Seed dispersal by bats in naturally restored mining areas of the Eastern Amazon

Frugivorous bats play a crucial role in forest regeneration, but their contribution to post-mining landscapes is poorly studied. We assessed seed richness dispersed by frugivorous bats in natural regeneration areas (PRAD) and adjacent forest remnants (FN) in a bauxite mining region in Paragominas, Pará, Brazil. During five mist-net capture campaigns, we captured 829 bats of 21 species, with 11 frugivorous species contributing seeds of 11 plant species, primarily pioneers such as Solanum paludosum , Banara guianensis , and Cecropia palmata . Rarefaction and extrapolation curves indicated similar seed richness between PRAD and FN, suggesting that bats exploit both habitats comparably. Fruit availability was the main factor influencing seed richness in bat feces, with ripe fruit positively associated and dehiscent fruit negatively associated with the number of seed species dispersed. These results highlight that bats support natural regeneration in post-mining areas by dispersing seeds widely, emphasizing their ecological importance. Promoting early fruit availability can enhance seed dispersal and accelerate forest recovery.