Dingo Density Estimates and Movements in Equatorial Australia: Spatially Explicit Mark–Resight Models
Australia is currently free of canine rabies. Spatio-ecological knowledge about dingoes in northern Australia is currently a gap that impedes the application of disease spread models and our understanding of the potential transmission of rabies, in the event of an incursion. We therefore conducted a...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2020-05-01
|
| Series: | Animals |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/5/865 |
| _version_ | 1797567729877647360 |
|---|---|
| author | Vanessa Gabriele-Rivet Julie Arsenault Victoria J. Brookes Peter J. S. Fleming Charlotte Nury Michael P. Ward |
| author_facet | Vanessa Gabriele-Rivet Julie Arsenault Victoria J. Brookes Peter J. S. Fleming Charlotte Nury Michael P. Ward |
| author_sort | Vanessa Gabriele-Rivet |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Australia is currently free of canine rabies. Spatio-ecological knowledge about dingoes in northern Australia is currently a gap that impedes the application of disease spread models and our understanding of the potential transmission of rabies, in the event of an incursion. We therefore conducted a one-year camera trap survey to monitor a dingo population in equatorial northern Australia. The population is contiguous with remote Indigenous communities containing free-roaming dogs, which potentially interact with dingoes. Based on the camera trap data, we derived dingo density and home range size estimates using maximum-likelihood, spatially explicit, mark–resight models, described dingo movements and evaluated spatial correlation and temporal overlap in activities between dingoes and community dogs. Dingo density estimates varied from 0.135 animals/km<sup>2</sup> (95% CI = 0.127–0.144) during the dry season to 0.147 animals/km<sup>2</sup> (95% CI = 0.135–0.159) during the wet season. The 95% bivariate Normal home range sizes were highly variable throughout the year (7.95–29.40 km<sup>2</sup>). Spatial use and daily activity patterns of dingoes and free-roaming community dogs, grouped over ~3 month periods, showed substantial temporal activity overlap and spatial correlation, highlighting the potential risk of disease transmission at the wild–domestic interface in an area of biosecurity risk in equatorial northern Australia. Our results have utility for improving preparedness against a potential rabies incursion. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:46:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-65227783ef7947849a2c9b740a222c4e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:46:36Z |
| publishDate | 2020-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-65227783ef7947849a2c9b740a222c4e2023-11-20T00:45:02ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152020-05-0110586510.3390/ani10050865Dingo Density Estimates and Movements in Equatorial Australia: Spatially Explicit Mark–Resight ModelsVanessa Gabriele-Rivet0Julie Arsenault1Victoria J. Brookes2Peter J. S. Fleming3Charlotte Nury4Michael P. Ward5Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Camden 2570, New South Wales, AustraliaFaculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, ON J2S 2M2, CanadaSydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Camden 2570, New South Wales, AustraliaVertebrate Pest Research Unit, New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Orange 2800, New South Wales, AustraliaFaculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, ON J2S 2M2, CanadaSydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Camden 2570, New South Wales, AustraliaAustralia is currently free of canine rabies. Spatio-ecological knowledge about dingoes in northern Australia is currently a gap that impedes the application of disease spread models and our understanding of the potential transmission of rabies, in the event of an incursion. We therefore conducted a one-year camera trap survey to monitor a dingo population in equatorial northern Australia. The population is contiguous with remote Indigenous communities containing free-roaming dogs, which potentially interact with dingoes. Based on the camera trap data, we derived dingo density and home range size estimates using maximum-likelihood, spatially explicit, mark–resight models, described dingo movements and evaluated spatial correlation and temporal overlap in activities between dingoes and community dogs. Dingo density estimates varied from 0.135 animals/km<sup>2</sup> (95% CI = 0.127–0.144) during the dry season to 0.147 animals/km<sup>2</sup> (95% CI = 0.135–0.159) during the wet season. The 95% bivariate Normal home range sizes were highly variable throughout the year (7.95–29.40 km<sup>2</sup>). Spatial use and daily activity patterns of dingoes and free-roaming community dogs, grouped over ~3 month periods, showed substantial temporal activity overlap and spatial correlation, highlighting the potential risk of disease transmission at the wild–domestic interface in an area of biosecurity risk in equatorial northern Australia. Our results have utility for improving preparedness against a potential rabies incursion.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/5/865<i>canis familiaris</i>rabiesSECRspatio-ecologywild dogs |
| spellingShingle | Vanessa Gabriele-Rivet Julie Arsenault Victoria J. Brookes Peter J. S. Fleming Charlotte Nury Michael P. Ward Dingo Density Estimates and Movements in Equatorial Australia: Spatially Explicit Mark–Resight Models Animals <i>canis familiaris</i> rabies SECR spatio-ecology wild dogs |
| title | Dingo Density Estimates and Movements in Equatorial Australia: Spatially Explicit Mark–Resight Models |
| title_full | Dingo Density Estimates and Movements in Equatorial Australia: Spatially Explicit Mark–Resight Models |
| title_fullStr | Dingo Density Estimates and Movements in Equatorial Australia: Spatially Explicit Mark–Resight Models |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dingo Density Estimates and Movements in Equatorial Australia: Spatially Explicit Mark–Resight Models |
| title_short | Dingo Density Estimates and Movements in Equatorial Australia: Spatially Explicit Mark–Resight Models |
| title_sort | dingo density estimates and movements in equatorial australia spatially explicit mark resight models |
| topic | <i>canis familiaris</i> rabies SECR spatio-ecology wild dogs |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/5/865 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT vanessagabrielerivet dingodensityestimatesandmovementsinequatorialaustraliaspatiallyexplicitmarkresightmodels AT juliearsenault dingodensityestimatesandmovementsinequatorialaustraliaspatiallyexplicitmarkresightmodels AT victoriajbrookes dingodensityestimatesandmovementsinequatorialaustraliaspatiallyexplicitmarkresightmodels AT peterjsfleming dingodensityestimatesandmovementsinequatorialaustraliaspatiallyexplicitmarkresightmodels AT charlottenury dingodensityestimatesandmovementsinequatorialaustraliaspatiallyexplicitmarkresightmodels AT michaelpward dingodensityestimatesandmovementsinequatorialaustraliaspatiallyexplicitmarkresightmodels |