Fruit bats in flight: a look into the movements of the ecologically important Eidolon helvum in Tanzania

Abstract

Many ecologically important plants are pollinated or have their seeds dispersed by fruit bats, including the widely distributed African straw-colored fruit bats (Eidolon helvum). Their ability to fly long distances makes them essential for connecting plant populations across fragmented landscapes. While bats have been implicated as a reservoir of infectious diseases, their role in disease transmission to humans is not well understood. In this pilot study, we tracked E. helvum to shed light on their movement patterns in Tanzania and possible contact with other species.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Aug 05, 2020
Source ID
10.1186/s42522-020-00020-9

Entities

People

  • Abel B. Ekiri
  • Alphonce Msigwa
  • Aziza Samson
  • Beatriz Martínez-lópez
  • Brian H Bird
  • Christopher Kilonzo
  • David J. Wolking
  • Elizabeth Vanwormer
  • Jonathan H. Epstein
  • Jonna Mazet
  • Nistara Randhawa
  • Rudovick Kazwala
  • Woutrina A. Smith
  • Zikankuba Sijali

Organizations

  • Defense Threat Reduction Agency

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Economics
  • Environmental Engineering.
  • Infectious Disease/Epidemiology