Hello steemit, today I want to tell you about the extinction of one ecosystem,
The destruction of bird species in the world has an impact on plant damage because many plants depend on birds for pollination and the spread of their seeds.
It makes sense if the declining bird population will have an impact on plant species such as the destruction of two bird species of bellbird (Anthornis melanura) and stitchbird (Notiomystis cincta) in a thicket on the North Island, New Zealand.
The bush flowers of Rhabdothamnus solandir depend on both birds for pollination. Dave Kelly from the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand and his colleagues compared plants on the North Island with nature reserve plants that were treated well on three small islands where the birds lived.
Hand aided
The research team has pollinated 79 plants throughout the North Island and on three islands where the sanctuary is located. Then compare the fruit with fruits from flowers that have not been touched at that location.
About 70 percent of the flowers on the North Island and small islands produce fruit due to pollination. Without this assistance, only 22 percent of the interest on the North Island produces fruit. Obviously far compared to 58 percent on nature reserve islands.
Fruits on the North Island are on average smaller and, on average, produce less than 84 percent of seeds compared to fruit on small islands. That was a sign that their seeds were not being pollinated to the fullest.
Reduction in seed production is influenced by the population of Rhabdothamnus solandri, because there are fewer young plants on the North Island than on those small islands.
The destruction of bird species in the world has an impact on plant damage because many plants depend on birds for pollination and the spread of their seeds.
It makes sense if the declining bird population will have an impact on plant species such as the destruction of two bird species of bellbird (Anthornis melanura) and stitchbird (Notiomystis cincta) in a thicket on the North Island, New Zealand.
The bush flowers of Rhabdothamnus solandir depend on both birds for pollination. Dave Kelly from the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand and his colleagues compared plants on the North Island with nature reserve plants that were treated well on three small islands where the birds lived.
Hand aided
The research team has pollinated 79 plants throughout the North Island and on three islands where the sanctuary is located. Then compare the fruit with fruits from flowers that have not been touched at that location.
About 70 percent of the flowers on the North Island and small islands produce fruit due to pollination. Without this assistance, only 22 percent of the interest on the North Island produces fruit. Obviously far compared to 58 percent on nature reserve islands.
Fruits on the North Island are on average smaller and, on average, produce less than 84 percent of seeds compared to fruit on small islands. That was a sign that their seeds were not being pollinated to the fullest.
Reduction in seed production is influenced by the population of Rhabdothamnus solandri, because there are fewer young plants on the North Island than on those small islands.
There is still time
Kelly was convinced that this was due to a lack of pollination by birds. Observations in the field show birds visit up to 80 percent of the flowers where the bellbird and stitchbird are still developing, but only a quarter of that flower when the birds have disappeared.
"Plant extinction tends to be slower than animals, because plants live longer," Kelly said.
"We have time to deal with that," he said, such as recalculating the population of stitchbirds and bellbirds on the North Island. He estimates that Rhabdothamnus solandri can live more than 150 years.
"This is really interesting," said Martine Maron, a bird ecologist at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia. Birds are responsible for pollinating most of the flowering plants, "this problem may occur throughout the world," he said.
"It's not just about losing one species from the face of the earth," Maron added, quoted by New Scientist. "Losing key species from the local area can cause ecosystem collapse."
Kelly was convinced that this was due to a lack of pollination by birds. Observations in the field show birds visit up to 80 percent of the flowers where the bellbird and stitchbird are still developing, but only a quarter of that flower when the birds have disappeared.
"Plant extinction tends to be slower than animals, because plants live longer," Kelly said.
"We have time to deal with that," he said, such as recalculating the population of stitchbirds and bellbirds on the North Island. He estimates that Rhabdothamnus solandri can live more than 150 years.
"This is really interesting," said Martine Maron, a bird ecologist at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia. Birds are responsible for pollinating most of the flowering plants, "this problem may occur throughout the world," he said.
"It's not just about losing one species from the face of the earth," Maron added, quoted by New Scientist. "Losing key species from the local area can cause ecosystem collapse."