What is the niche of a kakapo?

Answer 1

The niche of the kakapo [Strigops habroptila] is New Zealand. Its niche used to be spread across the three main islands. Due to European setlement and the introduction of new species, it now is limited to the four predator free islands of Maud, Chalky (Te Kakahu), Codfish (Whenua Hou) and Anchor, where the populations are monitored closely.

The reason for the limited geographic range is the severe threat to the kakapo's continued existence. In fact, only 125 kakapo were found on the islands in April 2009. But implementers and enforcers of the Kakapo Recovery Plan haven't given up hope. In fact, the islands of Resolution and Secretary are being readied as additional kakapo habitats.

The kakapo are a flightless, heavy bird that oftentimes is a ground dweller. But the individual kakapo also is known to roost in the highest of tall trees. Either way, its diet tends to consist entirely of fruit, pollen, seeds, and tree sapwood. So its niche tends to be as a consumer, and therefore controller of plant density, in vegetated areas with plenty of ground cover and tall trees. At the same time, its niche also tends to be as a propagator, and contributor to plant density and diversity, through the spreading of seeds. These seeds may be spread by elimination or by the equivalent of 'crumbs' while eating.

The bird's name in Maori means 'night hunter'. Also called the owl parrot, that's exactly what the kakapo is. Hunting at night protects the bird from raptors.

But flightlessness and night hunting have been disservices with Polynesian and European colonization of the islands. Colonization has brought in predatory mammals. Predatory birds rely on sight. Predatory mammals rely on hearing and smell. It's the combination of loss in habitat to colonizers and of predation by colonizers' animals that have brought the kakapo to the threatened conservation status that the kakapo now holds.