Question
15. 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
The island habitats were not conducive to mammalian life.
The island habitats were not conducive to mammalian life.
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 driven away by non–native mammals.
They were driven away by non–native mammals.
They were hunted to extinction by the Maori.
Responses
The island habitats were not conducive to mammalian life.
The island habitats were not conducive to mammalian life.
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 driven away by non–native mammals.
They were driven away by non–native mammals.
They were hunted to extinction by the Maori.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The most probable explanation for why there are many endemic plants and birds in New Zealand, but no native mammals, is:
**Plants and birds would make ocean crossings to the isolated New Zealand islands, mammals could not.**
New Zealand's long isolation from other land masses allowed certain species to evolve independently. Birds and plants have mechanisms (such as flight and seed dispersal) that enable them to reach isolated islands, whereas mammals, particularly larger ones, generally have more difficulty making such crossings.
**Plants and birds would make ocean crossings to the isolated New Zealand islands, mammals could not.**
New Zealand's long isolation from other land masses allowed certain species to evolve independently. Birds and plants have mechanisms (such as flight and seed dispersal) that enable them to reach isolated islands, whereas mammals, particularly larger ones, generally have more difficulty making such crossings.