If extensive, the decline of individual species would radiate through plant
communities. It would alter the competition and survival of populations, perhaps even
species, including animals at higher levels of the forest food chains. Those calcium
deficiencies in plants are passed onto herbivores, altering their nutrition. For instance, birds
eating calcium-deficient plant material might have less calcium for egg production. Insects (25)
could experience weaker exoskeletons. Mammals could have weaker bones or change in the quantity or quality of milk production. The problems continue through the ecosystem and
into economic system.