30-year evolutionary mystery resolved: Birds disperse colorful New Zealand truffle-like fungi.

A study has confirmed that birds play a significant role in dispersing colorful truffle-like fungi in New Zealand, resolving a 30-year evolutionary mystery. New Zealand's lack of native mammals led these fungi to evolve bright, colorful fruiting bodies that attract birds for dispersal. Researchers found that regions with more fruit-eating birds have a higher proportion of colorful truffle-like fungi. This study highlights the importance of these bird-fungus interactions in forest ecosystems, raising concerns about the impact of the loss of large bird species in New Zealand.