Looking for an example of a ‘trophic cascade’?

By Charlie • January 12, 2009 • 3 comments

Then look no further than Australia’s Macquarie Island, where conservation efforts to remove introduced cats has resulted in an explosion in introduced rabbit numbers who have stripped 40% of the island of its native vegetation. It’s a precautionary tale told (rather peevishly) on the Guardian UK’s website…

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About the Author

Charlie

Charlie works for an airline and has birded all over the world for twenty years. He wants to be a writer, and thinks no-one would believe his life could be so charmed if he didn't take photos of as many of the birds he sees as possible. Blogging with 10,000 Birds fits his aims, needs, and insecurities perfectly. Really - do birders get much more fortunate than this?

3 Responses to “Looking for an example of a ‘trophic cascade’?”

tai haku Jan 12th, 2009 at 3:53 pm

I would suggest its not a pure trophic cascade as the Macq. island ecosystem is all weirded up and unnatural with a serious of exotic introductions (ie the rabbits and rats) and the removal of an unnatural predator (ie the cats).

It is certainly cat-as-trophic though.
Nick Jan 12th, 2009 at 5:25 pm

Rabbits are tasty. Export the rabbit meat! Create a demand and those rabbits are goners.
Jochen Jan 14th, 2009 at 6:31 am

I don’t get it! Hasn’t the Department of Conservation in New Zealand shown how these things are done propperly by successfully removing all introduced mammals from Campbell Island?

Was a simple phone call amongst neighbours too much?

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Asides

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