Distinctive diets of eutherian predators in Australia

P.A. Fleming; A.M. Stobo-Wilson; H.M. Crawford; S.J. Dawson; C.R. Dickman; T.S. Doherty; P.J.S. Fleming; T.M. Newsome; R. Palmer; J.A. Thompson; J.C.Z. Woinarski

doi:10.1098/rsos.220792

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Distinctive diets of eutherian predators in Australia

Journal article

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Distinctive diets of eutherian predators in Australia

P.A. Fleming, A.M. Stobo-Wilson, H.M. Crawford, S.J. Dawson, C.R. Dickman, T.S. Doherty, P.J.S. Fleming, T.M. Newsome, R. Palmer, J.A. Thompson, …

Royal Society Open Science, Vol.9(10), Art. 220792

2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.220792

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Abstract

Introduction of the domestic cat and red fox has devastated Australian native fauna. We synthesized Australian diet analyses to identify traits of prey species in cat, fox and dingo diets, which prey were more frequent or distinctive to the diet of each predator, and quantified dietary overlap. Nearly half (45%) of all Australian terrestrial mammal, bird and reptile species occurred in the diets of one or more predators. Cat and dingo diets overlapped least (0.64 ± 0.27, n = 24 location/time points) and cat diet changed little over 55 years of study. Cats were more likely to have eaten birds, reptiles and small mammals than foxes or dingoes. Dingo diet remained constant over 53 years and constituted the largest mammal, bird and reptile prey species, including more macropods/potoroids, wombats, monotremes and bandicoots/bilbies than cats or foxes. Fox diet had greater overlap with both cats (0.79 ± 0.20, n = 37) and dingoes (0.73 ± 0.21, n = 42), fewer distinctive items (plant material, possums/gliders) and significant spatial and temporal heterogeneity over 69 years, suggesting the opportunity for prey switching (especially of mammal prey) to mitigate competition. Our study reinforced concerns about mesopredator impacts upon scarce/threatened species and the need to control foxes and cats for fauna conservation. However, extensive dietary overlap and opportunism, as well as low incidence of mesopredators in dingo diets, precluded resolution of the debate about possible dingo suppression of foxes and cats.

Details

Title: Distinctive diets of eutherian predators in Australia
Authors/Creators: P.A. Fleming (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
A.M. Stobo-Wilson (Author/Creator) - Charles Darwin University
H.M. Crawford (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
S.J. Dawson (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
C.R. Dickman (Author/Creator) - The University of Sydney
T.S. Doherty (Author/Creator) - The University of Sydney
P.J.S. Fleming (Author/Creator) - University of New England
T.M. Newsome (Author/Creator) - The University of Sydney
R. Palmer (Author/Creator) - Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions
J.A. Thompson (Author/Creator) - Queensland Museum
J.C.Z. Woinarski (Author/Creator) - Charles Darwin University
Publication Details: Royal Society Open Science, Vol.9(10), Art. 220792
Publisher: The Royal Society Publishing
Identifiers: 991005544899007891
Copyright: © 2022 The Authors.
Murdoch Affiliation: Centre for Terrestrial Ecosystem Science and Sustainability
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Citation topics: 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology; 3.35 Zoology & Animal Ecology; 3.35.274 Wildlife Ecology
Web Of Science research areas: Ecology
ESI research areas: Plant & Animal Science