The Brazil nut tree, Bertholletia excels (n = 17), is native to tropical rain forests of South America. It is a hardwood tree that can grow to over 50 metres tall, a source of high-quality timber, and a favourite nesting site for harpy eagles. As the rainy season ends, tough-walled fruits, each containing 8-25 seeds (Brazil nuts), fall to the forest floor. Brazil nuts are composed primarily of endosperm. About $50 million worth of nuts are harvested each year. Scientists have discovered that the pale yellow flowers of Brazil nut trees cannot fertilise themselves and admit only female orchid bees as pollinators. The agouti (Dasyprocta spp.), a cat-sized rodent, is the only animal with teeth strong enough to crack the hard wall of Brazil nut fruits. It typically eats some of the seeds, buries others, and leaves still others inside the fruit, which moisture can then enter and allow the remaining seeds to germinate.
-The harpy eagle, Harpia harpyja, is the largest, most powerful raptor in the Americas. It nests only in trees taller than 25 metres. It is a "sloth specialist", but will also take agouti. Thus, if these eagles capture too many agoutis from a particular locale, they might contribute to their own demise by ________.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

If the eagles capture too many agoutis from a particular locale, they might contribute to their own demise by decreasing their habitat. Agoutis are the only animal that can crack the hard wall of Brazil nut fruits, which is an important part of the reproduction of the Brazil nut tree, where the harpy eagle nests. By decreasing the agouti population, the harpy eagle's main prey, they will indirectly decrease the Brazil nut tree population, which will decrease their nesting sites and thus decrease their habitat.

The Brazil Nut Tree, Bertholletia Excels (N = 17), Is