Ground Surface Features Attributable to Feral Buffalo, Bubalus bubalis II. Their Relationship to the Abundance of Small Animal Species

Abstract

Relationships between ground surface features attributable to feral buffalo (wallows, trails, pug marks and dung pats) and the abundance of 116 small animal species (birds, reptiles, amphibians and orthopterans) were explored by pattern analysis for both dry and wet seasons in a tropical monsoonal area of northern Australia. The abundance of 33% of the bird, 39% of the reptile, 58% of the amphibian and 63% ofthe orthopteran species recorded was related positively or negatively to the effects ofbuffalo. Overall, 14 species displayed statistically significant relationships with the effects of buffalo. These relationships constitute hypotheses for some of the consequences to fauna of the removal of buffalo. Grasshoppers, and to a lesser extent birds, provided the greatest number of strong relationships, and these two groups are recommended for inclusion in any future experiments or monitoring programs. Results suggest that elimination of buffalo may benefit some animal species, but be to the detriment of others.