Invasive Species Presence

AUS-AKW-CON-ISP General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

0.5 rabbit/ha
Direction: Lower is desirable ↓
Form: MaximumOnly

Scoring Curve

This curve shows how a field measurement for this indicator would score across all available benchmark forms in this context.

Evidence & Context

Rabbit densities as low as 0.5 rabbits per hectare are sufficient to prevent the regeneration of palatable and ecologically significant native shrubs and trees, such as Acacia papyrocarpa.

Metric Definition:

Density of invasive European rabbits in the ecosystem

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the critical density threshold of invasive European rabbits above which native plant regeneration fails in the Arid Karstic Woodlands & Shrublands under conservation management.

Justification:

Scientific research shows that rabbit densities above 0.5 per hectare prevent regeneration of native vegetation, leading to ecosystem degradation.

Sources (3)

Preview of Economic and environmental impacts of rabbits in Australia - PestSmart, accessed August 12, 2025,
Economic and environmental impacts of rabbits in Australia - PestSmart, accessed August 12, 2025, GreyLiterature

Economic and environmental impacts of rabbits in Australia - PestSmart

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Preview of Ranger Water Management Plan: Rehabilitation standards (2021)
Ranger Water Management Plan: Rehabilitation standards (2021) Journal

Ranger Water Management Plan: Rehabilitation standards (2021)

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Preview of Stopping the destructive march – what's being… | Landscape ..., accessed July 6, 2025,
Stopping the destructive march – what's being… | Landscape ..., accessed July 6, 2025, GreyLiterature

Stopping the destructive march – what's being done about buffel grass? - Landscape SA

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Supporting Sources (4)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of European Rabbits | Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania
European Rabbits | Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania
Direct Evidence Journal

European Rabbits | Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania

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Preview of Feral predator impacts exacerbated during times of environmental stress
Feral predator impacts exacerbated during times of environmental stress
Contextual Support Government

Feral predator impacts exacerbated during times of environmental stress

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Preview of How removing invasive predators reshaped desert mammal communities - Arid Recovery
How removing invasive predators reshaped desert mammal communities - Arid Recovery
Contextual Support Government

How removing invasive predators reshaped desert mammal communities - Arid Recovery

View Source
Preview of National Feral Cat and Fox Management Coordination
National Feral Cat and Fox Management Coordination
Direct Evidence

National Feral Cat and Fox Management Coordination

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Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Arid Karstic Woodlands & Shrublands
  • Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
  • Assessment Conservation Target
  • Evidence Type TargetCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 6 Jun 2026

Notes

No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always worse beyond this threshold. This threshold is a critical, non-linear detrimental level; any persistent population of feral predators or transformer weeds is also considered detrimental with a goal of functional eradication.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-AKW-CON-ISP family.

— presence/absence Moderate
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas ยท Conservation Target
CompositeFramework Active v1