08-23-2022, 03:11 PM
This is an interesting study. Rabbits were brought into Australia many times, but the 1859 shipment of 24 rabbits seems to be the one that spread.
The other rabbits were domestic breeds. Some of the 1859 rabbits were wild. They had the capacity to survive and expand their numbers.
Using mitochondrial DNA, they have determined that the spread came from five particular females.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/...tudy-finds
It is hard to believe that five females could have spread so far and caused so much damage. That is usually what happens with an invasive species.
It only takes a small number of breeding age animals to take over an ecosystem.
This has happened in so many places. The damage is much worse when it is rabbits in Australia, but other places have their disasters.
I hope we have learned our lesson about not introducing species where they don't belong. I don't think we have any idea how to fix the damage these introductions have caused.
The other rabbits were domestic breeds. Some of the 1859 rabbits were wild. They had the capacity to survive and expand their numbers.
Using mitochondrial DNA, they have determined that the spread came from five particular females.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/...tudy-finds
It is hard to believe that five females could have spread so far and caused so much damage. That is usually what happens with an invasive species.
It only takes a small number of breeding age animals to take over an ecosystem.
This has happened in so many places. The damage is much worse when it is rabbits in Australia, but other places have their disasters.
I hope we have learned our lesson about not introducing species where they don't belong. I don't think we have any idea how to fix the damage these introductions have caused.
![[Image: IMG_9091.JPG]](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-rtQnRVnpHuw/Upv4HXYM20I/AAAAAAAAAqo/K5MmSTvkZdA/w296-h229-p-no/IMG_9091.JPG)
Catherine
