Direct Impact on Food Supply:
* Reduced Prey Availability: Rabbits are a primary food source for coyotes, especially in areas where they are abundant. Their absence would create a severe food shortage for coyotes, forcing them to rely on alternative prey sources.
* Increased Competition: The lack of rabbits would intensify competition for other prey, such as rodents, birds, and larger mammals, with other predators like foxes, hawks, and owls.
* Starvation and Increased Mortality: The reduced food availability could lead to starvation, malnutrition, and increased mortality rates among coyotes. This would especially impact pups and older, weaker individuals.
Indirect Impacts:
* Changes in Behavior: Coyotes might become more aggressive and bolder in their search for food, potentially increasing interactions with humans or livestock.
* Shift in Range and Habitat: Coyotes may be forced to expand their range and move into new areas in search of food, potentially encountering new predators or competitors.
* Population Decline: The reduced food availability, increased competition, and higher mortality rates would likely result in a significant decline in the coyote population.
Potential Long-Term Consequences:
* Ecosystem Disruption: The loss of coyotes could have ripple effects throughout the ecosystem, potentially leading to changes in populations of other species, like rodents or scavengers.
* Increased Risk of Disease Outbreaks: A decline in coyote populations can decrease their ability to regulate prey populations, leading to potential outbreaks of diseases that might affect other species, including humans.
Important Note: The specific effects of a rabbit disease on coyotes would depend on factors like the geographic location, the severity of the rabbit decline, and the availability of alternative prey sources. However, it is clear that a rabbit disease would have a significant and negative impact on coyote populations.