Bats limit arthropods and herbivory in a tropical forest

Science. 2008 Apr 4;320(5872):71. doi: 10.1126/science.1153352.

Abstract

Previous exclosure studies measuring the top-down control of arthropod abundance and herbivory combined the effects of birds and bats. We experimentally partitioned bird predation from bat predation in a lowland tropical forest in Panama and measured the direct effects (arthropod abundance) and indirect effects (herbivory). The exclusion of birds and bats each directly increased arthropod abundance on plants: Bird-exclosed plants contained 65% more, and bat-exclosed plants 153% more, arthropods than controls. Birds and bats also indirectly increased herbivory: Bird-exclosed plants suffered 67% more, and bat-exclosed plants 209% more, herbivory than controls. We conclude that bats have dramatic ecological effects that were previously overlooked.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arthropods*
  • Birds*
  • Chiroptera*
  • Ecosystem*
  • Panama
  • Plant Leaves*
  • Predatory Behavior
  • Random Allocation
  • Trees*
  • Tropical Climate*