Invasive Species Presence

AUS-TGP-IND-ISP General High confidence

Benchmark Value

0.5 rabbit/ha
Thresholds: Lower: —, Upper: 0.5
Direction: Lower is desirable ↓
Form: MaximumOnly

Scoring Curve

Scoring curve unavailable

The scoring engine could not generate a curve for this benchmark context. The primary form is CompositeFramework, but the benchmark data may be missing required fields (e.g., optimal range bounds for an OptimalRange benchmark). This is typically a data quality issue in the benchmark pipeline.

Evidence & Context

For rabbits, studies show densities as low as 0.5 individuals per hectare can prevent successful regeneration of palatable native trees and shrubs in south-eastern Australia.

Metric Definition:

Density of European rabbits above which native vegetation regeneration is prevented.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark defines the critical density threshold of European rabbits above which native vegetation recruitment fails in Australia's Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains biome under Industrial & Infrastructure land use.

Justification:

At or above this very low threshold, recruitment can effectively fail, and woodland structure begins to degrade.

Sources (1)

Preview of Estimating density-dependent impacts of European rabbits on Australian tree and shrub populations | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed August 10, 2025
Estimating density-dependent impacts of European rabbits on Australian tree and shrub populations | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed August 10, 2025

Estimating density-dependent impacts of European rabbits on Australian tree and shrub populations | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed August 10, 2025,

View Source

Supporting Sources (37)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of 2 Construction Environmental Management - Green Building Council of Australia, accessed August 10, 2025
2 Construction Environmental Management - Green Building Council of Australia, accessed August 10, 2025
Contextual Support Methodology Source Journal

2 Construction Environmental Management - Green Building Council of Australia, accessed August 10, 2025,

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Preview of A strategy for dealing with invasive species in Australia, accessed August 12, 2025,
A strategy for dealing with invasive species in Australia, accessed August 12, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

The impacts of invasive plant species on biodiversity of Australian rangelands

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Preview of Australia's Biodiversity and Climate Change - DAFF, accessed August 10, 2025
Australia's Biodiversity and Climate Change - DAFF, accessed August 10, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Biodiversity conservation and vegetation clearing in Queensland: principles and thresholds

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Preview of Australian Weeds Strategy 2017-2027, accessed August 10, 2025
Australian Weeds Strategy 2017-2027, accessed August 10, 2025
Contextual Support Regulatory Framework Journal

Australian Weeds Strategy 2017-2027, accessed August 10, 2025,

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Preview of Cannie Wind Farm - Planning, accessed August 10, 2025
Cannie Wind Farm - Planning, accessed August 10, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Cannie Wind Farm - Planning, accessed August 10, 2025,

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Controlled activities – Guidelines for vegetation management plans on waterfront land - NSW Government Water, accessed August 10, 2025
Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

Controlled activities – Guidelines for vegetation management plans on waterfront land - NSW Government Water, accessed August 10, 2025,

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Preview of Effects of Stock Grazing on Biodiversity Values in ... - ACT Government, accessed August 4, 2025
Effects of Stock Grazing on Biodiversity Values in ... - ACT Government, accessed August 4, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Yellow Box – Blakely's Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived ...

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Preview of Environmental Harm - Rabbit Free Australia, accessed August 10, 2025
Environmental Harm - Rabbit Free Australia, accessed August 10, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Environmental Harm - Rabbit Free Australia, accessed August 10, 2025,

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Preview of Environmental Impact Statements; Availability, etc.: Bridger-Teton National Forest; Wyoming; Invasive Plant Management - Regulations.gov, accessed August 10, 2025
Environmental Impact Statements; Availability, etc.: Bridger-Teton National Forest; Wyoming; Invasive Plant Management - Regulations.gov, accessed August 10, 2025
Contextual Support Regulatory Framework Government

Environmental Impact Statements; Availability, etc.: Bridger-Teton National Forest; Wyoming; Invasive Plant Management - Regulations.gov, accessed August 10, 2025,

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Preview of Environmental management guidelines for construction (edition 4) | info.buy.nsw, accessed August 10, 2025
Environmental management guidelines for construction (edition 4) | info.buy.nsw, accessed August 10, 2025
Contextual Support Regulatory Framework Government

Environmental management guidelines for construction (edition 4) | info.buy.nsw, accessed August 10, 2025,

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Preview of Environmental Management Plan Guidelines - DCCEEW, accessed August 10, 2025
Environmental Management Plan Guidelines - DCCEEW, accessed August 10, 2025
Contextual Support Direct Evidence

Environmental Management Plan Guidelines - DCCEEW, accessed August 10, 2025,

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Preview of Expert commentary: Invasive species driving Australian biodiversity loss - CSIRO, accessed July 13, 2025
Expert commentary: Invasive species driving Australian biodiversity loss - CSIRO, accessed July 13, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Environmental DNA provides higher resolution assessment of riverine biodiversity and ecosystem function via spatio-temporal nestedness and turnover partitioning

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Preview of Fact sheet: Managing weeds in power line easements - TasNetworks, accessed August 10, 2025
Fact sheet: Managing weeds in power line easements - TasNetworks, accessed August 10, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Fact sheet: Managing weeds in power line easements - TasNetworks, accessed August 10, 2025,

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Preview of Fighting Plagues and Predators - CSIRO, accessed August 12, 2025,
Fighting Plagues and Predators - CSIRO, accessed August 12, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Fighting plagues and predators to protect Australia's biodiversity - CSIRO, accessed August 9, 2025,

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Preview of Genes rescue grasslands - Atlas of Living Australia, accessed August 10, 2025
Genes rescue grasslands - Atlas of Living Australia, accessed August 10, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Genes rescue grasslands - Atlas of Living Australia, accessed August 10, 2025,

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Preview of Identifying thresholds in the impacts of an invasive groundcover on native vegetation - PMC, accessed August 10, 2025
Identifying thresholds in the impacts of an invasive groundcover on native vegetation - PMC, accessed August 10, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Identifying thresholds in the impacts of an invasive groundcover on native vegetation - PMC, accessed August 10, 2025,

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Preview of Impacts of rabbits in wetlands - Water and catchments, accessed August 10, 2025
Impacts of rabbits in wetlands - Water and catchments, accessed August 10, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Impacts of rabbits in wetlands - Water and catchments, accessed August 10, 2025,

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Preview of Invasion of native plant communities by exotic perennial grasses ..., accessed August 10, 2025
Invasion of native plant communities by exotic perennial grasses ..., accessed August 10, 2025
Contextual Support Direct Evidence Government

Invasion of native plant communities by exotic perennial grasses ..., accessed August 10, 2025,

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Preview of Invasive species and range shifts | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed July 15, 2025
Invasive species and range shifts | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed July 15, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Invasive species and range shifts | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed July 15, 2025

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Preview of Invasive species, problematic native species, and diseases ..., accessed May 20, 2025,
Invasive species, problematic native species, and diseases ..., accessed May 20, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Serrated tussock (Nassella trichotoma) - Australian Association of Bush Regenerators

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Preview of MANAGING NATIVE GRASSLAND - Hotspots Fire Project, accessed August 10, 2025
MANAGING NATIVE GRASSLAND - Hotspots Fire Project, accessed August 10, 2025
Contextual Support

(PDF) Grazing impacts on gully dynamics indicate approaches for ..., accessed August 28, 2025,

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Preview of Nationally Threatened Ecological Communities of the Victorian Volcanic Plain: Natural Temperate Grassland & Grassy Eucalypt Woodland - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,
Nationally Threatened Ecological Communities of the Victorian Volcanic Plain: Natural Temperate Grassland & Grassy Eucalypt Woodland - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Environmental Stewardship - Box Gum Grassy Woodland Project - Information Booklet - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,

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Preview of Natural Temperate Grassland of the South Eastern Highlands - profile, accessed August 10, 2025
Natural Temperate Grassland of the South Eastern Highlands - profile, accessed August 10, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Natural Temperate Grassland of the South Eastern Highlands - profile, accessed August 10, 2025,

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Preview of Natural Temperate Grassland of the South Eastern Highlands: a nationally protected ecological community - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,
Natural Temperate Grassland of the South Eastern Highlands: a nationally protected ecological community - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Australia's Native Vegetation Framework - DAFF

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Preview of Protecting Critically Endangered Grasslands | Victorian Auditor-General's Office, accessed August 10, 2025
Protecting Critically Endangered Grasslands | Victorian Auditor-General's Office, accessed August 10, 2025
Contextual Support Regulatory Framework Government

Protecting native grasses – ANU Sustainable Farms, accessed August 11, 2025,

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Preview of Protecting native grasses – ANU Sustainable Farms, accessed August 6, 2025,
Protecting native grasses – ANU Sustainable Farms, accessed August 6, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Native grasses and pastures | Native pasture management | Land ..., accessed May 19, 2025,

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Preview of Rabbits and Native Plant Biodiversity | PestSmart, accessed August 10, 2025
Rabbits and Native Plant Biodiversity | PestSmart, accessed August 10, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Rabbits and Native Plant Biodiversity | PestSmart, accessed August 10, 2025,

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Preview of Southern Plains including the Western Victorian volcanic plain and karst springs - DCCEEW, accessed August 10, 2025
Southern Plains including the Western Victorian volcanic plain and karst springs - DCCEEW, accessed August 10, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Southern Plains including the Western Victorian volcanic plain and karst springs - DCCEEW, accessed August 10, 2025,

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Preview of The response of Nassella trichotoma (serrated tussock) seeds and seedlings to different levels of fire intensity - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 10, 2025
The response of Nassella trichotoma (serrated tussock) seeds and seedlings to different levels of fire intensity - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 10, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

The response of Nassella trichotoma (serrated tussock) seeds and seedlings to different levels of fire intensity - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 10, 2025,

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Preview of Threatened ecological communities in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, accessed August 10, 2025
Threatened ecological communities in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, accessed August 10, 2025
Contextual Support Regulatory Framework Government

Threatened ecological communities in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, accessed August 10, 2025,

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Preview of Topsoil removal and carbon addition for weed control and native grass recruitment in a temperate-derived grassland in northern New South Wales - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 10, 2025
Topsoil removal and carbon addition for weed control and native grass recruitment in a temperate-derived grassland in northern New South Wales - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 10, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Topsoil removal and carbon addition for weed control and native grass recruitment in a temperate-derived grassland in northern New South Wales - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 10, 2025,

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Preview of Topsoil removal and carbon addition for weed control and native grass recruitment in a temperate-derived grassland in northern New South Wales | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed August 10, 2025
Topsoil removal and carbon addition for weed control and native grass recruitment in a temperate-derived grassland in northern New South Wales | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed August 10, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Topsoil removal and carbon addition for weed control and native grass recruitment in a temperate-derived grassland in northern New South Wales | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed August 10, 2025,

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Preview of Tropical Grasslands (2000) Volume 34, 147–154 - Minesite rehabilitation, accessed August 1, 2025,
Tropical Grasslands (2000) Volume 34, 147–154 - Minesite rehabilitation, accessed August 1, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Tropical Grasslands (2000) Volume 34, 147–154 - Minesite rehabilitation, accessed August 1, 2025,

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Preview of Volume 1 - Main Report Environmental Impact Statement - Planning, accessed August 10, 2025
Volume 1 - Main Report Environmental Impact Statement - Planning, accessed August 10, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Volume 1 - Main Report Environmental Impact Statement - Planning, accessed August 10, 2025,

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Preview of Weed control in threatened native grasslands - Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, accessed August 10, 2025
Weed control in threatened native grasslands - Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, accessed August 10, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Weed control in threatened native grasslands - Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, accessed August 10, 2025,

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Preview of Weeds information - Biosecurity - Agriculture Victoria, accessed August 10, 2025
Weeds information - Biosecurity - Agriculture Victoria, accessed August 10, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Weeds information - Biosecurity - Agriculture Victoria, accessed August 10, 2025,

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Preview of Whyte Yarcowie Wind Farm - EPBC Act Public Portal - DCCEEW, accessed August 10, 2025
Whyte Yarcowie Wind Farm - EPBC Act Public Portal - DCCEEW, accessed August 10, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Whyte Yarcowie Wind Farm - EPBC Act Public Portal - DCCEEW, accessed August 10, 2025,

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Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains
  • Land Use Industrial & Infrastructure Use
  • Assessment Pristine Reference
  • Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

  • Status Retired
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 15 Mar 2026
  • Effective To 21 Mar 2026

Notes

This threshold is specific to rabbits as a key invasive herbivore impacting native vegetation.