Story: Conifer–broadleaf forests

Gnawed miro seed

Gnawed miro seed

Kiore, the Polynesian rat, came along with the first people to settle in New Zealand. Kiore thrived in conifer–broadleaf forests, and are implicated in the extinction of birds, lizards and frogs. They also destroyed the seeds of forest plants. This miro seed case fossil clearly shows kiore teeth marks.

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Landcare Research – Manaaki Whenua
Photograph by Janet Wilmshurst

© Copyright image. All rights reserved. Permission from Manaaki Whenua: Landcare Research New Zealand Limited must be obtained before the re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

John Dawson, 'Conifer–broadleaf forests - Native wildlife and forest survival', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/11682/gnawed-miro-seed (accessed 25 April 2024)

Story by John Dawson, published 24 Sep 2007