How did the introduction of rabbits affect wild ecosystems in Australia?

Answer 1

The European rabbit has caused an ecological disaster in Australia, and greatly impacted both the flora and the fauna.

Rabbits eat the native vegetation which is the primary food source of Australian native animals. This loss of native food sources has led to the extinction of many Australian mammal species. Rabbits breed much faster than Australia's native animals, so competition for food sources is high. The rabbit has had a large impact on the bilby for another reason as well. Rabbits dig burrows which cause problems for the bilby's habitat, as they tend to cause the bilbies to be caved in.

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.

Rabbits have caused huge problems for Australia's agricultural industry, wiping out entire crops. They also eat the food that livestock require, so this impacts on the health of sheep and cattle, especially in more arid areas.

Answer 2

Rabbits have caused major ecological damage in Australia.

Rabbits have ravaged the vegetation which supports native wildlife, and they eat far more of it than native animals do. In addition, rabbits breed faster than native animals do, meaning more of them can cause damage very quickly. Because rabbits will eat native vegetation right down to the roots, they can cause localised extinction of some native plant species. Essentially, their presence destroys native habitat, and contributes to the endangerment of native species. In Australia, rabbit burrows have caused bilby burrows to cave in, often trapping and suffocating bilbies within their own burrows.

Rabbits also have a fondness for farmer's crops, especially vegetables. This caused economic problems for farmers, who may find perfectly good crops ruined.

Answer 3

Rabbits affect any native Australian animal which feeds on grasses, or that burrows. Bilbies are badly affected by rabbits, as the rabbits' shallower burrows cause the bilbies' deeper burrows to cave in. Rabbits also decimate the feeding grounds of rock wallabies and wombats.

Answer 4

The turd population.