Bat olfaction aids forest restoration projects
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Researchers in Brazil discovered that fruit-eating bats can disperse seeds from over 140 plant species in the Atlantic Forest, depositing over 25,000 seeds per hectare in degraded areas daily.
For more than two decades, scientists have investigated bat olfaction to attract them to fragmented forests needing regeneration. Experiments with essential oils from fruits and synthetic compounds showed that bats can be directed to specific locations. This strategy may supplement conventional forest restoration techniques.
Scientists began by observing that bats rely heavily on their sense of smell to locate ripe fruit. They then explored whether reproducing the aroma of these fruits could lure bats to areas needing reforestation. Researchers from Embrapa Florestas and the Federal Institute of Paraná conducted experiments using artificial fruits scented with essential oils, successfully drawing bats to a study area. The team identified specific compounds within fruit scents that attract bats, including those signaling fruit maturity.
They focused on synthetic versions of these compounds because extracting them directly from fruits would be environmentally damaging and reduce seed dispersal. These compounds, found in fruits from the Ficus, Piper, and Solanum genera, are readily produced by the pharmaceutical industry. Researchers can now use these scents to guide bats to areas where increased seed dispersal is desired.
Studies involving over 1,800 bats showed that the animals move between forest fragments, agricultural areas, and orchards, demonstrating that agricultural landscapes do not entirely block their movements. The research suggests this technique could be applied globally, where fruit-eating bat species utilize scent to find food, and could reduce costs and increase species diversity in degraded areas.
