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Plants Evolved to Fend Off the Moa?
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23-07-2009 10:06PM#1Just like animals, it appears that plants could also take part in the 'evolutionary arms race'. In this case a tree in New Zealand seemed to have evolved specifically not to be eaten by the moa birds.The Araliaceae tree has several defences which the team suggest are linked to the historic presence of moa. Seedlings produce small narrow leaves, which appear mottled to the human eye. Saplings meanwhile produce larger, more elongated leaves with thorn-like dentitions.
The mottled colours of seedling leaves are similar to the appearance of leaf litter, which would have made them difficult for a moa to distinguish. The unusual colouring may also reduce the probability of leaf outlines and help camouflage leaves against the sunlight-draped forest floor.
Full article here.
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