The Food of Fox, Dog and Cat in Croajingalong National Park, South-Eastern Victoria.

Triggs, Barbara; Brunner, Hans; Cullen, J. M.

doi:10.1071/wr9840491

Cited by 97 publications

(65 citation statements)

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“…Cats differ from canids in several ways: (i) they have a partially arboreal habit; (ii) they have excellent night vision, unlike the canids, which rely heavily on their highly developed olfactory senses; (iii) when live prey are available, they do not require water (Jones 1988;Newsome 1991); (iv) they prey more heavily upon birds and reptiles than do the canids (Bayly 1978;Triggs et al 1984;Catling 1988;Lumsden et al 1991), although the avian component of the diet is still considered to be minimal (Coman 1973(Coman , 1991Jones 1992); and (v) they appear to be more selective in their choice of prey than are canids (Bayly 1978). Unlike canids, cats are generally not scavengers (Bayly 1978;Jones and Coman 1981).…”

Section: Felis Catusmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although rabbits appear to be a preferred prey item (Bayly 1978;Jones and Coman 1981;Catling 1988), cats are known to consume individuals of 2-3 native animal species per day even where rabbits are abundant (Paton 1993). Where rabbits are often scarce, such as in forest environments, native species such as the ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus) and the bush rat (Rattusfuscipes) can become important prey (Jones and Coman 1981;Triggs et al 1984).…”

Section: Felis Catusmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To meet these needs they may hunt alone or in packs (Newsome et al 1983;Triggs et al 1984). They are solitary hunters, particularly when smaller prey is abundant, but tend to hunt co-operatively when larger prey is available, or when the abundance of smaller prey is low (Newsome 1988).…”

Section: Canis Familiaris Dingomentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Generally, dingoes prey upon larger mammals such as the swamp wallaby (Wallabia bicolor), the red-necked wallaby (Macropus rufogriseus) and the common wombat (Vombatus ursinus) (Triggs et al 1984;Robertshaw and Harden 1986). Studies of the feeding ecology of dingoes in south-eastem New South Wales by Newsome et al (1983) found that they preyed on 23 mammal species, nine bird species and a variety of fish and insects, and consumed some plant material.…”

Section: Canis Familiaris Dingomentioning

confidence: 99%

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Influence of fragmentation and disturbance on the potential impact of feral predators on native fauna in Australian forest ecosystems

May¹,

Norton²

1996

Wildl. Res.

125

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We review current knowledge of the diet and predator-prey relationships of the feral cat (Felis catus), fox (Vulpes vulpes) and dingo (Canis familiaris dingo) (including wild dogs), and consider how forest fragmentation by roads may influence the use of native forest ecosystems by these species and the significance of this for native fauna. The cat, fox and dingo are significant predators in Australia that interact with native fauna in various ways, including predation, competition for resources, and transmission of disease. On the basis of current knowledge, it is clear that the nature and impact of predation by the cat, fox and dingo on native fauna are primarily determined by prey availability, although there are exceptions to this rule. Generally, dingoes prey upon large to medium-sized prey species (e.g. wallabies, common wombats and possums), foxes prey upon medium-sized to small prey (e.g. possums and rats) and consume a significant component of scavenged material and vegetation, while cats also prey upon medium-sized to small prey, but may have a greater proportion of reptiles and birds in their diet. The cat is generally considered to be an opportunistic predator and to have contributed to the demise of a number of mammals. The fox is considered more of a threat to small native mammals than is the cat and it has been asserted that all species of mammals that fall within the critical weight range (CWR) of 120-5000 g are at risk of local extinction when the fox is present. The severity of the impact of the dingo upon the native fauna is considered to be minimal, at least in comparison with the impact that the cat and fox can have on populations. The dingo is not considered a threat to CWR mammals in undisturbed environments. The fox, feral cat and dingo are all considered to have the ability to selectively prey upon species and, to some extent, individual sexes and age-classes of a number of larger prey species.Although many of Australia's forested areas are relatively heavily fragmented by roads, there are no published studies specifically investigating the use of roads by feral predators. Information on the distribution and abundance of foxes, cats and dingoes in these ecosystems, their ecology and their impact on native fauna is particularly limited. Further, the extent to which roads influence the distribution and abundance of these species and the consequences of these for native fauna are poorly known. Given this, we suggest that one of the most important research needs is to establish the relative impact that exotic predators may have on native fauna under varying degrees of road construction within native forests. For example, are areas with and without roads in forests used differently by exotic predators and what is the significance of this in terms of the potential impact on fauna? The extent to which feral predators forage away from roads needs further investigation, as does the rates of predation within edges, because this may have several consequences for the design, location and siz...

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Section: Felis Catusmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Felis Catusmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Canis Familiaris Dingomentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Canis Familiaris Dingomentioning

confidence: 99%

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Influence of fragmentation and disturbance on the potential impact of feral predators on native fauna in Australian forest ecosystems

May¹,

Norton²

1996

Wildl. Res.

125

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“…Other studies have found that dogs and foxes take different sized mammalian prey (e.g., Triggs et al 1984;Brunner and Wallis 1986;Brown and Triggs 1990). This general finding did not apply to Mumbulla State Forest in 1981-2 but it did apply in 1996.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Long-term changes in the mammal fauna of logged, coastal forests near Bega, New South Wales, detected by analysis of dog and fox scats.

Lunney¹,

Matthews²,

Triggs³

2001

Aust. Mammalogy

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In 1996, a study was undertaken to identify the mammals in Mumbulla State Forest near Bega on the south coast of New South Wales through the collection of dog and fox scats in the area. A total of 1121 scats was collected. The objective was to assess the changes in mammal fauna since 1981 when the first detailed analysis of predator scats was made after the forest was first logged for woodchips and sawlogs under the Eden woodchip agreement. The most notable change between the two surveys was a decrease in the canid diet of large mammals such as swamp wallaby and red-necked wallaby and the rabbit, and an increase of smaller mammals such as bush rat, long-nosed potoroo, common ringtail possum and dusky antechinus. The regrowth of the forest following logging, particularly of the understorey, increased available habitat for some species, such as the long-nosed potoroo. The shift to the smaller species was most pronounced in the diet of foxes. The decrease of rabbit in the canid diet was consistent with its relative abundance on adjacent farmland. The extensive 1996 scat collection also provided an opportunity to examine predator movements. Non-poisoned baits containing coloured markers were placed along the forest roads to determine how far dogs and foxes range between feeding and defecation. Of the marked scats collected in the forest, 67 % were found within 2 km and 94 % were found within 5 km of the bait station. These data will assist future researchers to find the locations of target species by narrowing the potential area to be searched. The primary finding of this study, namely that the mammal composition of the forest changed markedly between the two surveys, highlights the need to sample a forest through time to reveal the forest's full ecological picture. It can be predicted that the mammal fauna composition will change again following the next logging cycle.

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Reintroducing the Dingo: Can Australia's Conservation Wastelands be Restored?

Dickman

Glen²,

Letnic

2009

Reintroduction of Top‐Order Predators

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The Food of Fox, Dog and Cat in Croajingalong National Park, South-Eastern Victoria.

Cited by 97 publications

References 0 publications

Influence of fragmentation and disturbance on the potential impact of feral predators on native fauna in Australian forest ecosystems

Influence of fragmentation and disturbance on the potential impact of feral predators on native fauna in Australian forest ecosystems

Long-term changes in the mammal fauna of logged, coastal forests near Bega, New South Wales, detected by analysis of dog and fox scats.

Reintroducing the Dingo: Can Australia's Conservation Wastelands be Restored?

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