Bats as bioindicators of heavy metal pollution: history and prospect

Bats today face a number of important threats, including that of heavy metal exposure. While the numerous adverse health effects of heavy metals have long been documented, exposure to heavy metal pollution continues, and is even increasing in some parts of the world. The eleven heavy metal elements of highest wildlife protection concern are arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, mercury, manganese, nickel, lead, tin and thallium. This paper reviews 52 studies reporting on heavy metal concentrations in bats, their organs and guano, and aims to provide an overview of heavy metal research on wild bat populations, and particularly its temporal, geographic, methodological and biological aspects.