Worldwide, habitat conversion by humans profoundly affects diversity patterns of species assemblages with far reaching consequences for ecosystem services and human welfare. This is particularly true for the species-rich tropics where the increasing pressure of a rapidly growing human population leads to large-scale habitat degradation mainly caused by changes in land use practices and intensities. In a comprehensive approach, we address the effects of human-induced changes on diversity and function of bat assemblages as bats (Chiroptera) play key roles in tropical ecosystems as seed dispersers, pollinators, and predators of arthropods. In tight collaboration with local partners and subprojects of BIOTA, we examine the functional significance of bats for the maintenance of diversity, in particular vegetation dynamics, and their importance for sustainable use of resources and rehabilitation of degraded lands.

During the pilot phase of BIOTA, we showed that the species richness of African bats is much higher than previously assumed, both on the local and regional scale. In contrast to current assumptions, bat diversity does not peak in lowland rainforests but in the habitat mosaic of the Guinea zone, underlining the fundamental significance of structural heterogeneity and complexity as a mechanism promoting and maintaining diversity. During the main phase, we aim to assess the influence of human land use on community patterns of bats. Furthermore, we will study the effect of vegetation changes on the diversity and abundance of flying foxes and in turn on regeneration of woody plant species.

In a second approach, we analyse the performance of the current network of protected areas with respect to large-scale diversity patterns of bats in West Africa. Results from the pilot phase of BIOTA identified centres of species richness that correlate with the ecotone between the rainforest and savanna biomes as well as with topodiversity. We will expand our modelling approach to predict effects of environmental and climate change on the regional distribution patterns of species and as a tool for upscaling and linking results obtained on the local scale.

Special emphasis is given in our studies to capacity building with local scientists and information transfer to establish applicable and cost-efficient biodiversity management programs on local to regional scales. Our study sites are located in the biodiversity observatories in and around Pendjari National Park, northern Benin.