The ecological effects of the decline in Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus L.) due to myxomatosis

• Published in: Mammal Review
• Main Authors: SUMPTION, K. J., FLOWERDEW, J. R.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 1985
• Subjects: Agricultural and Biological Sciences (miscellaneous); Animal Science and Zoology; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; peregrine falcon
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2907.1985.tb00396.x; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1365-2907.1985.tb00396.x; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1365-2907.1985.tb00396.x

ABSTRACT The Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) population in the British Isles increased rapidly from the 1800s to 1950 due to climatic amelioration, predator reduction and agricultural changes. It became the major vertebrate pest of agriculture, causing an estimated £50 million in damage and lost production each year. Myxomatosis reached Britain in 1954‐55 causing 99‐9% mortality in some Rabbit populations and, carried by the mosquito and flea vectors, the disease spread rapidly. The consequent decline in the Rabbit population caused dramatic changes in agriculture and the native fauna and flora. It promoted woodland regeneration and increased grassland and cereal production; herb and grass height increased, flowering was noticeable and plant successions ensued. Some small legumes and annual plants became extinct locally and much floristically rich vegetation became dominated by a few grass species or shrubs. The increased grass growth probably promoted an increase in the number of many invertebrate species as well as in the vole (Microrus agrestis) . Some species of insect became reduced in number and the Large Blue Butterfly (Maculinea arion) has become extinct (1979) since the decline of the ant (Myrmica spp.) fauna necessary to rear the butterfly larvae. Breeding sites for the Sand Lizard (Lacerta ugilis) , Stone Curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus) and Wheatear (Oenanrhe oenanthe) have been reduced by habitat change. Immediately after myxomatosis many predator populations suffered from a lack of Rabbit prey with consequent poor breeding success, but those able to switch to voles, and other predators which are no longer taken in Rabbit trapping, have increased in numbers, e.g. Fox (Vulpes vulpes) , Polecat (Mustela putorius) , Short‐eared Owl (Asio Barnmeus) and Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) . Others such as the Stoat (Mustela ermineu) and the Buzzard (Buteo buteo) declined immediately after myxomatosis through lack of prey and have recovered in nubers only slowly; the Peregrine falcon population has declined partly as ...