Are Southern cassowary a keystone species?

Are Southern cassowary a keystone species?

Behaviour of Southern Cassowaries Many species rely on cassowaries for seed dispersal and germination. For this reason they’re known as a ‘keystone’ species. They’ve also been called a rainforest gardener, swallowing fruit whole and spreading the seeds great distances.

Why are Southern cassowaries important?

Cassowaries play an important role in maintaining the diversity of rainforest trees. Cassowaries are one of only a few frugivores (fruit eaters) that can disperse large rainforest fruits, and the only species that can carry large seeded fruits over long distances.

What is the keystone species in the Daintree rainforest?

the cassowary
But even more importantly, the cassowary is a “keystone species” – many other species in the fascinating Daintree Rainforest ecosystem depend on this bird. The cassowary is one of nature’s gardeners: it eats the fruit of many trees and other plants, distributing their seeds through the rainforest.

What would happen if the Southern cassowary went extinct?

Rainforests would be a very different place with diminished diversity if there were no cassowaries. These huge birds are the only animals capable of distributing the seeds of more than 70 species of trees whose fruit is too large for any other forest dwelling animal to eat and relocate.

Why are cassowaries important to the environment?

Cassowaries are important for maintaining the diversity of rainforest trees. They are one of only a few frugivores (fruit eaters) that can disperse large rainforest fruits, and the only one that can carry them over long distances. Some rainforest seeds require the cassowary digestive process to help them germinate.

What is so special about cassowaries?

Cassowaries can live up to 40 years in the wild and some captive birds have lived longer than 60 years. Cassowaries do not have a tongue so they manipulate fruit in their beak by tossing it about. In order to drink, they literally scoop up the water with their lower bill.

What does the cassowary do for the rainforest ecosystem?

Cassowaries are important for maintaining the diversity of rainforest trees. They are one of only a few frugivores (fruit eaters) that can disperse large rainforest fruits, and the only one that can carry them over long distances.

What is so special about Cassowaries?

Why is the Cassowary a keystone species in the Daintree Rainforest?

But even more imporantly, the cassowary is a “keystone species” – many other species in the fascinating Daintree Rainforest ecosystem depend on this bird. The cassowary is one of nature’s gardeners: it eats the fruit of many trees and other plants, distributing their seeds through the rainforest.

Why is the Cassowary so important to Australia?

So the cassowary is vital for the widespread continuance of over 150 species of plants. That is why the cassowary is referred to as a “keystone species”. The latest estimates suggest the total Australian population of the southern cassowary numbers only between 1,200 and 1,500 adults.

What is the habitat of a cassowary?

Habitat and distribution. Cassowaries are found mainly in tropical rainforest, although they do venture out into mangroves, farms and gardens. Two species, the ‘Single wattled Cassowary’ and the ‘Pygmy Cassowary’ are restricted to the island of New Guinea, while the third species, the ‘Southern Cassowary’ is found in both New Guinea and Australia.

Why is cassowary dung important to the rainforest?

A ready-made fertiliser, the dung helps many kinds of seed to grow. Other animals sometimes feed on the seeds in cassowary droppings, helping to distribute them further. Their role in helping to maintain the diversity of the rainforest is why cassowaries are considered a ‘keystone’ species.