Bat pollination at the southwestern margin of the Neotropics revealed by direct evidence

Bat pollination at the range margin in the southwestern Neotropics has been largely unexplored. We provide for the first time direct evidence on bat pollination, visitation rate, and efficiency for three species of the Southern Andean Yungas. These interactions are valuable targets for future conservation efforts in this endangered ecosystem. in Spanish is available with online material. Resumen La polinización por murciélagos en el margen de distribución suroeste del Neotrópico ha sido en gran medida inexplorada. Proveemos por primera vez evidencia directa de polinización por murciélagos, tasa de visitas y eficiencia de polinización para tres especies de las Yungas Andinas del Sur. Estas interacciones son objetivos valiosos de conservación en este ecosistema amenazado. We provide, for the first time, direct evidence of bat pollination, visitation rate, and pollination efficiency for three species of the Southern Andean Yungas. Bats emerged as significantly more important pollinators compared to nocturnal lepidopterans in Melidiscus giganteus and Helicteres lhotzkyana, and hawkmoths in the case of Pitcairnia oranensis. Bat‐plant pollination interactions in the Southern Andean Yungas are valuable targets for future conservation efforts in this endangered ecosystem.