Viruses as Pest Control: the coevolution of the Myxoma virus and its long-eared hosts: Difference between revisions
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==Introduction== | ==Introduction== | ||
<br>By Ilana Richter<br> | <br>By Ilana Richter<br> | ||
<br>When Europeans colonized Australia at the turn of the 19th century, they brought rabbits for food and sport. 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 | <br>When Europeans colonized Australia at the turn of the 19th century, they brought rabbits for food and sport. 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 01:04, 25 March 2020
Introduction
By Ilana Richter
When Europeans colonized Australia at the turn of the 19th century, they brought rabbits for food and sport. 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.
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.
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.
Myxoma virus
Include some current research, with at least one figure showing data.
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Experimental use in Australia
Include some current research, with at least one figure showing data.
Results of the experiment
Include some current research, with at least one figure showing data.
Conclusion
References
Authored for BIOL 238 Microbiology, taught by Joan Slonczewski, 2018, Kenyon College.
