“The Red Queen Hypothesis” in European Rabbits

When does the story of Alice actually intersect with rabbits? In the case of evolutionary history — and a failed attempt at biological warfare in Australia.

I can think of nothing that demonstrates the process of biological evolution more clearly than viruses. Because their genomes are so small, their genetic mutation rates produce a rapid effect. However, the immune systems within all viruses’ hosts are also in the process of evolution at the same time. This can lead to the “Red Queen Effect,” which is when two species try to continuously gain an upper hand against each other, but because they evolve together, neither wins out. They run in place, like Alice and the Red Queen pictured here.

In Australia, this played out in history in the case of the European rabbit. An Australian herder imported this species for hunting in 1859. However, these bunnies reproduced very quickly, and in half a century had become a super invasive species. They are cute, but destructive, as the second photo shows. Seeing the rabbits take over ecological niches, Australian scientists decided to release a virus called “Myoxma” via mosquitos into the population – the virus would only harm the European rabbits.

And it worked – for the first year. In 1950, the virus wiped out 99.8% of the European rabbits in Australia. In the next year, however, only 90% died. By the third year, mortality had declined to between 40-60%. The rabbits were fast breeders, and their immune systems adapted quickly. The European rabbits are still menacing the grasslands of the continent today, as the Red Queen holds her place.