Ecology of the rufous hare-wallaby, Lagorchestes hirsutus Gould (Marsupialia : Macropodidae) in the Tanami Desert, Northern Territory. III Interactions with introduced mammal species.

Abstract

This paper reports a study of the interactions between a remnant population of the rufous hare-wallaby, Lagorchestes hirsutus, and populations of several introduced mammal species in a region of the Tanami Desert. Transect counts of faecal pellets and tracks were used to determine the local distributions of all species and analysis of faeces from both predators and competitors of hare-wallabies was undertaken. Six species of introduced mammals were recorded within the study area: dingoes, rabbits, camels, foxes, feral cats and cattle. The local distributions for a number of these species were found to be significantly correlated with that of L. hirsutus during some seasons. Analysis of dingo scats collected from fire trails within the study area identified a total of 12 different food classes including harewallabies which occurred in 6.9% of the scats. Foxes and feral cats appear to be more important predators as demonstrated by their impacts on natural and reintroduced populations of hare-wallabies. Comparison of the diets of the rabbit and L. hirsutus identified significant overlap in utilised plant species, particularly during drier times. Competition between rabbits and L. hirsutus seems probable, given the overlap of their diets and their similar body sizes and metabolic requirements. Cattle and camels are potentially as important at densities above present levels. The complex web of interactions between L. hirsutus and these introduced species have important implications for management of remnant and reintroduced hare-wallaby populations.

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

“…It has also been noted that cats can increase in density following the removal of dingoes (Lundie-Jenkins et al, 1993;Pettigrew, 1993 ;Christensen & Burrows, 1995). Using data presented by Catling & Burt (1994), Dickman (1996 b) calculated that there was a negative correlation between the abundance of dingoes and feral cats in southern New South Wales.…”

“…Control of dingoes may have allowed invasion of the area by foxes (Short, Kinnear & Robley, 2002). Lundie-Jenkins et al (1993) also reported the absence of foxes from their central Australian study area until dingoes were removed by poisoning. A single fox was then believed responsible for the extinction of a local population of endangered rufous harewallabies (Lagorchestes hirsutus).…”

“…Newsome, 1990;Lundie-Jenkins et al, 1993;Dickman, 1996 b ;Smith & Quin, 1996 ;Molsher, 1999). The introduced rabbit is inextricably linked to the abundance of dingoes, cats and foxes, for which it is a staple prey (Catling, 1988 ;Saunders et al, 1995 ;Corbett, 1995).…”

Top-Predators as Biodiversity Regulators: Contemporary Issues Affecting Knowledge and Management of Dingoes in Australia

“…Thus, studies conducted over small spatial scales may acquire severely biased results. For example, the areas sampled in [109] or [110] were very small (<10km2), which likely represented only a fraction of a dingo's home range in such systems [111,112]. The observed relationships between species within such small areas may have limited applicability outside the areas sampled, where animal abundances may be markedly different (e.g.…”

The Tolerance of MalleefowlLeipoa ocellatato 1080

“…It was stated by Priddel & Wheeler (1994) that 'without effective fox control, further extinction of remaining populations of ?Aalleefowl within the New South Wales wheatbelt appears inevitable. ' The use of 1080 baits to control foxes is increasing greatly in fauna reintroduction and management programs in Australia (Friend 1990;Kinnear et al 1988;Lundie-Jenkins et al 1993;Short & Smith 1994). Foxes are very sensitive to 1080 (McIlroy & King 1990), whereas some native fauna in Australia have developed very high tolerances to the toxin (Twigg & King 1991).…”