<
https://theconversation.com/the-discovery-of-an-extinct-shelduck-highlights-the-rich-ancient-biodiversity-of-the-remote-rekohu-chatham-islands-259656>
"Islands are natural laboratories where evolution can run rampant as plants and
animals adapt to new environmental conditions and vacancies in the ecosystem.
This creates all manner of unique animals, although sadly extinction rates are
high on islands and many species are now gone. Examples include a blind,
flightless duck with a sensory bill (like a platypus) on Hawaii, and pygmy
mammoths on islands off the coast of southern California.
The Rēkohu Chatham Islands, an archipelago 785 kilometres east of mainland
Aotearoa New Zealand, are no exception.
The islands were once home to a rich assemblage of unique birds, with 64
breeding species at the time of human arrival. Some 34 species and subspecies
were found nowhere else on Earth.
This includes the endangered parea Chatham Island pigeon and the extinct
mehonui Hawkin’s rail.
Our new research adds a unique species of shelduck to this group and
illustrates just how quickly birds can adapt to life on isolated islands."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
