Diet of mala (Lagorchestes hirsutus) at Uluru–Kata Tjuta National Park and comparison with that of historic free-ranging mala in the Tanami Desert: implications for management and future reintroductions

Abstract

Lack of information regarding the ecology of threatened species may compromise conservation efforts. Mala, a small macropod that historically inhabited a vast area of arid Australia, became extinct in the wild in 1991. Although dietary studies were completed before their disappearance from the Tanami Desert, no such work was conducted in the southern Northern Territory before mala became extinct in this part of its former range. The reintroduction of mala to Uluru–Kata Tjuta National Park provided an opportunity for dietary analysis of faecal pellets. Results show that mala foraged a wide variety of plant species, although grasses and supplementary food comprised the bulk of the diet. Neither the average percentage of Poaceae, Triodia in particular, nor supplementary food found in pellet samples was correlated with rainfall. Niche breadth analysis showed a narrow dietary range for both the Tanami and Uluru studies. Mala at both locations selected similar types of plants, plant parts, and several of the same species. Results suggest that food species Aristida holathera and Eragrostis eriopoda should be monitored to assist in determining the carrying capacity of the Uluru enclosure. A botanically diverse reintroduction site supporting Eragrostis, Aristida and Triodia appears to be most suitable for mala.

Seed dispersal by Martu peoples promotes the distribution of native plants in arid Australia

“…We do note that Solanaceae taxa with similar morphology (such as Physalis , which also possesses small fleshy fruits with embedded seeds) have been found at high densities in human coprolites 62 . People are not the only potential disperser of this plant, however, as it is often consumed by many other organisms, especially hare wallabies 63 ( Lagorchestes hirsutus , now locally extinct) emus ( Dromaius novaehollanidae ) and bustards ( Ardeotis australis ) 64 , 65 . Aboriginal Dreaming narratives relate how birds often fight over the fruit.…”

Rapid population expansion of Boodie (Burrowing Bettong, Bettongia lesueur) creates potential for resource competition with Mala (Rufous Hare‐wallaby, Lagorchestes hirsutus)

“…Mala are somewhat similar to the Boodie: they are both predominantly herbivorous with considerable dietary overlap (Bice & Moseby 2008; Clayton et al . 2015). The historic distribution of Mala was nested within the historic distribution of Boodie.…”

Time to adjust: changes in the diet of a reintroduced marsupial after release

“…Post-release diet studies can be used to investigate the diet of species reintroduced to areas where knowledge of their local diet may be limited, or when the feasibility of the translocation is unknown. The diets of the red-tailed phascogale Phascogale calura and mala Lagorchestes hirsutus were investigated as part of trial releases to determine the feasibility of reintroductions to other nearby areas (Stannard et al, 2010; Clayton et al, 2015), and the diet of translocated Gilbert's potoroos was studied to determine whether sufficient fungi were present for population establishment and reproduction (Bougher & Friend, 2009). Dietary studies can thus be used to inform acclimatization time, the feasibility of population establishment, the suitability of additional release locations and the species' ecology.…”