A tree species in Mauritius failed to reproduce because of the extinction of a fruit-eating bird. Which one of the following was that bird ?

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Q: 120 (IAS/1998)
A tree species in Mauritius failed to reproduce because of the extinction of a fruit-eating bird.
Which one of the following was that bird ?

question_subject: 

Science

question_exam: 

IAS

stats: 

0,54,28,17,54,6,5

keywords: 

{'mauritius': [1, 1, 1, 1], 'extinction': [0, 0, 0, 1], 'tree species': [1, 0, 0, 0], 'bird': [0, 0, 0, 1], 'dove': [0, 1, 0, 0], 'fruit': [2, 0, 0, 2], 'condor': [0, 1, 0, 0], 'skua': [0, 1, 0, 0], 'dodo': [1, 0, 0, 0]}

The bird species that went extinct in Mauritius and is associated with the failure of reproduction in a tree species is the Dodo.

The Dodo (Raphus cucullatus) was a flightless bird endemic to the island of Mauritius. It was large, weighing around 20 kilograms, and had a distinct appearance with a stout body, small wings, and a large beak. The Dodo primarily fed on fruits and had a significant role in dispersing the seeds of various plant species, including a specific tree species.

The extinction of the Dodo had detrimental effects on the tree species it interacted with. The tree species relied on the Dodo to eat its fruits and disperse the seeds to new areas. With the disappearance of the Dodo, the tree species lost its primary means of seed dispersal, leading to a decline in its reproductive success.

Therefore, the bird species associated with the failure of reproduction in a tree species in Mauritius is the Dodo.