack of ecosystemic continuity, as a result of the current climate crisis and other causes; it is essential to understand the interdependence of species and the fragility of these ecological relationships. In this sense, a colorful, winged and full of flavors story is worth to be told, to understand the connection that exists between: bats, agave and the elaboration of spirits distilled from the latter; such as Bacanora, Mezcal and of course Tequila.
With this and other ideas in mind, several border organizations (Cuenca Los Ojos, Bat Conservation International and Borderlands Restoration Network) met in the field with a few questions: Is the nectar from the flowers of Agave palmeri a food resource for the Lesser long-nosed bat and the Mexican long- tongued bat (Leptonycteris yerbabuenae and Choeronycteris mexicana, respectively)? Is Cuenca Los Ojos (CLO) part of the habitat occupied by these winged friends along their migratory route? Is the flowering of Agave palmeri synchronous to the winter migration and therefore the nectar can be an indispensable resource? What is the conservation status of the agaves in CLO, in the face of climatic vulnerability such as drought or the agave weevil plague?
In other words, the Agave Bloom Summit (as we named the event) was a gathering around agave flowers. During August 19-23 at CLO, we had the opportunity to share experiences, work and time in the field to address our questions together. We learned techniques to collect samples of nectar available for flowering in two agaves (Agave palmeri & Agave schottii). In order to analyze them and search for eDNA (environmental DNA) of bats to learn which winged species visit and pollinate the agaves in Cuenca.
A. schottii on the southern slope towards La Calavera; eDNA manual sampling with swabs on flowers of same agave.
Likewise, among the attendees were mezcal and Bacanora producers, as well as people related to environmental sciences in the region; all of them committed to the conservation, restoration and promotion of sustainable practices for the production of these distilled beverages. The great demand and popularity of these spirits is a determining factor in the extraction and excessive extraction of wild agaves. In addition, a second result to the growing market is the fragmentation of habitat for different species, including bats and other pollinators. Extensive monoculture practices, coyotaje in the market and the interruption of flowering due to productive exploitation put threatened the vital ecological links around the harvested agave species and their habitat, commonly semi-arid ecosystems. So, this meeting between different attendees was nourished by an important palette of ideas:
Francesca Claveire and Sarah Colombo from BRN shared their experience with the agave reintroduction program, native plant propagation and the link with watershed restoration. Of course, their recommendations and suggestions were of great value, as they have extensive experience in these topics; furthermore, in Cuenca we will begin experimental work in 2025 to reintroduce the first agaves in priority areas towards a view of resilience in the face of climate change.
Diana Pinzón and Fabiola Torres, from Fondo Agavero and Zinancantan, both mezcal producers, suggested some treatments to use when introducing the plants in the field and what type of growing conditions to use. They have been doing this work for several years, doing restoration work with terraces and agaves in Puebla. Another idea put on the table was the collaboration to implement a seed bank in Sonora.
At the same time, Valeria Cañedo and Joan Coronado – CENKO and La Ruta del Bacanora – helped to identify the “Agave weevil” (a Curculionidae ́s familiy beetle), based on their experience in productive work and knowledge of the phytosanitary vulnerability of Agave crops. They emphasized the importance and value of making an evaluation/diagnosis of the areas visited, to determine how widespread this bug is. Evidencing the need to know if these beetles are or could be a problem in the short or medium term in the survival, maturation and further reproductive cycle (flowering) of the agaves that inhabit CUENCA.
Rachel Burke of BCI had the opportunity to get to know the landscape of these conservation and restoration-oriented borderlands (ADVC-CUENCA). She was who taught us how to collect nectar in order to analyze eDNA traces from the saliva of nectarivorous bats that inhabit and visit these agave lands.
Through this collaborative meeting, Los Ojos Agave Bloom Summit, in addition to the sampling, we socialized the agave reintroduction project in its experimental phase. As well as visiting three plots for revegetation with agaves, reviewing the methodology to be used and a third treatment to plant agaves on the sides of the road as maintenance. All this with the aim of opening a discussion and exchange of experience in restoration issues and related knowledge.