What are the effects of introduced species into Australia?

Answer 1

A successful introduced species eradication scheme is one that, once the intro. species has "done it's job" then it dies because there is no more pest/ feral organisms for it to survive on. However, some schemes are unsuccessful and the introduced species becomes a pest, a good example of this in Australia is the well known cane toad, some of the effects this organism has had on the Australian environment is that, because the toads are in fact poisonous, because of their warts, their poison has killed alot of Australia's natural, carnivorous, species, such as the chuditch, and also household pets. The toad also takes over some environments and drives out other species that live there.

Another is the magnificent brumbies, they were once farm horses for the migrants from England, but broke free and became "feral" (once domesticated) these horses also drive out other organisms not on purpose, but because of natural competition for food. They are also the main culprit for soil erosion on the hills due to their galloping along in big herds, this obviously will have a huge impact on the "compactiveness" of the soil.

Answer 2

Many animals affect native Australian animals. They include foxes, rabbits, rats and mice and of course humans. Foxes have the effect by killing meat eating animals food and killing native small game like billbies and native birds. Rabbits have the effect by taking away native animals plant resources which mean less food. Rats and mice also have effect of plantations (seeds) and eat native bird and other animals eggs, preventing any new baby animals. The animal that has the most effect is humans. Hunting, poaching, cutting down trees, littering etc. all have effect on Native animals.

Further information:

Non native animals affect Australian animals in a variety of ways.

Among the most obvious non-native animals are predators such as foxes, dogs and cats. These animals prey on native Australian a males, and are responsible for the extinction of numerous species. Prior to European settlement, Australia had a perfect balance of predators such as Birds of Prey, dasyurids (carnivorous marsupials), snakes and crocodiles. These animals only kill what they need to eat. Dogs, cats and foxes, on the other hand, kill indiscriminately, and do not eat the entire animal they kill.

Another group of non-native animals that affect the Australian environment are herbivores such as rabbits and stock animals such as cattle and sheep. These animals eat the vegetation upon which Australia's native herbivores rely. Not only does this reduce the native animals' food supply, but also allows invasive vegetation to take hold. This can have dire consequences for native herbivores. A case in point is the southern hairy-nosed wombat which is facing a terrible threat to its population in South Australia. Here, onion weed has taken over the native vegetation (due largely in part to rabbits eating the native grasses and sedges) but the wombat, which is forced to survive on onion weed, cannot digest it properly. The onion weed causes liver failure in these wombats, and they die a slow and painful death due to malnutrition.

The homes of native animals are also affected by the introduction of non-native species. Rabbits dig shallow burrows which then cause the ground to cave in on animals such as bilbies which dig deeper burrows. Also, the hooves of heavy stock animals such as cattle and horses cause the soil to impact, making it harder for native burrowing animals to dig.

Answer 3

Developing land for human occupation in any country decreases the habitat of the naturally occurring animals and birds.

Further, if the development is for housing estates, this invariably means the introduction of domestic animals such as dogs and cats. In Australia, these pose one of the greatest threats to native animals, which have not developed natural defenses against such creatures.

Developing land, whether for housing or industrial pruposes, tends to also mean the introduction of non-native plant species. These also tend to take over the natural habitat and force out native plant species, many of which are the primary food source for Australian animals.

Answer 4

They are not really seen much as most of them are endangered or nocturnal. Kangaroos are not endangered but they are considered a pest

Answer 5

Humans effect the outback because that's where animals are more likely to be and some humans kill them so it's effecting there natural habitat.