Register      Login
Australian Mammalogy Australian Mammalogy Society
Journal of the Australian Mammal Society
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Comparative dietary analysis of the black-flanked rock-wallaby (Petrogale lateralis lateralis), the euro (Macropus robustus erubescens) and the feral goat (Capra hircus) from Cape Range National Park, Western Australia

Sonja Creese A , Stephen J. J. F. Davies B and Barbara J. Bowen A C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia.

B Department of Environment and Agriculture, Curtin University, Bentley, WA 6120, Australia.

C Corresponding author. Email: b.bowen@murdoch.edu.au

Australian Mammalogy 41(2) 220-230 https://doi.org/10.1071/AM17059
Submitted: 8 December 2017  Accepted: 5 December 2018   Published: 15 January 2019

Abstract

The black-flanked rock-wallaby (Petrogale lateralis lateralis) is a threatened species, once widespread throughout Western Australia but now restricted to disjunct populations including those of Cape Range National Park. It is a herbivore with a foraging range restricted to rocky outcrops and, as such, may be impacted by competition for resources from other native or introduced herbivores. This study compared the diet of the black-flanked rock-wallaby with those of co-occurring species, the euro (Macropus robustus erubescens) and the feral goat (Capra hircus), from two gorges at Cape Range National Park, to determine whether there is overlap in dietary niches. Diet composition was determined using microhistological analysis of faecal pellets in comparison with reference plant material. The black-flanked rock-wallaby diet consisted predominately of browse/forbs with some variation across seasons (63% in summer months; 74% in winter months); this overlapped significantly with the diet of goats (Schoener Index: 0.79–0.88), but not euros (SI: 0.41–0.57), whose diet consisted predominantly of grasses (72–78%). There was, however, a significant overlap in the consumption of plants with stellate hairs for all three herbivores (SI: 0.89–0.98). Dietary overlap between rock-wallabies and goats may indicate a mechanism for competition, supporting continuing measures for reduction of goat numbers in Cape Range National Park.

Additional keywords: diet, foraging, introduced species, Macropodidae, scat.


References

Alipayo, D., Valpez, R., Holechek, J. L., and Cardenas, M. (1992). Evaluation of microhistological analysis for determining ruminant diet botanical composition. Journal of Range Management 45, 148–152.
Evaluation of microhistological analysis for determining ruminant diet botanical composition.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Arman, S. D., and Prideaux, G. J. (2015). Dietary classification of extant kangaroos and their relatives (Marsupialia: Macropodoidea). Austral Ecology 40, 909–922.
Dietary classification of extant kangaroos and their relatives (Marsupialia: Macropodoidea).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Bartolome, J., Franch, J., Plaixats, J., and Seligman, N. G. (1998). Diet selection by sheep and goats on Mediterranean heath–woodland range. Biological Conservation 50, 143–198.

Bell, K. (2015). Assessment of the impact of wild dogs on the Western Australian rangeland goat industry. Meat and Livestock Australia Ltd, Sydney.

Burbidge, A.A., and Woinarski, J. (2016). Petrogale lateralis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T16751A21955343.en [accessed 27 November 2018].

Burbidge, A., Woinarski, J., and Harrison, P. (2014). Black flanked rock wallabies. In ‘The Action Plan for Australian Mammals 2012’. (Eds J. Woinarski, A. Burbidge and P. Harrison.) pp. 406–409. (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne.)

Bureau of Meteorology (2016). Climate statistics for Australian locations: Learmonth Airport. Available at: http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_005007.shtml [accessed 16 June 2016].

Clancy, T. F., and Croft, D. B. (2008). Common wallaroo, Macropus robustus. In ‘The Mammals of Australia’. 3rd edn. (Eds S. Van Dyck and R. Strahan.) pp. 346–348. (Reed New Holland: Sydney.)

Copley, P. B., and Robinson, A. C. (1983). Studies on the yellow-footed rock-wallaby, Petrogale xanthopus (Marsupialia: Macropodidae). Australian Wildlife Research 10, 63–76.
Studies on the yellow-footed rock-wallaby, Petrogale xanthopus (Marsupialia: Macropodidae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

DAF (2016). Feral goat (Capra hircus): restricted invasive animal. Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Queensland.

Davies, S. J. J. F., Kenny, S. A., and Walsh, T. F. M. (2015). The population dynamics of some arid zone plants during 46 years of grazing on Mileura Station, Western Australia. The Rangeland Journal 37, 367–377.
The population dynamics of some arid zone plants during 46 years of grazing on Mileura Station, Western Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Dawson, T. J., and Ellis, B. A. (1979). Comparison of the diets of yellow-footed rock-wallabies and sympatric herbivores in western New South Wales. Australian Wildlife Research 6, 245–254.
Comparison of the diets of yellow-footed rock-wallabies and sympatric herbivores in western New South Wales.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Dawson, T. J., and Ellis, B. A. (1996). Diets of mammalian herbivores in Australian arid, hilly shrublands: seasonal effects on overlap between euros (hill kangaroos), sheep and feral goats, and on dietary niche breadths and electivities. Journal of Arid Environments 34, 491–506.
Diets of mammalian herbivores in Australian arid, hilly shrublands: seasonal effects on overlap between euros (hill kangaroos), sheep and feral goats, and on dietary niche breadths and electivities.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Department of Environment and Energy (2008). Threat abatement plan for competition and land degradation by unmanaged feral goats. Available at: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/tap-approved.html [accessed 18 October 2017].

Eldridge, M. D. B., and Pearson, D. J. (2008). Black-footed rock-wallaby, Petrogale lateralis. In ‘The Mammals of Australia’. 3rd edn. (Eds S. Van Dyck, and R. Strahan.) pp. 376–380. (Reed New Holland: Sydney.)

Ellis, B. A., Russel, E. M., Dawson, T. J., and Harrop, C. J. F. (1977). Seasonal changes in diet preference of free ranging red kangaroos, euros and sheep in western New South Wales. Australian Wildlife Research 4, 127–144.
Seasonal changes in diet preference of free ranging red kangaroos, euros and sheep in western New South Wales.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Ellis, M., Menkhorst, P., van Weenen, J., Burbidge, A., Copley, P., Denny, M., Woinarski, J., Mawson, P., and Morris, K. (2008). Macropus robustus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2008. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T40565A10334447.en [accessed 27 November 2018].

Gardiner, H. G. (1986). Dynamics of perennial plants in mulga (Acacia aneura F. Muell) zone of Western Australia. I. Rates of population change. Australian Rangeland Journal 8, 18–27.
Dynamics of perennial plants in mulga (Acacia aneura F. Muell) zone of Western Australia. I. Rates of population change.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Hansson, L. (1970). Methods of morphological diet micro-analysis in rodents. Oikos 21, 255–266.
Methods of morphological diet micro-analysis in rodents.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Hart, S.P. (2001). Recent perspectives in using goats for vegetation management in the USA. ournal of Dairy Science 84, E170–E176.
Recent perspectives in using goats for vegetation management in the USA.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Henzell, R. (2008). Goat, Capra hircus. In ‘The Mammals of Australia’. 3rd edn. (Eds S. Van Dyck, and R. Strahan.) pp. 768–769. (Reed New Holland: Sydney.)

Humphreys, W. F. (Ed.) (1993). ‘The Biogeography of Cape Range Western Australia: Records Supplement No. 45.’ (Western Australian Museum: Perth.)

Keighery, G., and Gibson, N. (1993). Biography and composition of the flora of the Cape Range Peninsula, Western Australia. In ‘The Biogeography of Cape Range Western Australia: Records Supplement No 45’. (Ed. W. F. Humphreys.) pp. 51–85. (Western Australian Museum: Perth.)

Kemps, H., and Kitson, C. (2010). ‘Ningaloo: Australia’s Untamed Reef.’ (Quinns Rocks: MIRG: Australia.)

Kendrick, P. G. (1993). Vertebrate biogeography of Cape Range. In ‘The Biogeography of Cape Range, Western Australia: Records Supplement No. 45’. (Ed. W. F. Humphreys.) pp. 193–206. (Western Australian Museum: Perth.)

Kent, M., and Coker, P. (1992). ‘Vegetation Description and Analysis: A Practical Approach.’ (John Wiley & Sons: New York.)

Kinnear, J. E., Onus, M. L., and Sumner, N. R. (1998). Fox control and rock-wallaby population dynamics – II. An update. Wildlife Research 25, 81–88.
Fox control and rock-wallaby population dynamics – II. An update.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Lapidge, S. J. (2000). Dietary adaptations of reintroduced yellow-footed rock-wallabies, Petrogale xanthopus xanthopus (Marsupialia: Macropodidae), in the northern Flinders Ranges, South Australia. Wildlife Research 27, 195–201.
Dietary adaptations of reintroduced yellow-footed rock-wallabies, Petrogale xanthopus xanthopus (Marsupialia: Macropodidae), in the northern Flinders Ranges, South Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Linton, L. R., Davies, R. W., and Wrona, F. J. (1981). Resource utilization indices: an assessment. Journal of Animal Ecology 50, 283–293.
Resource utilization indices: an assessment.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Marshall, V. M., Lewis, M. M., and Ostendorf, L. B. (2012). Buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) as an invader and threat to biodiversity in arid environments: a review. Journal of Arid Environments 78, 1–12.
Buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) as an invader and threat to biodiversity in arid environments: a review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

McLeod, R. (2004). Counting the cost: impact of invasive animals in Australia 2004. Cooperative Research Centre for Pest Animal Control, Canberra.

Norbury, G. L., and Sanson, G. D. (1992). Problems with measuring diet selection of terrestrial, mammalian herbivores. Australian Journal of Ecology 17, 1–7.
Problems with measuring diet selection of terrestrial, mammalian herbivores.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Paltridge, R., Gibson, D., and Edwards, G. (1997). Diet of the feral cat (Felis catus) in central Australia. Wildlife Research 24, 67–76.
Diet of the feral cat (Felis catus) in central Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Parker, A. J., Haskins, E. F., and Deyrup-Olsen, I. (1982). Toluidine blue: a simple, effective stain for plant tissues. The American Biology Teacher 44, 487–489.
Toluidine blue: a simple, effective stain for plant tissues.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Pearson, D. (1992). Past and present distribution and abundance of the black-footed rock-wallaby in the Warburton region of Western Australia. Wildlife Research 19, 605–622.
Past and present distribution and abundance of the black-footed rock-wallaby in the Warburton region of Western Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Pople, T., and Froese, J. (2012). Distribution, abundance and harvesting of feral goats in the Australian rangelands 1984–2011: final report to the ACRIS Management Committee. Department of Employment, Economic Development & Innovation: Queensland.

Read, J. L., and Ward, M. J. (2011). Bringing back warru: initiation and implementation of the South Australian Warru Recovery Plan. Australian Mammalogy 33, 214–220.
Bringing back warru: initiation and implementation of the South Australian Warru Recovery Plan.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Russell, P. J. (2004). Geological and geomorphic features and evolution of the Lake Macleod–Ningalo–Cape Range–Exmouth Gulf area, Western Australia. Unpublished report. Western Australian Department of Conservation and Land Management, Perth.

Schoener, T. W. (1968). The Anolis lizards of Bimini: resource partitioning in a complex fauna. Ecology 49, 704–726.
The Anolis lizards of Bimini: resource partitioning in a complex fauna.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Shipley, L. A. (1999). Grazers and browsers: how digestive morphology affects diet selection. In ‘Grazing Behavior of Livestock and Wildlife’. (Eds K. L. Launchbaugh, K. D. Sanders, and J. C. Mosley.) pp. 20–27. Idaho Forest, Wildlife and Range Experimental Station Bulletin #70. (University of Idaho: Moscow, ID.)

Spooner, P. (1999). Ptilotus obovatus (Gaudich.) F.Muell. cotton bush. In ‘Florabase, the Western Australian Flora’. Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. Available at: https://florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/2747 [accessed 8 November 2017].

Storr, G. M. (1961). Microscopic analysis of faeces, a technique for ascertaining the diet of herbivorous mammals. Australian Journal of Biological Sciences 14, 157–164.
Microscopic analysis of faeces, a technique for ascertaining the diet of herbivorous mammals.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Telfer, W. R., and Bowman, M. J. S. (2006). Diet of four rock-dwelling macropods in the Australian monsoon tropics. Austral Ecology 31, 817–827.
Diet of four rock-dwelling macropods in the Australian monsoon tropics.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Thackway, R., and Cresswell, I. D. (1995). An interim biogeographic regionalisation for Australia: a framework for establishing the national system of reserves. Version 4.0. Australian Nature Conservation Agency, Canberra.

Wallace, R. K., and Ramsey, J. S. (1983). Reliability in measuring diet overlap. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 40, 347–351.
Reliability in measuring diet overlap.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Willers, N., Mawson, P., Morris, K., and Bencini, R. (2011). Biology and population dynamics of the black-flanked rock-wallaby (Petrogale lateralis lateralis) in the central wheatbelt of Western Australia. Australian Mammalogy 33, 117–127.
Biology and population dynamics of the black-flanked rock-wallaby (Petrogale lateralis lateralis) in the central wheatbelt of Western Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Williams, O. (1962). A technique for studying microtine food habits. Journal of Mammalogy 43, 365–368.
A technique for studying microtine food habits.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |