How do kangaroos control their population from season to season and year to year?
In short, kangaroo populations fluctuate in accordance with the conditions. Female kangaroos, after they have been mated, can delay the implantation of the embryo for a period of up to many months if conditions are unfavourable. This process is called embryonic diapause. Because Australia is a dry continent, the amount of rainfall is the most powerful determining factor for their birth rates and death rates. During times of drought, many kangaroos die from starvation and dehydration. During times of plenty, the kangaroos can take advantage of the favourable conditions and build up their numbers. This cycle of drought and rain is mostly only relevant to red kangaroos which live in the inland. Along the coastlines, the rainfall tends to be more consistent. However, many red kangaroos can take advantage of watering sites intended for sheep and cattle and thereby keep their numbers higher than they otherwise would be able to. Bibliography/Further Reading Dawson, T. J. 1998, Kangaroos: Biol
