A tree species in Mauritius failed to reproduce because of the extinction of a fruit-eating bird.Which one of the following was that bird?
✓ Correct answer: b) Dodo
ExplanationThe Tambalacoque tree (Sideroxylon grandiflorum), also known as the Dodo tree, usually relied on the Dodo bird for seed germination.The seeds of this tree required scarification (softening of the seed coat) through the Dodo›s digestive system.The Dodo (Raphus cucullatus), a flightless bird endemic to Mauritius, became extinct in the late 1600s due to over-hunting by humans and the introduction of non-native animals like rats and pigs.After the extinction of the Dodo, natural reproduction of the Tambalacoque tree declined significantly.496
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