Plants have found unique ways to attract bats

Plants have found unique ways to attract bats

Nectar bats make several hundred flower visits nightly to fuel their roaring metabolism. In the tropical forests of Central and South America, plants have found unique ways to attract bats. The flowers of these plants shape the echoes of bats’ calls, providing sound cues that streamline foraging—a strategy that pays off in improved pollination for the plant.


MATTHEW TWOMBLY, NGM STAFF; MESA SCHUMACHER. SOURCES: RALPH SIMON, DEPARTMENT OF SENSOR TECHNOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF ERLANGEN; MERLIN D. TUTTLE, DEPARTMENT OF INTEGRATIVE BIOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS; NATHAN MUCHHALA, UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-ST. LOUIS

• ngm.nationalgeographic.com / bat-echo/plant-interactive