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While the rainforests of Costa Rica are unfortunately not entirely spared by the timber and agricultural industries, one way to combat such threats to these beautiful natural landmarks is to bring in bat species
Helping SeedsDetlev Kelm, a biologist at the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research in Berlin, Germany, says that the major reason these bats can be helpful is that the first step in the regrowth of an area is seed dispersal. Many fruit-eating bats in Costa Rica do not fully digest the seeds, which leads to them being deposited as waste across the country.
Kelm, who began a reforestation project in 2000, designed artificial bat roosts for the mammals that feast on fruit and live in the hollows of trees. The roosts were then implemented in a lowland area of Costa Rica, where farming and ranching typically take place. After just a few weeks, the bats had moved into a majority of these roosts and remained there during the following years.
According to the research conducted by Kelm and his team, which was published in New Scientist Magazine, there were between 5 and 20 times as many seeds deposited around the roost areas than those sites that lacked such roosts.
As a result, it appears as though bringing bats into the rainforest may be an effective means of regenerating the natural vegetation that had previously been cleared, Kelm's research team discovered.
Species FoundThe bats that inhabited the roosts implemented by Kelm and his team were mostly short-tailed fruit bats. However, nectar-feeding bats such as the long-tongued bat are also critical in the pollination of a number of different plants. Common big-eared bats and frog-eating bats were also found in the area.
The Jamaican fruit bat, which can be found throughout Costa Rica, is another species that assists in the reforestation process thanks to its efficient digestive process that keeps the fruit seeds in tact
Helpful batsWhile many people may harbor an often unwarranted fear of bats, the truth is these creatures play an extremely important role in the survival of the rainforest. Bat conservation is clearly a top priority in Costa Rica, as these intriguing mammals can help to protect the country's beautiful landscape and various ecological systems. | |
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| Javi the Frog's Costa Rica Blog | 24 hours in... Monteverde
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In Day Tours - Sunday, May 19, 2013 | Plan a post-retirement trip to Costa Rica
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