Calvaria Tree and Dodo Extinction

The question asks about a tree species that became nearly extinct around the same time as the dodo animal.

The dodo bird, a flightless bird native to the island of Mauritius, became extinct in the late 17th century. There is a well-known ecological hypothesis linking the extinction of the dodo to the decline of a specific tree species found on the island.

Relationship between Dodo and Calvaria Tree

The tree in question is the Calvaria tree, scientifically known as Sideroxylon grandiflorum (formerly Calvaria major). This tree produces large seeds with very hard coats. It was hypothesized by biologist Stanley Temple in the 1970s that the seeds of the Calvaria tree needed to pass through the digestive tract of the dodo bird for the tough seed coat to be sufficiently worn down (scarified) to allow germination. Without the dodo, the seeds were thought to be unable to germinate effectively, leading to a severe decline in the tree population.

While there has been debate and further research suggesting other factors might contribute to Calvaria seed germination (like grinding stones used in turkey gizzards or mechanical scarification), the strong correlation in the timing of the dodo's extinction and the observed lack of new Calvaria growth strongly supports the initial hypothesis that the dodo played a crucial role in the tree's life cycle.

Therefore, the Calvaria tree faced near extinction primarily because its apparent method of seed dispersal and germination was lost with the dodo.

Examining Other Options

• Palm tree: There is no known direct, critical ecological dependency between palm trees and the dodo animal for seed germination or dispersal.
• Cinchona: Cinchona is a tree species known for yielding quinine, often associated with South America and the treatment of malaria. It has no ecological link to the dodo of Mauritius.

Based on the ecological hypothesis and historical accounts, the Calvaria tree is the species most directly linked to facing near extinction alongside the dodo.