The influence of pasture distribution and temperature on habitat selection by feral pigs in a semi-arid environment

Abstract

The two parameters believed to influence habitat utilisation by feral pigs and wild boar (Sus scrofa) are protection from high temperatures and distribution of food. However, whether there is an interaction between these parameters is unknown. To examine the influence of high temperature on habitat utilisation, the use of four rangeland habitats (shrubland, woodland, riverine woodland, and ephemeral swamps) by feral pigs in north-west New South Wales, Australia, was measured by radio-telemetry during and after a drought. In each habitat, protection from high temperature was indexed once by vegetation cover, at three strata, while over the course of the study, food distribution was indexed by estimating pasture biomass in each habitat. Riverine woodland provided the most shelter from high temperature, followed by woodland, shrubland and ephemeral swamps. On average, ephemeral swamps had the highest pasture biomass, followed by riverine woodland, shrubland and woodland. The amount of pasture in each habitat increased after the drought but changed at different rates. During autumn, spring and summer feral pigs preferred riverine woodland but in winter shrubland was preferred. Multivariate regression indicated that habitat utilisation was significantly influenced by pasture biomass in shrubland and mean maximum temperature in the study area. The results suggest that feral pigs are restricted by high temperatures to more shady habitats during hot weather but when the constraint of high temperature is relaxed they distribute themselves more according to the availability of food.