A plague on the pest – rabbit calicivirus disease and biological control
Further Reading
21 July 2011
Wildlife refuge no more for pests (by John Platt)
An article describing the achievement of ridding Macquarie Island of feral pests.
Australasian Science
July 2009, page 4
Benign virus protects rabbits from calicivirus (by Stephen Luntz)
Reports on the discovery of a non-lethal version of calicivirus in rabbits that protects them from the deadly form of the virus.
23 February 2011
Fences to stop cane toads in their tracks (by Agence France-Presse)
Reports on how limiting cane toads' access to water may help control the cane toad problem.
31 March 2009
Cane toad vulnerable to carnivorous ants (by Becky Crew)
Describes the discovery of a possible natural defence against the seemingly unstoppable cane toad.
15 November 2006
The dingo divide (by Benjamin Lester)
Suggests that dingoes may be a valuable weapon against feral cats and foxes.
A CSIRO Fact Sheet
No. 132, 2006, page 4
Researchers identify a likely carp control
Looks at efforts to use a virus as a biological control agent for carp.
No. 132, 2006, page 6
New! Environmentally friendly insecticides
Describes a new class of insecticide that is pest-specific and produces no harmful environmental side effects.
No. 116, 2003, pages 16-19
Australia after rabbits (by Steve Davidson)
Looks at how ecosystems are responding since rabbit numbers decreased because of calicivirus.
No. 112, 2002, pages 3-33
Chicken feed (by Steve Davidson)
Suggests that rabbits have become a staple diet for wedge-tailed eagles and that as rabbit numbers decrease, the eagles' diet changes and breeding rate declines.
30 August 2003, page 8
Biocontrol arms race looms (by Rachel Nowak)
Argues that a genetically modified virus that solves Australia’s mouse plague problems could also affect other species.
10 August 2002, page 3
Viruses can run wild too
Reports on the escape of calicivirus from an island research station.
28 July 2001, page 15
Fast breeders (by Debora MacKenzie)
Explains why calicivirus affects rabbits differently in Britain.
13 January 2001
Biological warfare (by Ian Lowe)
Argues that New Zealand is facing increasing numbers of plant and animal pest species.
9 March 2010
Fighting aliens with aliens: UK imports insect species to tackle invasive plant (by John Platt)
Describes plans to introduce an insect into the UK to prevent growth of Japanese knotweed.
Page updated March 2010.