Diet of the Feral Cat (Felis catus) in Central Australia

Paltridge, Rachel; Gibson, David F.; Edwards, Glenn

doi:10.1071/wr96023

Cited by 100 publications

(93 citation statements)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…It is likely that efficient placental predators such as foxes and cats represent a greater predation risk to tammar wallabies than native predators such as quolls and snakes. Indeed, Macropus marsupials can constitute a substantial proportion of the diet of feral cats (Catling 1988;Paltridge et al 1997;Molsher et al 1999;Paltridge 2002) and the fox is the most likely predator of macropods on mainland Australia (Kaufmann 1974), and is considered the principal cause for the decline of tammar wallabies in Western Australia (Kinnear et al 1988). Although quolls and snakes presumably represent some degree of risk (Belcher 1995;Blumstein et al 2004;Glen and Dickman 2006), the wallabies may not perceive these predators as representing a great or immediate threat.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ventilatory frequency as a measure of the response of tammar wallabies (Macropus eugenii) to the odour of potential predators

2010

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This study uses changes in ventilatory frequency to quantify the physiological response of an Australian terrestrial herbivore, the tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii), to olfactory cues suggesting the presence of potential predators. Ventilatory frequency proved to be a quantifiable measure to assess the response of this macropod marsupial to olfactory cues.Ventilatory frequency increased from mean resting levels of 45 ± 5.1 breaths min -1 to 137 ± 11.2 breaths min -1 during the first minute of exposure to all odours. These physiological responses diminished over time, with ventilatory frequency in the first minute after introduction of the scents greater than that during the subsequent four, suggesting that the

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ventilatory frequency as a measure of the response of tammar wallabies (Macropus eugenii) to the odour of potential predators

2010

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…However, in some circumstances, dingoes can benefit cats by providing a source of carrion. For example, during a drought in central Australia, cats regularly scavenged carcasses killed by dingoes (Paltridge, Gibson & Edwards, 1997). Although paradoxical, this situation is not uncommon in other systems.…”

Section: Evidence For Interactions (1 ) Interactions Between Natmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

2005

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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.

show abstract

“…1). In general, bird returns were highest in spring and summer, though there was a minor peak in midwinter in some studies because birds were sometimes more readily available than other prey at that time (Churcher and Lawton 1987, Paltridge et al 1997, Paltridge 2002, van Heezik et al 2010. Fig.…”

Section: Birds Brought Home Per Urban Outdoor Pet Cat Per Year (Bpu)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Pet cats showed a preference for small birds at feeders (Dunn and Tessaglia 1994, median wt ~20g, 75% of prey between ~14 and 42g) but did catch several Mourning Doves (weight ~119g); feral cats on the other hand will often catch and eat larger birds such as adult ducks and game birds (Hubbs 1951, Fitzgerald 1988, up to about their own body mass in size (Paltridge et al 1997).…”

Section: Identification Of Vulnerable Bird Species In Canadamentioning

confidence: 99%

Estimated Number of Birds Killed by House Cats (Felis catus) in Canada

Blancher¹

2013

ACE

114

103

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

ABSTRACT. Predation by house cats (Felis catus) is one of the largest human-related sources of mortality for wild birds in the United States and elsewhere, and has been implicated in extinctions and population declines of several species. However, relatively little is known about this topic in Canada. The objectives of this study were to provide plausible estimates for the number of birds killed by house cats in Canada, identify information that would help improve those estimates, and identify species potentially vulnerable to population impacts. In total, cats are estimated to kill between 100 and 350 million birds per year in Canada (> 95% of estimates were in this range), with the majority likely to be killed by feral cats. This range of estimates is based on surveys indicating that Canadians own about 8.5 million pet cats, a rough approximation of 1.4 to 4.2 million feral cats, and literature values of predation rates from studies conducted elsewhere. Reliability of the total kill estimate would be improved most by better knowledge of feral cat numbers and diet in Canada, though any data on birds killed by cats in Canada would be helpful. These estimates suggest that 2-7% of birds in southern Canada are killed by cats per year. Even at the low end, predation by house cats is probably the largest human-related source of bird mortality in Canada. Many species of birds are potentially vulnerable to at least local population impacts in southern Canada, by virtue of nesting or feeding on or near ground level, and habitat choices that bring them into contact with human-dominated landscapes where cats are abundant. Because cat predation is likely to remain a primary source of bird mortality in Canada for some time, this issue needs more scientific attention in Canada.RÉSUMÉ. La prédation par les chats domestiques (Felis catus) est une des causes de mortalité liées aux humains les plus importantes chez les oiseaux sauvages aux États-Unis et ailleurs; elle a également été mise en cause dans l'extinction et le déclin de populations de plusieurs espèces. Toutefois, la situation au Canada est plutôt méconnue. Cette étude visait à obtenir des estimations plausibles du nombre d'oiseaux tués par les chats domestiques au Canada, à déterminer les informations additionnelles pouvant contribuer à améliorer ces estimations et enfin, à identifier les espèces dont les populations pourraient être touchées. Dans l'ensemble, nous avons estimé que les chats tuaient entre 100 et 350 millions d'oiseaux par année au Canada (> 95 % des estimations se trouvaient dans cette plage), les chats sauvages tuant vraisemblablement la majorité de ces oiseaux. Cette plage d'estimations est fondée sur des relevés indiquant que les Canadiens possèdent 8,5 millions de chats domestiques environ, une approximation grossière du nombre de chats sauvages se situant entre 1,4 et 4,2 millions et des taux de prédation tirés d'autres recherches menées ailleurs qu'au Canada. Une meilleure connaissance du nombre de chats sauvages et de leur régime alimentaire au...

show abstract

Diet of the Feral Cat (Felis catus) in Central Australia

Cited by 100 publications

References 0 publications

Ventilatory frequency as a measure of the response of tammar wallabies (Macropus eugenii) to the odour of potential predators

Ventilatory frequency as a measure of the response of tammar wallabies (Macropus eugenii) to the odour of potential predators

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

Estimated Number of Birds Killed by House Cats (Felis catus) in Canada

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About