New Zealand scientists record ‘biodiversity breakdown’

Scientists in New Zealand say they have linked the modern-day decline of a common forest shrub with the local extinction of two pollinating birds over a century ago.

They say the disappearance of two birds – the bellbird and stitchbird – from the upper North Island of the country has lead to a slow decline in common plants, including the forest shrub New Zealand gloxinia.

Ship rats and stoats imported into the country around the year 1870 are blamed for the birds’ demise — via coloradobob1.newsvine.com