A new study by University of Tasmania scientists finds that increasing extreme weather events caused by climate change may change flying fox migration patterns.
Tasmania, which currently only hosts eight species of small bats, may become a new climate refuge for flying foxes, or megabats, as they are also known.
Potential risks include the introduction of diseases from the mainland, and adverse interactions between the flying foxes and Tasmanian farmers and local species.
The researcher says this issue may be mitigated by greater mainland habitat conservation efforts. The paper is pre-print and has not yet been peer reviewed.