Distinctive diets of eutherian predators in Australia
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. Near...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
The Royal Society
2022-10-01
|
| Series: | Royal Society Open Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.220792 |
| _version_ | 1797845337473286144 |
|---|---|
| author | Patricia A. Fleming Alyson M. Stobo-Wilson Heather M. Crawford Stuart J. Dawson Chris R. Dickman Tim S. Doherty Peter J. S. Fleming Thomas M. Newsome Russell Palmer Jim A. Thompson John C. Z. Woinarski |
| author_facet | Patricia A. Fleming Alyson M. Stobo-Wilson Heather M. Crawford Stuart J. Dawson Chris R. Dickman Tim S. Doherty Peter J. S. Fleming Thomas M. Newsome Russell Palmer Jim A. Thompson John C. Z. Woinarski |
| author_sort | Patricia A. Fleming |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T17:37:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7cbd681b8d8f4d2a8a0aa1ee5e42ba3a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2054-5703 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T17:37:23Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | The Royal Society |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Royal Society Open Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-7cbd681b8d8f4d2a8a0aa1ee5e42ba3a2023-04-17T11:00:59ZengThe Royal SocietyRoyal Society Open Science2054-57032022-10-0191010.1098/rsos.220792Distinctive diets of eutherian predators in AustraliaPatricia A. Fleming0Alyson M. Stobo-Wilson1Heather M. Crawford2Stuart J. Dawson3Chris R. Dickman4Tim S. Doherty5Peter J. S. Fleming6Thomas M. Newsome7Russell Palmer8Jim A. Thompson9John C. Z. Woinarski10Centre for Terrestrial Ecosystem Science and Sustainability, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia 6150, AustraliaNESP Threatened Species Recovery Hub, Charles Darwin University, Casuarina, Northern Territory 0909, AustraliaCentre for Terrestrial Ecosystem Science and Sustainability, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia 6150, AustraliaCentre for Terrestrial Ecosystem Science and Sustainability, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia 6150, AustraliaDesert Ecology Research Group, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Heydon-Laurence Building A08, Camperdown, New South Wales 2006, AustraliaSchool of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Heydon-Laurence Building A08, Camperdown, New South Wales 2006, AustraliaVertebrate Pest Research Unit, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Orange Agricultural Institute, 1447 Forest Road, Orange, New South Wales 2800, AustraliaSchool of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Heydon-Laurence Building A08, Camperdown, New South Wales 2006, AustraliaDepartment of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Locked Bag 104, Bentley Delivery Centre, Western Australia 6983, AustraliaQueensland Museum Network, PO Box 3300, South Brisbane BC, Queensland 4101, AustraliaResearch Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Casuarina, Northern Territory 0909, AustraliaIntroduction 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.https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.220792Canis familiarisFelis catusinvasive speciesniche separationresource partitioningVulpes vulpes |
| spellingShingle | Patricia A. Fleming Alyson M. Stobo-Wilson Heather M. Crawford Stuart J. Dawson Chris R. Dickman Tim S. Doherty Peter J. S. Fleming Thomas M. Newsome Russell Palmer Jim A. Thompson John C. Z. Woinarski Distinctive diets of eutherian predators in Australia Royal Society Open Science Canis familiaris Felis catus invasive species niche separation resource partitioning Vulpes vulpes |
| title | Distinctive diets of eutherian predators in Australia |
| title_full | Distinctive diets of eutherian predators in Australia |
| title_fullStr | Distinctive diets of eutherian predators in Australia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Distinctive diets of eutherian predators in Australia |
| title_short | Distinctive diets of eutherian predators in Australia |
| title_sort | distinctive diets of eutherian predators in australia |
| topic | Canis familiaris Felis catus invasive species niche separation resource partitioning Vulpes vulpes |
| url | https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.220792 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT patriciaafleming distinctivedietsofeutherianpredatorsinaustralia AT alysonmstobowilson distinctivedietsofeutherianpredatorsinaustralia AT heathermcrawford distinctivedietsofeutherianpredatorsinaustralia AT stuartjdawson distinctivedietsofeutherianpredatorsinaustralia AT chrisrdickman distinctivedietsofeutherianpredatorsinaustralia AT timsdoherty distinctivedietsofeutherianpredatorsinaustralia AT peterjsfleming distinctivedietsofeutherianpredatorsinaustralia AT thomasmnewsome distinctivedietsofeutherianpredatorsinaustralia AT russellpalmer distinctivedietsofeutherianpredatorsinaustralia AT jimathompson distinctivedietsofeutherianpredatorsinaustralia AT johnczwoinarski distinctivedietsofeutherianpredatorsinaustralia |