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

Prey selectivity by feral cats at central Australian rock-wallaby colonies

J. L. Read A B E , E. Dagg C and K. E. Moseby B D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia.

B Ecological Horizons, Kimba, SA 5641, Australia.

C Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Land Management, Umuwa, via Alice Springs, NT 0872, Australia.

D University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia.

E Corresponding author. Email: ecological@activ8.net.au

Australian Mammalogy 41(1) 132-141 https://doi.org/10.1071/AM17055
Submitted: 28 November 2017  Accepted: 28 April 2018   Published: 24 May 2018

Abstract

Threatened warru, or black-footed rock-wallaby (Petrogale lateralis MacDonnell Ranges race), populations in northern South Australia continued to decline despite baiting for foxes (Vulpes vulpes), which improved their short-term conservation status elsewhere. To investigate whether feral cats (Felis catus) also represent a risk to warru we compared frequencies of prey occurrence in 103 feral cat and 14 fox stomachs shot near warru colonies in northern South Australia during 2001–17 with measures of prey abundance from pitfall trapping and opportunistic searches. We hypothesise that one fresh adult warru kill and the presence of warru remains in four other cats suggests predation by cats on adult and juvenile warru. Small reptiles and invertebrates were the most frequently recorded prey of cats in summer, whereas rodents and small dasyurids were the most frequent prey items in winter. Small mammals, small snakes and pygopodid lizards were over-represented in the diet of cats compared with estimated encounter frequencies, whereas fast-running dragons, knob-tailed geckoes (Nephrurus) and echidnas (Tachyglossus aculeatus) were not recorded from cat stomachs despite being relatively abundant. Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), rodents and fruits were the most frequently recorded items in fox stomachs. This study reinforces that targeted management of feral cat populations should be considered in concert with control of canids in sustainable recovery programs for warru and other cat-vulnerable species.

Additional keywords: Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands, Felis catus, predation, Vulpes vulpes.


References

Algar, D., Angus, G. J., Williams, M. R., and Mellican, A. E. (2007). Influence of bait type, weather and prey abundance on bait uptake by feral cats (Felis catus) on Peron Peninsula, Western Australia. Conservation Science Western Australia 6, 109–149.

Bradshaw, J. W. S., Goodwin, D., Legrand-Defrétin, V., and Nott, H. M. R. (1996). Food selection by the domestic cat, an obligate carnivore. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 114, 205–209.
Food selection by the domestic cat, an obligate carnivore.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Brunner, H., and Triggs B. (2002). ‘Hair ID—an interactive tool for identifying Australian mammalian hair’. (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne.)

Christensen, P. E., Ward, B. G., and Sims, C. (2013). Predicting bait uptake by feral cats, Felis catus in semi-arid environments. Ecological Management & Restoration 14, 47–53.
Predicting bait uptake by feral cats, Felis catus in semi-arid environments.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Commonwealth of Australia (2015). Threat abatement plan for predation by feral cats. Available at; http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/tap/threat-abatement-plan-feral-cats (accessed 14 May 2018).

DEH (2006). Bounceback Progress Report. Department for Environment and Heritage, Adelaide.

Dickman, C. R. (1996). Overview of the impacts of feral cats on Australian native fauna. Australian Nature Conservation Agency, Canberra.

Dickman, C. R., and Newsone, T. M. (2015). Individual hunting behaviour and prey specialisation in the house cat Felis catus: implications for conservation and management. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 173, 76–87.
Individual hunting behaviour and prey specialisation in the house cat Felis catus: implications for conservation and management.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Fancourt, B. A. (2015). Making a killing: photographic evidence of predation of a Tasmanian pademelon (Thylogale billardierii) by a feral cat (Felis catus). Australian Mammalogy 37, 120–124.
Making a killing: photographic evidence of predation of a Tasmanian pademelon (Thylogale billardierii) by a feral cat (Felis catus).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Fisher, D. O., Blomberg, S. P., and Hoyle, S. D. (2001). Mechanisms of drought-induced population decline in an endangered wallaby. Biological Conservation 102, 107–115.
Mechanisms of drought-induced population decline in an endangered wallaby.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Geelen, L. J. (1999). A preliminary study of the black-footed rock-wallaby (Petrogale lateralis MacDonnell Ranges race) in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara lands, South Australia. University of Adelaide.

Gibson, D. F., Lundie-Jenkins, G., Langford, D. G., Cole, J. R., Clarke, D. E., and Johnson, K. A. (1994). Predation by feral cats, Felis catus, on the rufous hare-wallaby, Lagorchestes hirsutus, in the Tanami Desert. Australian Mammalogy 17, 103–107.

Hardman, B., Moro, D., and Calver, M. (2016). Direct evidence implicates feral cat predation as the primary cause of failure of a mammal reintroduction programme. Ecological Management & Restoration 17, 152–158.
Direct evidence implicates feral cat predation as the primary cause of failure of a mammal reintroduction programme.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Holden, C., and Mutze, G. (2002). mpact of rabbit haemorrhagic disease on introduced predators in the Flinders Ranges, South Australia. Wildlife Research 29, 615–626.
mpact of rabbit haemorrhagic disease on introduced predators in the Flinders Ranges, South Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Jacobs, J. (1974). Quantitative measurement of food selection. A modification of the forage ratio and Ivlev’s electivity index. Oecologia 14, 413–417.
Quantitative measurement of food selection. A modification of the forage ratio and Ivlev’s electivity index.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Kinnear, J. E., Onus, M. L., and Bromilow, R. N. (1988). Fox control and rock-wallaby population dynamics. Australian Wildlife Research 15, 435–450.
Fox control and rock-wallaby population dynamics.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Kinnear, J. E., Krebs, C. J., Pentland, C., Orell, P., Holme, C., and Karvinen, R. (2010). Predator-baiting experiments for the conservation of rock wallabies in Western Australia: a 25-year review with recent advances. Wildlife Research 37, 57–67.
Predator-baiting experiments for the conservation of rock wallabies in Western Australia: a 25-year review with recent advances.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Kinnear, J. E., Pentland, C., Moore, N., and Krebs, C. J. (2017). Fox control and 1080 baiting conundrums: time to prepare for a CRISPR solution. Australian Mammalogy 39, 127–136.
Fox control and 1080 baiting conundrums: time to prepare for a CRISPR solution.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Kutt, A. S. (2012). Feral cat (Felis catus) prey size and selectivity in north-eastern Australia: implications for mammal conservation. Journal of Zoology 287, 292–300.
Feral cat (Felis catus) prey size and selectivity in north-eastern Australia: implications for mammal conservation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

MacDonald, P. L., and Gardner, R. C. (2000). Type I error rate comparisons of post hoc procedures for I×J Chi-square tables. Educational and Psychological Measurement 60, 735–754.
Type I error rate comparisons of post hoc procedures for I×J Chi-square tables.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Marlow, N. J., Thomas, N. D., Williams, A. A. E., Macmahon, B., Lawson, J., Hitchen, Y., Angus, J., and Berry, O. (2015). Cats (Felis catus) are more abundant and are the dominant predator of woylies (Bettongia penicillata) after sustained fox (Vulpes vulpes) control. Australian Journal of Zoology 63, 18–27.
Cats (Felis catus) are more abundant and are the dominant predator of woylies (Bettongia penicillata) after sustained fox (Vulpes vulpes) control.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Morris, K., Sims, C., Himbeck, K., Christensen, P., Sercombe, N., Ward, B., and Noakes, N. (2004). Project Eden: fauna recovery on Peron Peninsula, Shark Bay. Western Shield review – February 2003. Conservation Science Western Australia 5, 202–234.

Moseby, K., Read, J., Gee, P., and Gee, I. (1998). A study of the Davenport Range black-footed rock-wallaby colony and possible threatening processes. Final report to Wildlife Conservation Fund. Department for Environment and Heritage, Adelaide.

Moseby, K. E., Read, J. L., Paton, D. C., Copley, P., Hill, B. M., and Crisp, H. A. (2011). Predation determines the outcome of 10 reintroduction attempts in arid South Australia. Biological Conservation 144, 2863–2872.
Predation determines the outcome of 10 reintroduction attempts in arid South Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Moseby, K. E., Neilly, H., Read, J. L., and Crisp, H. A. (2012). Interactions between a Top Order predator and exotic mesopredators in the Australian rangelands. International Journal of Ecology 2012, 1–15.
Interactions between a Top Order predator and exotic mesopredators in the Australian rangelands.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Moseby, K. E., Peacock, D. E., and Read, J. L. (2015). Catastrophic cat predation: a call for predator profiling in wildlife protection programs. Biological Conservation 191, 331–340.
Catastrophic cat predation: a call for predator profiling in wildlife protection programs.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Paltridge, R. (2002). The diets of cats, foxes and dingoes in relation to prey availability in the Tanami Desert, Northern Territory. Wildlife Research 29, 389–403.
The diets of cats, foxes and dingoes in relation to prey availability in the Tanami Desert, Northern Territory.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

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

Pearson, D. J. (2013). Recovery Plan for five species of rock-wallabies: black-flanked rock-wallaby (Petrogale lateralis), Rothschild rock-wallaby (Petrogale rothschildi), short-eared rock-wallaby (Petrogale brachyotis), monjon (Petrogale burbidgei) and nabarlek (Petrogale concinna) 2012–2022. Department of Environment and Conservation, Perth.

Read, J. L., and Bedford, G. (1991). The distribution and ecology of the pygmy copperhead snake (Austrelaps labialis). Herpetofauna 21, 1–6.

Read, J., and Bowen, Z. (2001). Population dynamics, diet and aspects of the biology of feral cats and foxes in arid South Australia. Wildlife Research 28, 195–203.
Population dynamics, diet and aspects of the biology of feral cats and foxes in arid South Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

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 |

Rich, M., Nolan, B., Gentle, M., and Speed, J. (2014). Lessons in feral cat control. Can adaptive management provide the solution? A case study from Astrebla Downs National Park, western Queensland. In ‘16th Australasian Vertebrate Pest Conference’. (Ed. M. Gentle.) p. 43. (Brisbane.)

Robinson, A. C., Copley, P. B., Canty, P. D., Baker, L. M., and Nesbitt, B. J. (Eds) (2003). ‘A Biological Survey of the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands South Australia.’ (Department for Environment and Heritage: Adelaide.)

Ruykys, L. (2011). ‘Ecology of warru (Petrogale lateralis MacDonnell Ranges race) in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands, South Australia.’ (PhD Thesis, University of Adelaide, Adelaide).

Spencer, P. B. S. (1991). Evidence of predation by a feral cat, Felis catus (Carnivora: Felidae) on an isolated rock-wallaby colony in tropical Queensland. Australian Mammalogy 14, 143–144.

Spencer, E. E., Crowther, M. S., and Dickman, C. R. (2014). Diet and prey selectivity of three species of sympatric mammalian predators in central Australia. Journal of Mammalogy 95, 1278–1288.
Diet and prey selectivity of three species of sympatric mammalian predators in central Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Ward, M. J., Urban, R., Read, J. L., Dent, A., Partridge, T., Clarke, A., and van Weenen, J. (2011a). Status of warru (Petrogale lateralis MacDonnell Ranges race) in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands of South Australia. 1. Distribution and decline. Australian Mammalogy 33, 135–141.
Status of warru (Petrogale lateralis MacDonnell Ranges race) in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands of South Australia. 1. Distribution and decline.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Ward, M. J., Ruykys, L., van Weenen, J., de Little, S., Dent, A., Clarke, A., and Partridge, T. (2011b). Status of warru (Petrogale lateralis MacDonnell Ranges race) in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands of South Australia. 2. Population dynamics. Australian Mammalogy 33, 142–151.
Status of warru (Petrogale lateralis MacDonnell Ranges race) in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands of South Australia. 2. Population dynamics.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Welch, J. N., and Leppanen, C. (2017). The threat of invasive species to bats: a review. Mammal Review , .
The threat of invasive species to bats: a review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

West, R., Read, J. L., Ward, M. J., Foster, W. K., and Taggart, D. A. (2017). Monitoring for adaptive management in a trial reintroduction of the black-footed rock-wallaby Petrogale lateralis. Oryx 51, 554–563.
Monitoring for adaptive management in a trial reintroduction of the black-footed rock-wallaby Petrogale lateralis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Woinarski, J. C. Z., Burbidge, A. A., and Harrison, P. L. (2015). Ongoing unravelling of a continental fauna: decline and extinction of Australian mammals since European settlement. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 112, 4531–4540.
Ongoing unravelling of a continental fauna: decline and extinction of Australian mammals since European settlement.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Woinarski, J. C. Z., Woolley, L. A., Garnett, S. T., Legge, S. M., Murphy, B. P., Lawes, M. J., Comer, S., Dickman, C. R., Doherty, T. S., Edwards, G., Nankivell, A., Palmer, R., and Paton, D. (2017). Compilation and traits of Australian bird species killed by cats. Biological Conservation 216, 1–9.
Compilation and traits of Australian bird species killed by cats.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Woinarski, J. C. Z., South, S. L., Drummond, P., Johnston, G. R., and Nankivell, A. (2018). The diet of the feral cat (Felis catus), red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and dog (Canis familiaris) over a three-year period at Witchelina Reserve, in arid South Australia. Australian Mammalogy , .

Zoran, D. L. (2002). The carnivore connection to nutrition in cats. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 221, 1559–1567.
The carnivore connection to nutrition in cats.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |