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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 32(1)

Using camera-trap data to model habitat use by bare-nosed wombats (Vombatus ursinus) and cattle (Bos taurus) in a south-eastern Australian agricultural riparian ecosystem

Philip Borchard A C and Ian A. Wright B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A School of Biological Sciences A08, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.

B School of Natural Sciences, University of Western Sydney, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith South DC, NSW 1797, Australia.

C Corresponding author. Email: pbor6081@usyd.edu.au

Australian Mammalogy 32(1) 16-22 https://doi.org/10.1071/AM09010
Submitted: 13 April 2009  Accepted: 25 November 2009   Published: 17 March 2010

Abstract

Bare-nosed wombats (Vombatus ursinus) are an often important south-east Australian agricultural riparian species that may improve riparian landscape heterogeneity via their burrowing activity. At the same time they are often accused of causing soil erosion. As populations of wombats in other landscapes are under threat due to habitat disturbance, road mortality and disease, knowledge of the factors determining their use of riparian systems are important for their conservation and management. Since the European colonisation of Australia, riparian areas have been utilised by domestic cattle (Bos taurus), usually resulting in a decline in biodiversity. Camera-trap data was used to investigate the habitat use by wombats and cattle in remnant Eastern Riverine Forests. A total of 664 detections of animals from 13 species were made over the entire riparian-zone survey. Wombats were the most detected species, followed by cattle, then foxes and cats. Wombat and cattle activity varied significantly through the diurnal cycle, with wombats active from 1900 to 0700 hours and cattle active from 0700 to 1900 hours. There were no seasonal effects relating to the detection of either species. Feral species such as foxes, cats and rabbits were more frequently detected at sites highly disturbed by cattle. Results of this study illustrate the potential of camera-trapping for modelling habitat use by wombats and cattle and providing guidelines for the management of feral animals in remnant agricultural riparian habitats.

Additional keywords: burrowing, cattle, habitat use, riparian, wombat.


Acknowledgements

We thank Clare McArthur, John McIlroy, Chris Dickman and Francisco Valera for their insightful comments on earlier drafts. We are grateful to the collaborating landholders who allowed us to work on their land. We are also grateful for the support and advice provided by Marco de Souza at ‘Trapacamera’ in Brazil and general camera advice from Jim Sanderson in the United States.


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