Friday, April 18, at 7:00 pm
Gila Native Plant Society Program: Presentation by Carlos Martinez del Río, "Pollination, fermentation, and distillation: The biocultural coevolution of mezcales, bats, and humans" Harlan Hall, Room 111, corner of 12th and Alabama Streets, or online
Bats and agave plants (or mezcales) have interacted for several million years. The once-in-a-lifetime sexual reproduction of agaves that requires huge carbohydrate storage was shaped by bat pollination. Humans took advantage of this outcome of the ancient interaction of bats and agaves and for many thousands of years have become reliant on mezcales for fiber, food and intoxicating beverages. Now, however, these drinks are experiencing a worldwide boom that is placing bats, agaves and mezcal cultures in danger. What can we do to protect them?
Carlos grew up in a cattle ranch in Northern México. He received a Bachelor's Degree in Biology from the Universidad Autónoma de México and a Ph.D. from the University of Florida. He taught and did research at Princeton, the University of Arizona and the University of Wyoming. He has spent his life studying animals that pollinate flowers and/or disperse seeds.
The program will be live and online. To request a Zoom link, contact