A study of the biology of the wild rabbit in climatically different regions in eastern Australia. III. Some data on the evolution of coat colour

1965 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 73 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Stodart
Keyword(s):  
Coat Colour ◽  
Wild Rabbit ◽  
Eastern Australia

A Study of the Biology of the Wild Rabbit in Climatically Different Regions in Eastern Australia V*. The Use of Aerial Surveys to Map the Distribution of Rabbit Warrens over Large Areas of Semiarid North-western New South Wales

1974 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
BS Parker ◽  
K Myers
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
Wild Rabbit ◽  
Good Picture ◽  
Fine Grained ◽  
Aerial Surveys ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Recent Sediments ◽  
North Western ◽  
Arid And Semiarid

Aerial surveys can be used to measure the distribution of rabbit warrens over large areas of arid and semiarid Australia. Clumped patterns of distribution of rabbit warrens found by ground surveys are also detected in aerial surveys, which further show that the highest density of warrens occurs in habitats containing shales or other fine-grained rocks overlain by recent sediments, or those closely related to drainage systems. A good picture of rabbit distribution is obtained when about 25% of the area has been overed by the aircraft. * Part IV, Aust. J. Zool., 1971, 19, 355–70.

Morphometric differences between Australian wild rabbit populations

1977 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 721 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Taylor ◽  
L Freedman ◽  
TJ Olivier ◽  
J McCluskey
Keyword(s):  
Geographic Distance ◽  
Blood Protein ◽  
Eye Lens ◽  
Wild Rabbit ◽  
British Isles ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Skull Measurements ◽  
Canonical Variates ◽  
Univariate Statistics ◽  
Generalized Distance

Morphometric distances, based on 20 skull measurements, were determined between eight localized Australian wild rabbit populations and a sample from the British Isles. To minimize the influence of age-associated variation in the Australian series, only animals estimated to be at least 12 months old (based on epiphyseal and dry eye-lens aging techniques) were included. Sexes were pooled after univariate and multivariate testing for sexual dimorphism and eliminating bizygomatic breadth. By means of univariate statistics, Mahalanobis generalized distance and canonical analysis, the various Australian and British Isles samples were shown to differ appreciably, morphometric distance increasing clinally in eastern Australia with geographic distance from the point of introduction (Geelong, Vic.). Based on a plot of first and second canonical variates, differences between three Canberra area samples were comparable in magnitude to those between certain populations separated by much greater geographic distances. These findings are consistent with results of studies of blood protein variations in Australian wild rabbit populations.

A Study of the Biology of the Wild Rabbit in Climatically Different Regions in Eastern Australia VI.* Changes in Numbers and Distribution related to Climate and Land Systems in Semiarid North-Western New South Wales.

1975 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Myers ◽  
BS Parker
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Severe Drought ◽  
Wild Rabbit ◽  
Large Area ◽  
Noticeable Increase ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Land Systems ◽  
North Western

This paper describes a dramatic fall in rabbit populations in a large area of semiarid north-western New South Wales, due to a severe drought, and the increase in numbers which followed. The reduction in numbers differed markedly in different land systems. The areas which supported rabbit populations throughout the study were limited to the proximity of swamps in sandy habitats, and close to drainage channels in stony habitats; populations became extinct over large areas of sandy habitats. In the stony habitats populations increased very rapidly in the 12 months following the breaking of the drought, whereas in the sandy habitats it took c. 3 y before a noticeable increase. The difference was probably a result of differences in survival, due mainly to the effects of predation and to the availability of open warrens. In sandy habitats drift sand buried untenanted warrens very rapidly. The environment affected not only rabbits but also their main predators, the fox and the cat. No cats and very few foxes were observed in stony habitats. The main activities of both species were confined to refuge areas in sandy habitats. The most significant correlation between indices of rabbit numbers and indices of use of rabbit warrens was the number of active burrows per unit area of habitat.

Effectiveness and Cost-Efficiency of Control of the Wild Rabbit, Oryctolagus Cuniculus (L.), By Combinations of Poisoning, Ripping, Fumigation and Maintenance Fumigation.

1995 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 253 ◽  
Author(s):  
CK Williams ◽  
RJ Moore
Keyword(s):  
Cost Efficiency ◽  
Maintenance Treatment ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Effective Control ◽  
Wild Rabbit ◽  
Combination Treatments ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Highly Effective ◽  
Initial Control ◽  
Cost Efficient

An experiment compared effectiveness, cost and cost-efficiency of factorial combinations of the four commonly used methods of rabbit control on grazing properties in the Southern Tablelands of eastern Australia. Sixteen different treatment combinations were applied to 32 sites. The treatments comprised initial control, applied over four months, followed by repeated maintenance control on half the replicates, applied after intervals of 2,6 and 12 months. Initial control comprised no treatment, or poisoning (P) with sodium monofluoroacetate (1080), or warren-ripping (R), or chloropicrin pressure fumigation (F), or combinations of these (P+R, P+F, R+F, P+R+F). Maintenance control consisted of phosphine-diffusion fumigation (M). Indices of rabbit abundance were compared one month before treatments were implemented. Treatment effects were assessed one month after completion of the initial control, and one and 5-6 months after the three maintenance controls, and additionally nine months after the second maintenance control. Control combinations that were highly effective and cost-efficient included both warren-ripping and maintenance treatment. Poisoning prior to warren-ripping, or fumigating subsequently, or both, improved effectiveness and cost-efficiency. Warren-ripping interacted positively with one or more subsequent fumigations, improving effectiveness and cost-efficiency non-additively. Control combinations that excluded warren-ripping were ineffective and cost-inefficient, and one combination interacted negatively. Single treatments of poisoning or fumigation were cost-inefficient, allowing rabbits to recolonise rapidly to densities higher than original. Only multiple combination treatments or repeated applications were highly effective and cost-efficient; single applications of any method were inefficient and costly. The most effective and cost-efficient combination comprised the maximum six applications including ripping and maintenance treatment, namely P+R+F+M. The high effort and expenditure on the initial control resulted in high effectiveness and cost-efficiency, which maintenance control sustained at low cost. Maintenance treatments sustained or achieved effective control of rabbits; the cost of maintenance treatments halved on each repetition.

Gene Frequencies and Body Weights of Feral Cats, Felis catus (L.), from Five Australian Localities and from Macquarie Island

1984 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 231 ◽  
Author(s):  
E Jones ◽  
BJ Horton
Keyword(s):  
Gene Flow ◽  
Coat Colour ◽  
Felis Catus ◽  
Combined Effects ◽  
Gene Frequencies ◽  
Feral Cats ◽  
Macquarie Island ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Body Weights ◽  
Selection Gene

Frequencies of seven pelage-related genes and a coefficient of darkness were scored on groups of feral cats collected from five localities in south-eastern Australia and from Macquarie Island. There were significant differences in the frequencies of some of these genes and the coefficient of darkness between the various groups of cats. These differences were presumed to have been caused by the combined effects of natural selection, gene flow from surrounding domestic populations, and the founder effect. Significant differences in body weights of cats between some localities and for one coat colour allele were also found.

scholarly journals Ecological Genetics of the Wild Rabbit in Australia I. Geographical Distribution and Biochemical Characterization of Phosphogluconate Dehydrogenase Variants

1974 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 671 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marjorie Coggan ◽  
J Baldwin ◽  
BJ Richardson
Keyword(s):  
Biochemical Characterization ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Release Site ◽  
Rare Allele ◽  
Ecological Genetics ◽  
Wild Rabbit ◽  
Thermal Stabilities ◽  
Phosphogluconate Dehydrogenase ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Initial Release

Three electrophoretically distinguishable phQsphogluconate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.44) isoenzyme patterns, probably resulting from the expression of two alleles at one locus, were found in natural populations of rabbits in Eastern Australia. The homopolymers and heteropolymer were isolated and characterized kinetically. The three proteins were found to be indistinguishable with respect to Km for 6-phospho-D-gluconate and NADP+ (both in the presence and absence of magnesium), energies of activation, specific activities in liver, pH profiles and thermal stabilities. The rare allele was not found near the major initial release site of the rabbit in Australia and may have arisen in Australia.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document