Large Old World fruit bats (LOWFBs), species of Pteropus, Acerodon, and related genera of large bats in the pteropodid subfamily Pteropodinae, play important roles as agents of dispersal and pollination across the Paleotropics. LOWFBs are also collectively the most threatened group of bats in the world, with 71% of extant species assessed as threatened by International Union for Conservation of Nature. As highlighted here, contrary to other bats, the vast majority of LOWFBs face multiple simultaneous threats. Most importantly, biological and ecological traits, in particular life history characteristics, diet, movement, social ecology, and physiology, intensify threats and accelerate species declines. Furthermore, we demonstrate that LOWFBs are to be considered keystone species and express concern about the erosion of this role and the cascading effects expected on native ecosystems. In response to this alarming situation, we advance general recommendations and identify overarching research and conservation actions.

中文翻译：

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大型旧世界果蝠濒临灭绝：原因和后果

大型旧大陆果蝠 (LOWFB)、翼龙属、尖齿蝠属以及翼足亚科翼足亚科大型蝙蝠的相关属，作为古热带地区的传播和授粉媒介发挥着重要作用。 LOWFB 也是世界上受威胁最严重的蝙蝠类群，国际自然保护联盟将 71% 的现存物种评估为受威胁。正如此处强调的，与其他蝙蝠相反，绝大多数 LOWFB 同时面临多种威胁。最重要的是，生物和生态特征，特别是生活史特征、饮食、运动、社会生态和生理，加剧了威胁并加速了物种衰退。此外，我们证明 LOWFBs 应被视为关键物种，并对这一作用的侵蚀以及预期对本地生态系统的连锁效应表示担忧。为了应对这种令人震惊的情况，我们提出一般性建议并确定总体研究和保护行动。