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

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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.
    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.
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Revision as of 01:51, 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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