Did the European rabbit affect the kangaroo?

Answer 1

The introduction of the European rabbit have had some adverse effects on the kangaroo.

The European rabbit has been one of the factors that has contributed to the decimation of Australia's grasslands, and prime feeding grounds for kangaroos. While kangaroos feed on a variety of fresh vegetation, depending on the species, the loss of grasslands has affected their food supply. Some wallaby species (which belong to the kangaroo family) have suffered to the point of extinction. While this cannot be attributed only to the introduction of the rabbit, the rabbit has certainly had a significant effect. Rabbits breed much faster than kangaroos, so competition for food sources is high.

Further, rabbits tend to eat vegetation right down to the roots, meaning that the plant cannot regrow, and revegetation does not occur. This can certainly lead to indigenous plant species being wiped out, along with the fauna. And because rabbits eat vegetation down to the roots, this means there are fewer low-growing shrubs and grasses to prevent erosion from wind and rain. This in turn leads to increased desertification.