Why bats are so important to the environment

The protection of ecosystems has become, in recent years, a matter of enormous importance for the survival of humanity. There is even talk of some species whose extinction could significantly compromise the world’s food supply, such as bees and bats. The importance of the former is always mentioned, but flying mammals also play an enormous role in plant reproduction.

O awesome.club discovered why bats are essential and what benefits they bring to the environment.

As we said in an article about bees, they carry out a third of the world’s pollination and, because of the pollen they leave scattered among the flowers, they contribute to the growth of fruits and seeds that serve as food for people and animals. However, according to studies by the National Commission of Protected Natural Areas of Mexico (CONANP) and the American Society for Research on Bats (NASBR) presented at a conference organized in Mexico in 2018, bats are also specialized pollinators, since they they are part of the species that feed on nectar, therefore having direct contact with the reproductive parts of the flower.

According to a study carried out by a group of researchers from the National Herbarium of Bolivia, some bat species are great seed dispersers because they consume a huge variety of fruits and then expel the seeds during defecation.

During their flights, the distribution of seeds helps to reforest a certain deforested area. For this reason, the study proposes the use of bats for the regeneration of forests and the rapid recovery of ecosystems.

According to an article published by CONANP researchers, bats offer great benefits related to health and the economy, as many species feed on insects that can transmit diseases or harm large agricultural areas.

Thanks to its activity, it is possible to use less pesticides, which obviously contributes to care for the environment. Therefore, many species of bats end up being harmed by chemicals. In this sense, a document published by researchers from the Facultad en Desarrollo Sustentable of the Autonomous University of Guerrero, in Mexico, suggests the urgent implementation of measures to guarantee the preservation of these animals.

There is a wide variety of bat species with an enormous capacity to adapt to various habitats, from arid mountains to tropical forests. Such characteristics, according to experts, can make these flying mammals react to environmental changes and adapt again, depending on the level of alteration that an ecosystem can undergo.

A clear example of this is the way they build their nests. There is a false belief that bats only occupy caves or any hole in a tree. However, some species have been found to build a type of “tent” made from tree leaves and branches, which may indicate the level of disturbance to the ecosystem. That is, they use the resources they have at hand to build their shelters and thus survive in any habitat. In the absence of trees in deforested areas, for example, they can lodge in holes.

As already mentioned in this text, bats are specialized pollinators and distribute seeds during their trajectory. However, in addition, they contribute to soil fertilization during flight. The fecal matter of these animals contains a high content of phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N), nutrients that make up, together with potassium (K), the basic formula of fertilizers.

Now that you know why bats are so important, what attitudes do you think should be adopted to preserve these animals? Do you know other benefits that these flying mammals bring to the ecosystem? Tell us in the comments section.