Viruses as Pest Control: the coevolution of the Myxoma virus and its long-eared hosts: Difference between revisions

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==Introduction==
European colonists introduced rabbits to Australia at the end of the 1700s. European rabbits (Otyctolagus cuniculus) are native to southern Europe and northern Africa, but is considered an invasive pest species around the world. The rabbit population in Australia grew exponentially due to the lack of natural predators and warm climate that enabled year-round breeding. Australia was home to an estimated 10 billion rabbits by the 1900s.<br>The Australian rabbit population caused widespread vegetation depletion, leading to soil erosion. The rabbits caused massive destruction of crops and pastures for livestock, resulting in a significant loss of agricultural productivity and harming the economy. Rabbits competed for resources with native herbivores, and themselves became food for the increasing population of native predators. These factors heavily contributed to the decline of native Australian herbivore populations. Australian farmers attempted to use various chemical pesticides, but those also proved detrimental to the ecosystem.<br>In the 1950s, scientists proposed using the recently-discovered Myxoma virus to curb the rabbit population. This experiment in biological warfare ultimately failed to eliminate the rabbit infestation, but became an important experiment on the coevolution of a pathogen and its host.
<br>By Ilana Richter<br>
<br>
<br>When Europeans colonized Australia at the turn of the 19th century, they imported rabbits to eat. Rabbits are not native to Australia, and the population grew exponentially due to the lack of natural predators and year-round warmth. The rabbit population had reached ~10 billion by the 1900s.<br><br>The introduction of rabbits wreaked havoc on the local ecosystem. Rabbits are capable of eating and depleting all vegetation within reach, especially seedlings. This has led to devastating soil erosion. Their massive population destroyed farmers' crops and pastures, resulting in a significant loss in agricultural productivity. The rabbits also competed for resources with wild species and have certainly contributed to the decline in native herbivore populations. In addition, the rabbits themselves became prey for native predators, which allowed the predator populations to increase and eat more native prey animals. The common pesticide methods used by Australians to curb the rabbit infestation were also detrimental to the ecosystem.<br><br>In the 1950s, scientists came up with a novel solution. The recently discovered Myxoma virus was vectored by mosquitoes and biting flies and caused the deadly disease Myxomatosis in rabbits. So, the scientists released Myxoma-infected rabbits into Australia. This experiment in biological warfare ultimately failed to eliminate the rabbit problem, but became an important experiment on the coevolution of a pathogen and its host.<br>


==Myxoma virus==
==Myxoma virus==

Revision as of 01:50, 25 April 2020

European colonists introduced rabbits to Australia at the end of the 1700s. European rabbits (Otyctolagus cuniculus) are native to southern Europe and northern Africa, but is considered an invasive pest species around the world. The rabbit population in Australia grew exponentially due to the lack of natural predators and warm climate that enabled year-round breeding. Australia was home to an estimated 10 billion rabbits by the 1900s.
The Australian rabbit population caused widespread vegetation depletion, leading to soil erosion. The rabbits caused massive destruction of crops and pastures for livestock, resulting in a significant loss of agricultural productivity and harming the economy. Rabbits competed for resources with native herbivores, and themselves became food for the increasing population of native predators. These factors heavily contributed to the decline of native Australian herbivore populations. Australian farmers attempted to use various chemical pesticides, but those also proved detrimental to the ecosystem.
In the 1950s, scientists proposed using the recently-discovered Myxoma virus to curb the rabbit population. This experiment in biological warfare ultimately failed to eliminate the rabbit infestation, but became an important experiment on the coevolution of a pathogen and its host.

Myxoma virus

Include some current research, with at least one figure showing data.

Every point of information REQUIRES CITATION using the citation tool shown above.

Experimental use in Australia

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Results of the experiment

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Conclusion

References


"Environmental Damage caused by Rabbits"
(PDF). Archived from the original
(PDF) on 18 December 2012. Retrieved 29 October 2014.

https://web.archive.org/web/20111125204128/http://www.csiro.au/science/Myxomatosis-History

http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2009/04/08/2538860.htm

https://www.thevintagenews.com/2017/03/30/in-1950-a-disease-called-myxomatosis-was-introduced-to-rabbits-for-population-control-in-australia-and-it-wiped-out-500-million-rabbits-in-two-years/

https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2017/08/rabbit-virus-arms-race/536796/

https://www.the-scientist.com/multimedia/infographic-evolving-virulence-30813



Authored for BIOL 238 Microbiology, taught by Joan Slonczewski, 2018, Kenyon College.

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