Interspecific and Geographic Variation in the Diets of Sympatric Carnivores: Dingoes/Wild Dogs and Red Foxes in South-Eastern Australia

Davis, Naomi E.; Forsyth, David M.; Triggs, Barbara; Pascoe, Charlie; Benshemesh, Joe; Robley, Alan; Lawrence, Jenny; Ritchie, Euan G.; Nimmo, Dale G.; Lumsden, Linda F.

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0120975

Cited by 58 publications

(75 citation statements)

References 133 publications

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“…That we did not observe the same relationship here may be because we only assessed the potential benefits of mesopredator suppression for two prey species. Given the many potential prey species in the study region (Davis et al., ), such benefits may be present for other, unstudied species (e.g. Mallee ningaui Ningaui yvonneae , western pygmy possum Cercartetus concinnus ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Incorporating disturbance into trophic ecology: Fire history shapes mesopredator suppression by an apex predator

Geary

Ritchie

Lawton

et al. 2018

Journal of Applied Ecology

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Apex predators can suppress smaller bodied “mesopredators.” In doing so, they can provide refuge to species preyed upon by mesopredators, which is particularly important in regions where mesopredators are invasive. While most studies of mesopredator suppression focus on the response of mesopredators to human control of apex predators, other factors—including natural and anthropogenic disturbance—also drive the occurrence of apex predators and, in doing so, might shape spatial patterns of mesopredator suppression. We examined the role of fire in shaping the occurrence of an apex predator and, by extension, mesopredators and small mammals in a fire‐prone region of semiarid Australia. We measured the activity of an apex predator (the dingo Canis dingo); an invasive mesopredator it is known to suppress (the red fox Vulpes vulpes); and two species of native small mammal (Mitchell's hopping mouse Notomys mitchelli; silky mouse Pseudomys apodemoides) that are potential prey, across 21 fire mosaics (each 12.56 km2). We used piecewise structural equation modelling and scenario analysis to explore the interactions between fire, predators and prey. We found that dingoes were affected by fire history at the landscape scale, showing a preference for recently burned areas. While foxes were not directly affected by fire history, a negative association between dingoes and foxes meant that fire had an indirect impact on foxes, mediated through dingoes. Despite the suppression of foxes by dingoes, we did not observe a trophic cascade as small mammals were not negatively associated with foxes or positively associated with dingoes. Synthesis and applications. Disturbance regimes have the capacity to shape patterns of mesopredator suppression when they alter the distributions of apex predators. Environmental change that promotes native predators can therefore help suppress mesopredators—a common conservation objective in regions with invasive mesopredators. The indirect consequences of disturbance regimes should be considered when managing disturbance (e.g. fire) for biodiversity conservation.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Incorporating disturbance into trophic ecology: Fire history shapes mesopredator suppression by an apex predator

Geary

Ritchie

Lawton

et al. 2018

Journal of Applied Ecology

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“…We were unable to account for potential prey switching by cats and foxes from rabbits to reptiles and invertebrates, due to a lack of empirical data. Likewise, the diet of dingoes is known to be broad, varying in different ecosystems, sometimes including mammalian prey in the critical weight range of 35–5,500 g. However, on average, dingoes typically consume orders of magnitudes fewer critical weight range mammals than do invasive mesopredators (e.g., Davis et al., ). Thus, to simulate the main interactions and community structure in the arid Australian ecosystem, the potential (but negligible) trophic interaction between the dingo and small native mammal prey was not incorporated into the model, preventing any potential prey switching to small native mammals by dingoes.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Eradicating abundant invasive prey could cause unexpected and varied biodiversity outcomes: The importance of multispecies interactions

Lurgi

Ritchie

Fordham

2018

Journal of Applied Ecology

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Abundant and widely distributed invasive prey can negatively affect co‐occurring native species by competing for food and/or shelter, removing vegetation cover and reducing habitat complexity (changing predation risk), and by sustaining elevated abundances of invasive mesopredators. However, information regarding the community and trophic consequences of controlling invasive prey and their temporal dynamics remain poorly understood. We used multispecies ecological network models to simulate the consequences of changing European rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus abundance in an arid mammalian community. We quantified how changes in the dominant prey (rabbits) affected multiple trophic levels, examining changes in predator–prey interactions through time and how they affected native prey persistence. Our results suggest that removal of rabbits can benefit native biodiversity immediately at removal rates between 30% and 40%. However, beyond these levels, densities of small native mammals will decline in the short term. The processes underpinning these declines are: (a) increased competition for resources (vegetation) with kangaroos Macropus spp., whose numbers increase due to their release from competition with rabbits and (b) increased predation (prey switching) by feral cats Felis catus. Both effects are mediated by dingoes Canis dingo, a native apex predator. Importantly, native mammal abundance recovers after a time delay, which is prolonged when high rates of rabbit control are applied. This is likely due to a reduction in hyperpredation by invasive feral cats and red foxes Vulpes vulpes following rabbit removal. Continued eradication of rabbits in arid Australia will benefit native species due to a decrease in apparent competition for resources and by alleviating hyperpredation from invasive mesopredators. Furthermore, ecosystem‐level conservation benefits of reducing invasive prey abundance are as important as direct control of invasive mesopredators. Synthesis and applications. Multispecies ecological network models provide wildlife managers with tools to better understand and predict the complex effects of species removal and control on both intact and modified ecosystems. Our results show that management of the Australian arid zone can benefit from controlling invasive prey as well as invasive predators. However, invasive species control can cause unexpected outcomes on native biodiversity. This extends to other systems where dominant prey may play fundamental roles in ecosystem structure and function.

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“…Analysis of scats collected in Victoria has shown that deer are eaten by wild dogs (Canis familiaris) and dingoes (Canis dingo) and their hybrids, and also by red foxes (Vulpes vulpes; Davis et al 2015b). Camera traps have shown that wild dogs and foxes scavenge hunter-shot sambar carcasses (Forsyth et al 2014).…”

Section: Interactions With Predatorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A systematic review of the impacts and management of introduced deer (family Cervidae) in Australia

et al. 2016

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Abstract. Deer are among the world's most successful invasive mammals and can have substantial deleterious impacts on natural and agricultural ecosystems. Six species have established wild populations in Australia, and the distributions and abundances of some species are increasing. Approaches to managing wild deer in Australia are diverse and complex, with some populations managed as 'game' and others as 'pests'. Implementation of cost-effective management strategies that account for this complexity is hindered by a lack of knowledge of the nature, extent and severity of deer impacts. To clarify the knowledge base and identify research needs, we conducted a systematic review of the impacts and management of wild deer in Australia. Most wild deer are in south-eastern Australia, but bioclimatic analysis suggested that four species are well suited to the tropical and subtropical climates of northern Australia. Deer could potentially occupy most of the continent, including parts of the arid interior. The most significant impacts are likely to occur through direct effects of herbivory, with potentially cascading indirect effects on fauna and ecosystem processes. However, evidence of impacts in Australia is largely observational, and few studies have experimentally partitioned the impacts of deer from those of sympatric native and other introduced herbivores. Furthermore, there has been little rigorous testing of the efficacy of deer management in Australia, and our understanding of the deer ecology required to guide deer management is limited. We identified the following six priority research areas: (i) identifying long-term changes in plant communities caused by deer; (ii) understanding interactions with other fauna; (iii) measuring impacts on water quality; (iv) assessing economic impacts on agriculture (including as disease vectors); (v) evaluating efficacy of management for mitigating deer impacts; and (vi) quantifying changes in distribution and abundance. Addressing these knowledge gaps will assist the development and prioritisation of cost-effective management strategies and help increase stakeholder support for managing the impacts of deer on Australian ecosystems.

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Interspecific and Geographic Variation in the Diets of Sympatric Carnivores: Dingoes/Wild Dogs and Red Foxes in South-Eastern Australia

Cited by 58 publications

References 133 publications

Incorporating disturbance into trophic ecology: Fire history shapes mesopredator suppression by an apex predator

Incorporating disturbance into trophic ecology: Fire history shapes mesopredator suppression by an apex predator

Eradicating abundant invasive prey could cause unexpected and varied biodiversity outcomes: The importance of multispecies interactions

A systematic review of the impacts and management of introduced deer (family Cervidae) in Australia

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