Ecological Role of Bats in Pollination and Seed Dispersal in Oyo State Forests

Bats perform critical ecological functions as pollinators and seed dispersers in tropical forest ecosystems, yet their ecological role and conservation status in Nigerian forests remain poorly quantified. This study investigates the dietary preferences and pollination or seed dispersal contributions of fruit bats in three forest fragments in Oyo State, within Nigeria's South West geopolitical zone. Mist nets were deployed at dusk in forest interior and edge habitats over 12 survey nights, and captured bats were identified, measured, and released. Fecal samples were collected for microhistological analysis of pollen and seed content. A total of 14 bat species from three families were captured, with straw-colored fruit bats (Eidolon helvum) and epauletted bats (Epomophorus spp.) dominating captures. Seed analyses identified 22 plant species in bat feces, including several commercially important and forest-dependent species. Pollen analysis confirmed bat visitation to at least six plant species with structural features adapted for chiropterophily. The study finds that the ongoing loss of forest cover in Oyo State, driven by charcoal production and agricultural conversion, threatens bat roosting sites and disrupts pollination and seed dispersal networks. The study recommends the protection of large fig trees and other keystone food plants in forest fragments, legal protection for fruit bat roosts, and integration of bat conservation into Oyo State forest management plans. Keywords: bats, pollination, seed dispersal, Oyo State, South West Nigeria