the effect of reintroducing a predator species back into an ecosystem

Question

Discuss the effects you expect on the reintroduction of a predator such as dingoes could have on native species/prey (e.g. bandicoots, wallabies) and introduced species (e.g. rabbits, cats and foxes). Use concepts such as predation, competition, niche and population dynamics

Answer 1

The reintroduction of a predator species into an ecosystem would cause increased predation on the native prey species as well as the invasive prey species. Some of the invasive species may also be predators to some of the same prey as the reintroduced species. This would mean there would be competition between the native reintroduced predators and the invasive predators. This competition may cause the extinction of one population of predators due to only one species being able to fill a single niche. Additionally, due to population dynamics, many other species would be affected besides those in direct contact with the reintroduced predator. Any organisms which are eaten by the prey of the dingoes would increase in population due to the decrease of their consumers. Also, any other organisms which eat the same prey as the dingoes would decrease in population due to the decrease in their food supply and the competition with the dingoes.