Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow. European rabbits we
ID: 40411 • Letter: R
Question
Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow. European rabbits were introduced by settlers into Australia in 1859. Within 70 years the rabbit population grew enormously across most of the continent. The rapid spread of the rabbit led to the destruction of large areas of vegetation, leading to the extinction of many plant species. Loss of vegetation leads to soil erosion as the exposed soil is washed or blown away, removing valuable soil nutrients required for new plants to develop. This soil is typically deposited in waterways, causing siltation and destroying aquatic ecosystems. Farmers battled the problem, fencing their properties with special netting, using poisons, digging out warrens and finally introducing the Myxoma virus as a form of biological control. This virus, a benign parasite of the Brazilian forest rabbit, was lethal for European rabbits. It quickly reduced Australia
Explanation / Answer
(i) e.g. Capture-recapture: how captured / how marked / animal welfare comment / release same place / recapture / count / formula or calculation described.
(ii) No predator or plenty of food or warm climate.
(iii) Soil erosion / less nutrients / siltation / destroying aquatic ecosystems / decrease in consumer numbers / increase in numbers of other plant(s) / change of animal species.
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