If a population suffers a crash, for example, due to a cull or natural disaster, it can take a long time to recover, which can prove problematic given bats have a low reproduction rate, with each female typically having one pup per year.

Bats have an important environmental role,  representing a vital element maintaining ecosystems all over the world. They are key to seed dispersal and pollination and, particularly in some parts of the world – such as tropical and desert ecosystems – are vital to maintaining the abundance and diversity of plants necessary for a healthy ecosystem. Many plants are reliant exclusively on pollination by bats for survival.

Fruit-eating bats are important for local economies; without them, fruits could not be produced in such quantities. Where areas of rainforest have been damaged, no other groups of animals are as efficient at restoring the habitat as bats. They are particularly important for dispersing pioneer plant species – those that form the first layer of vegetation in cleared areas. Bats defecate when they are flying and their droppings also provide excellent fertilizer for plants.

Insectivorous bats also hold important roles in ecosystems. They consume huge quantities of insects and keep the numbers down, helping reduce the impact of insect pests on agriculture. It is thought that in the US, bats save upwards of $3.7 billion per year in crop damage and pesticide use.

Bats are found all over the world. Their functions are clear and the extinction of bat species can have significant, irreversible impacts on ecosystems globally.