Ecosystem Roles
Because northern cardinals eat large quantities of seeds and fruits, they may help disperse seeds for some plants. They may also affect the composition of plant communities because they are seed predators and seed dispersers.
Northern cardinals provide food for their predators. They also sometimes raise the chicks of Molothrus ater that are brood parasites and lay eggs in the nests of other birds. This helps local brown-headed cowbird populations. Northern cardinals also provide habitat for many internal and external parasites.
Ecosystem Impact: disperses seeds
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Cardinalis cardinalis
Source information
©1995-2012, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors
© The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors
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Supplier:
Animal Diversity Web
Author: Kari Kirschbaum, Animal Diversity Web Staff
Author: Jonathan Crane, University of Michigan
Editor: Rachelle Sterling, University of Michigan, Animal Diversity Web Editor
Author: Tanya Dewey, University of Michigan
Editor: George Hammond, University of Michigan
Dewey, T. 2011. "Cardinalis cardinalis" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed September 16, 2012 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Cardinalis_cardinalis.html
Revisions
- 2012-12-08 20:01:10 UTC
