This dissertation investigates the role of bats in harboring zoonotic viruses and explores how bat antibodies can be used to understand viral dynamics and identify potential reservoirs. In chapter one, we analyzed antibody data to pinpoint reservoirs of Henipaviruses and Filoviruses. We found limited evidence that these viruses clustered within specific bat lineages, suggesting bats generally, not specific species or clades, can be reservoirs for these high priority pathogens, highlighting the need to broaden surveillance. In chapter two, we compared the bat antibody response to immunization to that of the mouse. We found bats' antibodies had lower binding affinity than mice, but that this affinity could be improved if we removed protein from their diet. These findings indicate that while bat humoral immunity may be unique, caution must be taken when interpreting the conclusions of any species comparison, as results may be highly sensitive to experimental conditions. Finally, in chapter three, we looked at the dynamics of maternal and infection-acquired antibodies in juvenile bats in response to Hendra virus. We observed substantial variation in anti-Hendra IgG levels across juvenile cohorts, suggesting complex factors beyond just the influx of juvenile bats drive Hendra virus dynamics. Overall, this research provides insights into the bat antibody response as well as novel applications of serological data in both zoonotic virus surveillance and viral ecology studies.