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Cassowaries are considered a keystone species. They play an important role in the ecology of the rainforest and bushland areas where they live, as they are vital in dispersing seeds in their native forests.

They are frugivores which feed on the fruit of up to 238 different species of plants. Because they are able to eat larger fruits, they can therefore can disperse large rainforest fruits after the seeds have passed through their digestive system, which is gentle enough to allow the seeds to remain viable. The cassowary has a wide range, so is also the only long distance means for dispersing large seeded fruits. The seeds are excreted into a pile of the cassowary's own dung, meaning the seeds have their own ready-made pile of fertiliser. The smell of the dung even helps to deter seed-eating predators such as the white-tailed rat. Of the hundreds of fruit-bearing species on which the cassowary feeds, between 70 and 100 of them appear to rely completely on the cassowary for dispersal.

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Q: Why is the southern cassowary considered a keystone species?
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What is the classification of the southern cassowary?

The classification of the cassowary is:Kingdom: AnimaliaPhylum: ChordataClass: AvesOrder: StruthioniformesFamily: CasuariidaeGenera: CasuariusThe species of the Southern cassowary is Casuarius casuarius.


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The three species of cassowary are: Southern cassowary, or double-wattled cassowary (Casuarius casuarius) Northern cassowary, or single-wattled cassowary (Casuarius casuarius) Bennett's cassowary, or dwarf cassowary (Casuarius bennetti)


What is the keystone species of the great barrier reef?

The Southern Cassowary is the keystone species of Australia. Cassowaries are considered a keystone species because they play an important role in the ecology of the rainforest and bushland areas where they live, as they are vital in dispersing seeds in their native forests. They are frugivores which feed on the fruit of up to 238 different species of plants. Because they are able to eat larger fruits, they can therefore can disperse large rainforest fruits after the seeds have passed through their digestive system, which is gentle enough to allow the seeds to remain viable. The cassowary has a wide range, so is also the only long distance means for dispersing large seeded fruits. The seeds are excreted into a pile of the cassowary's own dung, meaning the seeds have their own ready-made pile of fertiliser. The smell of the dung even helps to deter seed-eating predators such as the white-tailed rat. Of the hundreds of fruit-bearing species on which the cassowary feeds, between 70 and 100 of them appear to rely completely on the cassowary for dispersal.


What is a Southern Cassowary's main food?

The main food of the Southern cassowary is fallen fruit of over 200 species of native rainforest and bushland plants.


What is the population of cassowary?

The population of the Southern cassowary - the species found in Australia - is estimated to be around 1000. Figures for the Northern cassowary are more difficult to determine, but estimates vary from 2,500-9,999 adult birds.


Why is the cassowary a keystone species in tropical rainforests of Queensland?

Cassowaries are considered a keystone species as they play an important role in the ecology of the rainforest and bushland areas where they live, as they are vital in dispersing seeds in their native forests. They are frugivores which feed on the fruit of up to 238 different species of plants. Because they are able to eat larger fruits, they can therefore can disperse large rainforest fruits after the seeds have passed through their digestive system, which is gentle enough to allow the seeds to remain viable. The cassowary has a wide range, so is also the only long distance means for dispersing large seeded fruits. The seeds are excreted into a pile of the cassowary's own dung, meaning the seeds have their own ready-made pile of fertiliser. The smell of the dung even helps to deter seed-eating predators such as the white-tailed rat. Of the hundreds of fruit-bearing species on which the cassowary feeds, between 70 and 100 of them appear to rely completely on the cassowary for dispersal.


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What is the keystone species in the tropical rainforest?

Cassowaries are considered a keystone species as they play an important role in the ecology of the rainforest where they live, as they are vital in dispersing seeds in their native forests. They are frugivores which feed on the fruit of up to 238 different species of plants. Because they are able to eat larger fruits, they can therefore can disperse large rainforest fruits after the seeds have passed through their digestive system, which is gentle enough to allow the seeds to remain viable. The cassowary has a wide range, so is also the only long distance means for dispersing large seeded fruits. The seeds are excreted into a pile of the cassowary's own dung, meaning the seeds have their own ready-made pile of fertiliser. The smell of the dung even helps to deter seed-eating predators such as the white-tailed rat. Of the hundreds of fruit-bearing species on which the cassowary feeds, between 70 and 100 of them appear to rely completely on the cassowary for dispersal.


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Cassowaries are considered a keystone species. They play an important role in the ecology of the rainforest and bushland areas where they live, as they are vital in dispersing seeds in their native forests. They are frugivores which feed on the fruit of up to 238 different species of plants. Because they are able to eat larger fruits, they can therefore can disperse large rainforest fruits after the seeds have passed through their digestive system, which is gentle enough to allow the seeds to remain viable. The cassowary has a wide range, so is also the only long distance means for dispersing large seeded fruits. The seeds are excreted into a pile of the cassowary's own dung, meaning the seeds have their own ready-made pile of fertiliser. The smell of the dung even helps to deter seed-eating predators such as the white-tailed rat. Of the hundreds of fruit-bearing species on which the cassowary feeds, between 70 and 100 of them appear to rely completely on the cassowary for dispersal. The cassowary also plays a major role as it is if considerable cultural significance to the indigenous people of the rainforests of North Queensland, where the Southern cassowary is found.


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