References
[1] van Toor ML, O'Mara MT, Abedi-Lartey M, Wikelski M, Fahr J, Dechmann DKN. Linking colony size with quantitative estimates of ecosystem services of African fruit bats. Curr Biol. 2019 Apr 1;29(7):R237-R238. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2019.02.033. PMID: 30939302.
[2] Aziz, S. A. et al. 2021. The Critical Importance of Old World Fruit Bats for Healthy Ecosystems and Economies. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 9: 641411. https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2021.641411
[3] Aziz, S. A. et al. 2017. Pollination by the locally endangered island flying fox (Pteropus hypomelanus) enhances fruit production of the economically important durian (Durio zibethinus). Ecology and Evolution 7:8670–8684. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.3213
[4] Ortega González, A., Possingham, H., Biggs, D., Anderson, N., & Braczkowski, A. R. (2026). The Bat Ripple case study shows ecological and economic contributions of grey headed flying foxes in Australia. Scientific Reports, 16(1), 8976. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-39042-0
Flying foxes
Flying foxes are keystone ecosystem species that provide significant ecosystem and economic contributions through pollination and seed dispersal.
Flying foxes influence both natural and human-managed ecosystems primarily through pollination and seed dispersal. In addition to supporting economically important crops and agroforestry systems, flying foxes also contribute to forest regeneration. [1] [4]
Old World fruit bats, including flying foxes, have been found to interact with more than 1,000 plant species. A 2021 study identified 16 bat species as pollinators of 21 plant species, and 29 bat species as seed dispersers of 311 plant species. [2] Some bat species also have the capacity to disperse seeds farther than has been recorded for any other animal. [2]
In Malaysia, the island flying fox plays a key role in pollinating the economically important durian tree. While scientists recorded 9 different animal species visiting the flowering durian trees, only the island flying fox was observed providing pollination services. [3] Additionally, island flying fox pollination also increased the number of durian flowers that developed into mature fruits when compared to flowers not pollinated by the bat. [3]
In Australia, scientists estimate that the area of influence of four mainland flying fox species may extend up to 41.4 million hectares of land, including forests, plantations, and restoration areas - an area equivalent to the size of Sweden. Flying fox pollination could potentially contribute AUD 271-955 million per year to the Australian eucalypt timber industry. [4] These bats play an important role through long-distance pollen transport and their ability to carry and deposit larger amounts of pollen than other pollinators. [4]
Yet despite these significant ecosystem and economic contributions, bats are increasingly being threatened by hunting, persecution, habitat loss and climate change.
Flying foxes
Flying foxes are keystone ecosystem species that provide significant ecosystem and economic contributions through pollination and seed dispersal.
Flying foxes influence both natural and human-managed ecosystems primarily through pollination and seed dispersal. In addition to supporting economically important crops and agroforestry systems, flying foxes also contribute to forest regeneration. [1] [4]
Old World fruit bats, including flying foxes, have been found to interact with more than 1,000 plant species. A 2021 study identified 16 bat species as pollinators of 21 plant species, and 29 bat species as seed dispersers of 311 plant species. [2] Some bat species also have the capacity to disperse seeds farther than has been recorded for any other animal. [2]
In Malaysia, the island flying fox plays a key role in pollinating the economically important durian tree. While scientists recorded 9 different animal species visiting the flowering durian trees, only the island flying fox was observed providing pollination services. [3] Additionally, island flying fox pollination also increased the number of durian flowers that developed into mature fruits when compared to flowers not pollinated by the bat. [3]
In Australia, scientists estimate that the area of influence of four mainland flying fox species may extend up to 41.4 million hectares of land, including forests, plantations, and restoration areas - an area equivalent to the size of Sweden. Flying fox pollination could potentially contribute AUD 271-955 million per year to the Australian eucalypt timber industry. [4] These bats play an important role through long-distance pollen transport and their ability to carry and deposit larger amounts of pollen than other pollinators. [4]
Yet despite these significant ecosystem and economic contributions, bats are increasingly being threatened by hunting, persecution, habitat loss and climate change.