A Flowering Plant Species and a Honeycreeper (A Type of Bird)

question 28

Essay

A flowering plant species and a honeycreeper (a type of bird) are both native to the Hawaiian Islands. The plant's flowers possess elongated curved structures with nectar at the base. The honeycreeper has a beak shape that matches the flower's size and shape and is traditionally the only pollinator of this species. A non-native bird species, however, (the Japanese white-eye) has recently been introduced to the Hawaiian Islands, and it is successful at extracting the nectar of the flowers despite having a short, straight bill. The white-eye creates a small hole near the base of the flowers thereby accessing nectar while bypassing the flower's reproductive structures. Would the white-eye be considered a parasite of the flower? Justify your answer.

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