Question

Many threatened birds and mammals are found on islands such as Indonesia (figure 1). Island fauna tends to be endemic and have adaptations/barriers preventing them from migrating to a new location. Name an adaptation for birds that might prevent them from migrating. Name an adaptation/barrier for mammals that prevents them from carrying out migration.

Answer 1

Birds on islands may have specialized feeding behaviors or mating rituals that discourage migration. Mammals may face barriers like dietary dependencies or territorial behaviors limiting their ability to migrate.

Step-by-step explanation:

Islands often present isolated and specialized environments, leading to the development of endemic species with unique adaptations. In the case of birds, these adaptations might include specialized feeding behaviors, reliance on specific plant or insect species found only on the island, or unique mating rituals. Such adaptations discourage birds from migrating to other locations, as the conditions they depend on may not be replicated elsewhere.

For mammals, barriers to migration could arise from specific dietary requirements tied to the island's unique vegetation or prey species. Territorial behaviors, where mammals establish and defend territories crucial for their survival, could also limit their ability to migrate.

Additionally, ecological dependencies, such as reliance on specific ecological niches or environmental conditions found only on the island, may further restrict the possibility of migration.

In essence, these adaptations and barriers contribute to the conservation of island ecosystems by preventing the easy dispersal of species and maintaining the unique biodiversity of isolated environments.