How bats can be forest architects

Amazonian tiny bats are turning leaves into homes. Some species build shelters by biting and folding giant leaves into hidden “tents” suspended in the forest understory. But scientists discovered these bats may be doing something even more important. Inside their droppings are seeds from wild fruits — seeds that Indigenous and local communities later use to grow edible plants. Now, Bernal Rodríguez Herrera and his team are studying how these overlooked bats could help regenerate forests and support food systems in Amazonian communities. If you want to know more about his research and these bats’ secrets, the full-documentary is now available on Vimeo. Special thanks: Emi Kondo and Bernal Rodríguez Herrera, Leaf Architects Credits Topics