Distinctive diets of eutherian predators in Australia

Authors

Patricia A. Fleming, Murdoch University
Alyson M. Stobo-Wilson, Charles Darwin University, Northern Territory
Heather M. Crawford, Murdoch University
Stuart J. Dawson, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western AustraliaFollow
Chris R. Dickman, The University of Sydney, New South Wales
Tim S. Doherty, The University of Sydney, New South Wales
Peter J S Fleming, University of Southern Queensland
Thomas M. Newsome, The University of Sydney, New South Wales
Russell Palmer, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Western Australia
Jim A. Thompson, Queensland Museum Network
John C Z Woinarski, Charles Darwin University, Northern Territory

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

10-12-2022

Journal Title

Royal Society Open Science

ISSN

2054-5703

Keywords

Canis familiaris, Felis catus, invasive species, niche separation, resource partitioning, Vulpes vulpes

Disciplines

Animal Sciences | Biosecurity

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.

Recommended Citation

Fleming, P A, Stobo-Wilson, A M, Crawford, H M, Dawson, S J, Dickman, C R, Doherty, T S, Fleming, P J, Newsome, T M, Palmer, R, Thompson, J A, and Woinarski, J C. (2022), Distinctive diets of eutherian predators in Australia. Royal Society Open Science, 9 (10).
https://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/bs_research/47