Post by Kiwi Frontline on Dec 4, 2018 6:32:31 GMT 12
FOR INFORMATION ON CONSERVATION
The value of conservation is better understood by an appreciation of lost biodiversity. New Zealand's greatest biological loss is 42 percent of its' terrestrial birds since human settlement 700 years ago.
The 57 extinct birds evolved in an isolated land, and without mammal predators, developed various levels of flightlessness, ground feeding and nesting habits, and fearlessness over millions of years.
The first 38 extinctions during human settlement were influenced by Maori hunting for food, indiscriminate forest burning, and introduction of the Polynesian rat and dogs.
Since mid-1800 European arrival there have been another 19 losses caused by logging, forest clearing for pasture, and introduction of a hoard of predatory animals including bird enemies numbers one and two, stoats and rats.
The prominent extinction groups are all 14 moas, 11 rails, 6 wrens and both eagles.
www.terranature.org/terraNatureLogo212.gif
Credit: C. T.
The value of conservation is better understood by an appreciation of lost biodiversity. New Zealand's greatest biological loss is 42 percent of its' terrestrial birds since human settlement 700 years ago.
The 57 extinct birds evolved in an isolated land, and without mammal predators, developed various levels of flightlessness, ground feeding and nesting habits, and fearlessness over millions of years.
The first 38 extinctions during human settlement were influenced by Maori hunting for food, indiscriminate forest burning, and introduction of the Polynesian rat and dogs.
Since mid-1800 European arrival there have been another 19 losses caused by logging, forest clearing for pasture, and introduction of a hoard of predatory animals including bird enemies numbers one and two, stoats and rats.
The prominent extinction groups are all 14 moas, 11 rails, 6 wrens and both eagles.
www.terranature.org/terraNatureLogo212.gif
Credit: C. T.