Eucalyptus plantations act as environmental filters on bat functional traits in a Neotropical landscape

Abstract

Abstract Habitat loss and agricultural expansion are among the primary drivers of biodiversity loss worldwide, with Neotropical regions being particularly vulnerable due to their high biological diversity and elevated rates of land-use conversion. Studies assessing how these changes affect the functional traits of biota have provided valuable insights, enabling the identification of traits sensitive to human-induced environmental modification. Many functional studies have used bat guilds (e.g., Phyllostomidae and aerial insectivores) as model systems; however, a holistic approach encompassing the entire bat community remains needed. Using an integrative approach combining mist-netting and bioacoustics, we evaluated how bat functional diversity indices and traits respond to anthropogenic landscapes in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. We found that Eucalyptus cover was the variable with the strongest influence on functional diversity, with Eucalyptus -dominated areas exhibiting lower functional richness and dissimilarity, and higher functional redundancy. These landscapes were dominated by functionally redundant species, characterized by lower body mass, frequency-modulated/quasi-constant calls, insectivorous diets, and lower wing loading. In contrast, landscapes dominated by a mosaic of agriculture and forests supported functionally unique species and traits absent from Eucalyptus -dominated areas, including higher body mass, frequency-modulated calls, and diverse dietary guilds such as frugivorous, animalivorous, and hematophagous. Our findings suggest that Eucalyptus plantations can act as environmental filters on bat functional traits and reducing their extent could minimize negative impacts on this functionally diverse group.