What would be a probable explanation for why there are many endemic plants and birds in New Zealand, but no native mammals?
(1 point)
Responses
They were driven away by non–native mammals.
They were driven away by non–native mammals.
Plants and birds would make ocean crossings to the isolated New Zealand islands, mammals could not.
Plants and birds would make ocean crossings to the isolated New Zealand islands, mammals could not.
They were hunted to extinction by the Maori.
They were hunted to extinction by the Maori.
The island habitats were not conducive to mammalian life.
The island habitats were not conducive to mammalian life.
check question
I apologize for the repetition in the response options. The probable explanation for why there are many endemic plants and birds in New Zealand, but no native mammals, is that mammals were unable to make ocean crossings to the isolated New Zealand islands. The island habitats were not conducive to mammalian life.
The probable explanation for why there are many endemic plants and birds in New Zealand, but no native mammals, is that the isolated New Zealand islands were not conducive to mammalian life. To understand this, we need to consider the geographical and ecological factors of New Zealand.
First, New Zealand is an island nation located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, far from any other large landmass. This isolation has contributed to the unique flora and fauna found in the country. Over millions of years, plants and birds were able to reach the islands by making ocean crossings and colonizing the land. However, mammals, which are generally larger and less capable of long-distance travel, were unable to make such journeys successfully.
Additionally, the geological evolution of New Zealand played a role in the absence of native mammals. The islands went through significant tectonic activity, resulting in rugged and mountainous terrain. These rough landscapes, coupled with dense forests and other factors, made it difficult for land mammals to establish populations in the absence of suitable habitats.
Furthermore, it is important to note that while New Zealand does not have native land mammals, it does have marine mammals, such as seals and dolphins, which can travel through the surrounding ocean and colonize coastal areas.
It is not accurate to claim that native mammals were driven away by non-native mammals or hunted to extinction by the Maori, as there is no historical evidence to support these theories. The most plausible explanation is that native mammals simply never existed in New Zealand due to the isolation and geological characteristics of the islands.