Conservation, Ecology and Health Issues of Forest Bats

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Ecology and Conservation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 1324

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Biological Sciences Department, Santa Cruz State University, Bahia CEP 45662-900, Brazil
Interests: forest mammals; bats; brazil; rainforest; biodiversity conservation; population ecology; habitat fragmentation; agroforestry systems; wildlife monitoring; anthropogenic impacts on wildlife
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Bats play a crucial role in maintaining forest ecosystems, contributing to seed dispersal, pollination, and insect population control; however, habitat fragmentation, deforestation, climate change, and other anthropogenic disturbances threaten their populations worldwide. Understanding the ecological and behavioral responses of bats to these threats is essential for effective conservation strategies.

This Special Issue aims to advance our knowledge of the ecology, behavior, health issues,and conservation of forest bats, particularly in tropical ecosystems. We invite contributions that explore the impacts of habitat loss, land use changes, and environmental variability on bat populations, as well as studies on species interactions, ecological functions, and conservation strategies. Research using field surveys, bioacoustics, ecological modeling, and interdisciplinary approaches is welcome.

By gathering cutting-edge studies, this Special Issue seeks to support evidence-based conservation efforts and sustainable management practices that ensure the long-term survival of forest bats and the ecosystem services they provide.

We look forward to your contributions.

Dr. Ricardo Bovendorp
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • forest mammals
  • bats
  • Brazil
  • rainforest
  • biodiversity conservation
  • population ecology
  • habitat fragmentation
  • agroforestry systems
  • wildlife monitoring
  • anthropogenic impacts on wildlife

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

13 pages, 3118 KiB  
Article
Landscape Composition and Forest Structure Shape Phyllostomid Bat Assemblages in the Atlantic Forest Remnants
by Ricardo Bovendorp, Eduardo Mariano-Neto, Albérico Queiroz and Deborah Faria
Animals 2025, 15(14), 2082; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15142082 - 15 Jul 2025
Viewed by 998
Abstract
Habitat loss and land-use intensification are major threats to biodiversity in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, particularly for bat assemblages that provide key ecosystem services. In this study, we examined how landscape composition (forest and pasture cover) and local forest structure influence the richness [...] Read more.
Habitat loss and land-use intensification are major threats to biodiversity in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, particularly for bat assemblages that provide key ecosystem services. In this study, we examined how landscape composition (forest and pasture cover) and local forest structure influence the richness and abundance of phyllostomid bats across 20 forest fragments in southern Bahia. Bat sampling was conducted using mist nets, and forest structure was quantified using tree measurements and vertical foliage stratification. We applied structural equation modeling to test the direct and indirect effects of landscape and local variables. Our results show that forest cover has both direct and indirect positive effects on bat diversity, mediated by improved forest structure. In contrast, increased pasture cover negatively affected forest structure and was weakly associated with bat diversity. The most abundant species were generalist frugivores, such as Carollia perspicillata and Rhinophylla pumilio. These findings highlight the importance of maintaining forest cover and structural complexity to support bat diversity in agroforestry-dominated landscapes. Conservation strategies that integrate habitat protection with sustainable land-use practices are crucial to maintaining biodiversity and the ecological functions provided by bats in this globally threatened biome. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conservation, Ecology and Health Issues of Forest Bats)
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