Question

Investigate an extinct species and analyse how its disappearance impacted the organisms that depend on it, and how this affected the ecological balance of the ecosystem.

Answer 1

The dodo bird, which lived on Mauritius, became extinct in the 17th century due to hunting and introduced animals.

Impact on the Ecosystem:

• The extinction of the dodo affected seed dispersal of certain plants.
• Plants that depended on the dodo for seed dispersal may have faced difficulties in reproduction.
• Its disappearance changed ecological interactions and affected the balance of the ecosystem.

Conclusion:

The extinction of the dodo shows how the loss of one species can affect other organisms and disturb ecological balance.