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There are a few complications in the Australian context. * The mega fauna died off probably with the drying of the land and that leaves an ecological gap.Indeed eveidence suggests that aborigines co-existed with native mega fauna for thousands of years. The primary predator thereafter, the dingo, was introduced from Asia by, probably, indigenous peoples.The last key predator -- the Tasmanian Tiger ( a marsupial) died off in the early 20th century. * Because Australian soils are dry and tend to be crusty that are prone to erosion especially with the onset of frequent drought. Many -- if not all -- feral species drive that process -- especially the cloven foot ones. * The scale of the problem is massive: over 200 million rabbits, close to 500,000 camels, 2.6 million goats, feral cat numbers cannot be estimated but there are maybe over 7 million foxes, 24 million feral pigs, 200 million cane toads....etc.Here pigs are taking young lambs. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasive_species_in_Australia * Re-wilding is also an urgent need here -- and therein is located many environment campaigns protecting bushland from logging, aboriginal sacred sites & traditional country, dams, clearing, CSG mining, coal mining, etc. But Elena has captured a major contradiction in that pristine no longer exits as the invasion of these pests sabotages many -- if not all -- efforts. * Recent research on dingo/kangaroo interaction is exciting in way of culling numbers that may threaten farm land. * But farming per se has hugely impacted on ecology. Since the white invasion land clearing and grain production has sponsored the explosion in parrot numbers and no doubt led to more kangaroos and wallabies in the landscape. The role of bushfire is a hotly debated topic....and herein lies a contradiction: feral water buffalo seem to play an advantageous role in reducing fires across the tropical north Savannah in the absence of larger(as in mega fauna) or living indigenous ruminants. Indeed the major 'ruminant' in Australia is probably termites. dave riley _________________________________________________________ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: http://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
