Ecosystem Service Contributions of the Greater Spear-Nosed Bat in Panama

Seed dispersal is a key ecological process that supports forest regeneration, especially in fragmented tropical landscapes. In my Master’s research, I studied the role of the greater spear-nosed bat (Phyllostomus hastatus) as a seed disperser in Panama by combining GPS tracking with gut passage experiments. My results show that these bats can disperse seeds over distances of up to 48 km, potentially linking isolated forest patches and enhancing biodiversity. While most seeds are deposited close to feeding sites, rare long-distance dispersal events are crucial for maintaining ecosystem connectivity. These findings highlight the important ecosystem services bats provide in preserving and expanding tropical forests.