![]() The introduction of European Rabbit Fleas aided the spread of myxomatosis in winter when mosquitoes were inactive. And there was a significant increase in the number of native herbivores, such as Red Kangaroos. It was clear that each bio-control release provided environmental benefits.įor example, just two months after the release of Myxomatosis, sheoak regeneration was able to occur after a long period of having been suppressed. These events alone have led to a broad range of environmental benefits, however they require on-going efforts to continue in a fight against rabbits and to ensure landscape restoration. Three main bio-control events were assessed in the review, the release of myxomatosis in 1950, European rabbit fleas that helped spread ‘myxo’ in 1968, and Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease (RHDV calicivirus) in 1995. In the early 1900s rabbit plagues were a feature of outback Australia and many areas have not recovered completely after these events. They also survive the extreme weather by residing in a burrow and can rapidly breed following significant rainfall. They prevent vegetation recovery, they provide a food source for introduced predators (cats and foxes), and they cause significant damage through their digging to soil nutrients, leading to erosion and the spread of weeds. Rabbits form part of an intricate ecological web in many Australian ecosystems. The review assessed the ecological benefits of rabbit bio-control across Australia, and drew on documented cases of species recovery supporting the theory that rabbit control is fundamental to the sustained recovery of species in various landscapes across Australia. This has implications for our approach to landscape restoration. Over time, many plant species are eliminated from landscapes, habitats are greatly altered, and animals species such as the Southern Hairy-nosed Wombat decline and are lost. In arid and semi-arid regions, even very low densities of rabbits are able to eliminate every seedling of species such as she-oaks. Being prey to the feral predators they allow them to greatly increase in number. They efficiently strip vegetation and prevent regeneration. ![]() Rabbits are a key threat to 322 species of Australia’s at-risk plants and animals - more than twice the number of species threatened by cats or foxes. Graeme Finlayson, Patrick Taggart & Brian Cooke (2021) Recovering Australia's arid-zone ecosystems: learning from continental-scale rabbit control experiments The review highlights the impact of rabbits on our precious landscapes, as well as the tremendous impact that biological control has had on the invasive rodent, benefiting Australian natives. The article summarises the findings of a review paper published in the Journal Restoration Ecology, the lead author of which is Bush Heritage's ecologist Graeme Finlayson. The Conversation recently published an important article about the devastating impact that rabbits have had and continue to exert on Australia plants, wildlife and landscapes. ![]()
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