Limits to predator regulation of rabbits in Australia: evidence from predator-removal experiments

Pech, Roger P.; Sinclair, A. R. E.; Newsome, A. E.; Catling, P. C.

doi:10.1007/bf00319021

Cited by 163 publications

(146 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…If kangaroos have increased beyond the unstable equilibrium below which they can be regulated, then allowing dingoes to return after this increase should result in kangaroos remaining at a higher density relative to controls. Such an experimental approach has been suggested by Sinclair (1989) and was used by Pech et al (1992) to demonstrate a two-state predator-prey system involving foxes, cats and rabbits in western New South Wales.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trends in the numbers of red kangaroos and emus on either side of the South Australian dingo fence: evidence for predator regulation?

Pople¹,

Grigg²,

Cairns³

et al. 2000

Wildl. Res.

142

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Most of Australia’s sheep rangelands are enclosed by a dingo-proof fence. Within these rangelands, where dingoes (Canis lupus dingo) are rare, red kangaroos (Macropus rufus) are considered to be food limited because their numbers respond to fluctuations in pasture biomass that are driven by highly variable rainfall. Outside this region, where dingoes are common, kangaroo densities are generally substantially lower, suggesting that dingoes are an important limiting factor. However, it is unclear whether dingoes can regulate kangaroo populations. In this study, red kangaroo and emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) numbers were monitored for varying periods during 1978–92 by aerial survey on both sides of the dingo fence in three areas in the north of the South Australian pastoral zone. Densities of red kangaroos and emus were lower outside the fence, although the disparity varied between areas and over time. The similarity in the environments on both sides of the fence and the marked step in kangaroo density at the fence are consistent with dingoes strongly limiting these prey populations. In the north-east of the pastoral zone, where kangaroo and emu densities are greatest, the contrast in density across the fence was most pronounced. Furthermore, the trends in density over time differed across the fence. Outside the fence, red kangaroos and emus remained at low densities following drought as dingo numbers increased. Inside the fence, red kangaroo and emu populations showed a ‘typical’ post-drought recovery. The data therefore suggest that, in some situations, dingoes may not simply limit red kangaroo and emu populations, but also regulate them. For this to occur, predation rate would need to be density dependent at low prey densities. The availability of alternative prey, and the reduction in the numbers of all prey during drought may provide the mechanism.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trends in the numbers of red kangaroos and emus on either side of the South Australian dingo fence: evidence for predator regulation?

Pople¹,

Grigg²,

Cairns³

et al. 2000

Wildl. Res.

142

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show abstract

“…Rabbits often support populations of cats and foxes, thereby contributing to the suppression of native prey (Pech et al, 1992;Pech, Sinclair & Newsome, 1995 ;Saunders et al, 1995 ;Newsome et al, 1997). This situation constitutes apparent competition (sensu Holt, 1977) (Fig.…”

Section: Implications For Predator Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Complex interactions among mammalian carnivores in Australia, and their implications for wildlife management

2005

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Mammalian carnivore populations are often intensively managed, either because the carnivore in question is endangered, or because it is viewed as a pest and is subjected to control measures, or both. Most management programmes treat carnivore species in isolation. However, there is a large and emerging body of evidence to demonstrate that populations of different carnivores interact with each other in a variety of complex ways. Thus, the removal or introduction of predators to or from a system can often affect other species in ways that are difficult to predict. Wildlife managers must consider such interactions when planning predator control programmes. Integrated predator control will require a greater understanding of the complex relationships between species.In many parts of the world, sympatric species of carnivores have coexisted over an evolutionary time scale so that niche differentiation has occurred, and competition is difficult to observe. Australia has experienced numerous introductions during the past 200 years, including those of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and the feral cat (Felis catus). These species now exist in sympatry with native mammalian predators, providing ecologists with the opportunity to study their interactions without the confounding effects of coevolution.Despite an increasing body of observational evidence for complex interactions among native and introduced predators in Australia, few studies have attempted to clarify these relationships experimentally, and the interactions remain largely unacknowledged. A greater understanding of these interactions would provide ecologists and wildlife managers world-wide with the ability to construct robust predictive models of carnivore communities, and to identify their broader effects on ecosystem functioning. We suggest that future research should focus on controlled and replicated predator removal or addition experiments. The dingo (Canis lupus dingo), as a likely keystone species, should be a particular focus of attention.

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“…Despite having a wide variety of natural predators, marsh rabbits are still common in areas of the GEE outside of ENP. For these reasons, and because rabbit populations are generally resilient and capable of persisting under considerable predation pressure [16,17], we chose marsh rabbits as a model to understand the impacts of pythons on mammals in ENP. If pythons caused the declines of marsh rabbits in ENP, we predicted that (i) pythons would be the dominant cause of marsh rabbit mortality in ENP, (ii) mammals would cause more marsh rabbit mortalities in areas of the GEE where pythons were rare or absent, (iii) marsh rabbit populations introduced in ENP would not persist, and (iv) unlike endothermic predators (i.e.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Marsh rabbit mortalities tie pythons to the precipitous decline of mammals in the Everglades

et al. 2015

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To address the ongoing debate over the impact of invasive species on native terrestrial wildlife, we conducted a large-scale experiment to test the hypothesis that invasive Burmese pythons (Python molurus bivittatus) were a cause of the precipitous decline of mammals in Everglades National Park (ENP). Evidence linking pythons to mammal declines has been indirect and there are reasons to question whether pythons, or any predator, could have caused the precipitous declines seen across a range of mammalian functional groups. Experimentally manipulating marsh rabbits, we found that pythons accounted for 77% of rabbit mortalities within 11 months of their translocation to ENP and that python predation appeared to preclude the persistence of rabbit populations in ENP. On control sites, outside of the park, no rabbits were killed by pythons and 71% of attributable marsh rabbit mortalities were classified as mammal predations. Burmese pythons pose a serious threat to the faunal communities and ecological functioning of the Greater Everglades Ecosystem, which will probably spread as python populations expand their range.

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Limits to predator regulation of rabbits in Australia: evidence from predator-removal experiments

Cited by 163 publications

References 22 publications

Trends in the numbers of red kangaroos and emus on either side of the South Australian dingo fence: evidence for predator regulation?

Trends in the numbers of red kangaroos and emus on either side of the South Australian dingo fence: evidence for predator regulation?

Complex interactions among mammalian carnivores in Australia, and their implications for wildlife management

Marsh rabbit mortalities tie pythons to the precipitous decline of mammals in the Everglades

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