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Ocular diseases are common in pets and other domestic mammals, as well as in wild mammals, but there are few reports for bats. A review of multiple mortality events in bats and examination of bat carcasses from several species revealed that principal causes of death were traumas, bacterial infections, and attacks by domestic cats. Relatively little is known concerning ocular lesions or diseases in bats with only two papers reporting ocular anomalies. We describe ocular lesions or diseases detected in bats of Jalisco and Oaxaca, Mexico. From January 2008 through March 2017, we captured 8,718 bats, nine of these had ocular lesions or diseases. These nine were collected in five localities. Bats were captured with mist nets; six with ocular anomalies were released after recording the basic biological information and three were preserved as museum specimens. Eyes of the affected bats were photographed in the field. Of nine bats with ocular lesions or diseases, two had corneal opacity, four had eye injuries or infections, one had microphthalmia or nanophthalmia, and two had anophthalmia. No other evidence of trauma, disease, or reduced fitness was noted. The bats with anomalies were from two families (Phyllostomidae and Molossidae) and six species (Desmodus rotundus, Glossophaga soricina, Artibeus jamaicensis, Artibeus lituratus, Sturnira parvidens, and Tadarida brasiliensis). The paucity of reports of ocular anomalies in bats suggests that those with ocular problems have low survival probability in natural settings. However, given the small size of the eye in many bat species, the rarity of such reports could be in part due to field researchers missing such anomalies even when they occur. Also, we suspect that researchers at times encounter such anomalies but simply do not report their observations in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Land-use change and hurricanes decreased bat species diversity. • Bat species composition and trophic structure were more stable in primary forests. • Bat species composition was more similar among locations after the hurricane. • Functional ecological approach allows to detect vulnerable species to disturbances. • Primary and secondary forests are vital to counter the impacts of hurricanes. The frequency of high-intensity hurricanes has increased in past decades, making it necessary to understand their impacts on biological diversity. The disturbance by cyclones adds to the anthropic disturbance and generates important effects on ecosystems. Bats are ideal bioindicators that show several responses to impacts of hurricanes in insular systems. However, little is known about their usefulness in assessing impacts of hurricanes in continental regions. We aimed to analyze the short-term impact of Hurricane Patricia (category 4) and anthropic disturbance on the diversity of bats in coastal Jalisco, Mexico, and on abundance of functional groups. We sampled bats at three locations before Hurricane Patricia and eight months after. During a sampling effort of 7091 m2 of netting we captured 487 bats of 17 species, 12 of which were phyllostomids. We detected a decrease in diversity of bats and a more similar composition of species among locations after the hurricane, and a greater stability in species composition and trophic structure in the location with more conserved dry forest. Bats responded in different ways according to functional group. The most vulnerable species were nectarivores, small, with low mobility, and with preferences for understory and cavities. However, their changes in abundance were different among locations and habitats. Conversely, abundance of frugivores-omnivores and insectivores was greater after the hurricane. Additionally, greater changes in abundance among functional groups were in more disturbed sites. Our results indicate that maintaining primary forest and remnants of secondary dry forests is vital to mitigate the effects of major natural disturbances on biodiversity in continental regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]