NEETZoologyOrganisms and Populations
What was the primary reason for the extinction of the Abingdon tortoise, according to the paragraph?
Options
- AIntroduction of a new food source
- BIncreased competition with other tortoise species
- CGreater browsing efficiency of introduced goats
- DNatural predation by native species
Correct answer
C. Greater browsing efficiency of introduced goats
Step-by-step solution
The Abingdon tortoise in Galapagos Islands became extinct within a decade after goats were introduced on the island, apparently due to the greater browsing efficiency of the goats . Another evidence for the occurrence of competition in nature comes from what is called ‘competitive release’. A species whose distribution is restricted to a small geographical area because of the presence of a competitively superior species, is found to expand its distributional range dramatically when the competing species is experime