Habitat and diet of the dibbler (Parantechinus apicalis) on two islands in Jurien Bay, Western Australia

Abstract

Trapping was conducted over three years on Boullanger and Whitlock Islands in Jurien Bay (Western Australia), to establish the habitat and diet of the dibbler (Parantechinus apicalis), an endangered marsupial. Habitat preference was determined by conducting a single-factor ANOVA of the trapping success rate for P. apicalis captured at each trap site. The diet was investigated by scat analysis. On Boullanger Island there was no significant difference between trapping success rate in the different habitats. However, on Whitlock Island, significantly greater trapping success rates were recorded in the dunal scrubland dominated by Nitraria billardierei and foredune heath than in succulent heath. Scats contained arthropod (65%) and some vegetable (25%) matter, confirming that island P. apicalis are chiefly insectivorous and rarely eat vertebrate prey.