Predation of the Julia Creek dunnart (Sminthopsis douglasi) and other native fauna by cats and foxes on Mitchell grass downs in Queensland
G. Mifsud A B and P. A. Woolley A CA Department of Zoology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Vic. 3086, Australia.
B Present address: Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, PO Box 102, Toowoomba, Qld 4350, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: p.woolley@latrobe.edu.au
Australian Mammalogy 34(2) 188-195 https://doi.org/10.1071/AM11035
Submitted: 7 September 2011 Accepted: 19 December 2011 Published: 25 May 2012
Abstract
Examination of the stomach contents of cats (Felis catus) and foxes (Vulpes vulpes) collected on Mitchell grass downs in north-western Queensland revealed that the diet of cats consists largely of native vertebrate fauna whereas that of foxes is largely carrion and insects. Mammals, followed closely by reptiles, made the largest contributions to the diet of the cats. Five species of small mammals, one of which – the Julia Creek dunnart (Sminthopsis douglasi) – is listed as threatened, and 15 species of reptiles, two of which – the striped skink (Ctenotus agrestis) and the bearded dragon (Pogona henrylawsoni) are endemic to the region – fell prey to the cats. Foxes appear to pose less of a threat to the native fauna than cats, provided carrion remains readily available.
Additional keywords: Ctenotus agrestis, Leggadina forresti, Mirafra javanica, Planigale ingrami, Pogona henrylawsoni, Rattus villosissimus, Sminthopsis macroura, Turnix velox.
References
AUSLIG (Australian Surveying and Land Information Group) (1990). ‘Atlas of Australian Resources. Vol 6. Vegetation.’ (Commonwealth Government Printer: Canberra.)Bayly, C. P. (1978). A comparison of the diets of the red fox and feral cat in an arid environment. The South Australian Naturalist 53, 20–28.
Burbidge, A. A., and McKenzie, N. L. (1989). Patterns in the modern decline of Western Australia’s vertebrate fauna: causes and conservation implications. Biological Conservation 50, 143–198.
| Patterns in the modern decline of Western Australia’s vertebrate fauna: causes and conservation implications.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Catling, P. C. (1988). Similarities and contrasts in the diets of foxes, Vulpes vulpes, and cats, Felis catus, relative to fluctuating prey populations. Australian Wildlife Research 15, 307–317.
| Similarities and contrasts in the diets of foxes, Vulpes vulpes, and cats, Felis catus, relative to fluctuating prey populations.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Dickman, C. R. (1996). Overview of the impact of feral cats on Australian native fauna. Australian Nature Consevation Agency, Canberra.
IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) (2010). The IUCN red list of threateaned species. www.iucnredlist.org viewed 16 May 2011.
Johnson, C. (2006). ‘Australia’s Mammal Extinctions: A 50 000 Year History.’ (Cambridge University Press: Melbourne.)
May, S. A., and Norton, T. W. (1996). Influence of fragmentation and disturbance on the potential impact of feral predators on native fauna in Australian forest ecosystems. Wildlife Research 23, 387–400.
| Influence of fragmentation and disturbance on the potential impact of feral predators on native fauna in Australian forest ecosystems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Mifsud, G. (1999). Ecology of the Julia Creek dunnart, Sminthopsis douglasi (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae). M.Sc. Thesis, La Trobe University.
Paltridge, R. A., 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 |
Pavey, C. R., Eldridge, S. R., and Heyward, M. (2008). Population dynamics and prey selection of native and introduced predators during a rodent outbreak in arid Australia. Journal of Mammalogy 89, 674–683.
| Population dynamics and prey selection of native and introduced predators during a rodent outbreak in arid Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
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 |
Short, J., and Smith, A. (1994). Mammal decline and recovery in Australia. Journal of Mammalogy 75, 288–297.
| Mammal decline and recovery in Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Thackway, R., and Cresswell, I. D. (Eds) (1995). An Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia: a framework for establishing the national system of reserves. Version 4.0. Australian Nature Conservation Agency, Canberra.
Tideman, C. R., Yorkston, H. D., and Russack, A. J. (1994). The diet of cats, Felis catus, on Christmas Island, Indian Ocean. Wildlife Research 19, 779–783.
Wilson, B. A. (1999). Mitchell Grass Downs. Chapter 4 in ‘The Conservation Status of Queensland’s Bioregional Ecosystems’. (Eds P. S. Sattler and R. D. Williams.) pp. 1–24. (Environmental Protection Agency and National Parks Association of Queensland Inc.: Brisbane.)
Woolley, P. A. (1992). New records of the Julia Creek Dunnart, Sminthopsis douglasi (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae). Wildlife Research 19, 779–783.
| New records of the Julia Creek Dunnart, Sminthopsis douglasi (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Woolley, P. A. (2008). Julia Creek Dunnart, Sminthopsis douglasi. In ‘The Mammals of Australia’. (Eds S. Van Dyck and R. Strahan.) pp. 130–131. (New Holland Publishers: Australia.)
Woolley, P. A. (2010). The Julia Creek dunnart and other prey of the barn owl in Mitchell Grass Downs in north-western Queensland. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum – Nature 55, 107–117.
Woolley, P. A., Craik, J. A., and Grossek, G. L. (1985). Food of introduced predators in two Victorian National Parks. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria 97, 151–155.
