Answer:
If a disease afflicted the birds and reduced their population to almost zero, it would have a significant impact on the ecosystem. Birds play an important role in maintaining the balance of the ecosystem as they serve as pollinators, seed dispersers, and pest controllers. Without birds, the plant species that depend on them for pollination and seed dispersal may decline, and insect populations may increase, leading to imbalances in the food chain. Additionally, other organisms that prey on birds for food would also be affected.