Cats (Felis catus) are more abundant and are the dominant predator of woylies (Bettongia penicillata) after sustained fox (Vulpes vulpes) control (original) (raw)
Research Article| 21 January 2015
ADepartment of Parks and Wildlife, PO Box 51, Wanneroo, WA 6946, Australia.
BInvasive Animals Co-operative Research Centre, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia.
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ADepartment of Parks and Wildlife, PO Box 51, Wanneroo, WA 6946, Australia.
BInvasive Animals Co-operative Research Centre, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia.
Search for other works by this author on:
ADepartment of Parks and Wildlife, PO Box 51, Wanneroo, WA 6946, Australia.
BInvasive Animals Co-operative Research Centre, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia.
Search for other works by this author on:
BInvasive Animals Co-operative Research Centre, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia.
Search for other works by this author on:
BInvasive Animals Co-operative Research Centre, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia.
Search for other works by this author on:
BInvasive Animals Co-operative Research Centre, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia.
CSchool of Animal Biology (M092), The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.
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ADepartment of Parks and Wildlife, PO Box 51, Wanneroo, WA 6946, Australia.
BInvasive Animals Co-operative Research Centre, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia.
Search for other works by this author on:
BInvasive Animals Co-operative Research Centre, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia.
CSchool of Animal Biology (M092), The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.
DPresent address: CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship, PMB 5, Wembley, WA 6913, Australia.
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Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Received: 10 April 2014
Accepted: 09 December 2014
Online ISSN: 1446-5698
Print ISSN: 0004-959X
© 2015 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing.
2015
The Author(s) (or their employer(s)).
Aust J Zool (2015) 63 (1): 18–27.
The control of foxes (Vulpes vulpes) is a key component of many fauna recovery programs in Australia. A question crucial to the success of these programs is how fox control influences feral cat abundance and subsequently affects predation upon native fauna. Historically, this question has been difficult to address because invasive predators are typically challenging to monitor. Here, non-invasive DNA analysis was used to determine the fate of radio-collared woylies (Bettongia penicillata) in two reserves in a mesic environment where foxes had been controlled intensively for over two decades. Woylie trap success had increased more than 20-fold after fox baiting commenced in the 1980s but decreased precipitously in 2000. Ninety-eight monitored woylies were killed between 2006 and 2009. DNA analysis of swabs taken from radio-collars and carcasses of these woylies indicated that predation by cats (Felis catus) caused most mortalities (65%) and was three times the fox predation rate (21%). Also, indices of cat abundance were higher in fox-baited sites where foxes were less abundant. Predation on woylies by cats was greater than previously recognised and, by implication, may significantly reduce the effectiveness of fox control programs throughout Australia. Integrated fox and cat control is essential to ensure the success of fauna recovery programs.
© 2015 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing.
2015
The Author(s) (or their employer(s)).
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