Prey use by dingoes in a contested landscape: ecosystem service provider or biodiversity threat?

摘要: In Australia, dingoes (Canis lupus dingo) have been implicated in the decline and extinction of a number vertebrate species. The lowland Wet Tropics Queensland, Australia is biologically rich area with many species rainforest-restricted vertebrates that could be threatened by dingoes; however, ecological impacts this region are poorly understood. We determined potential threat posed to native using dingo scat/stomach content stable isotope analyses hair from prey Common mammals dominated diets. found no evidence predation on taxa or rainforest specialists within our study areas. most significant were northern brown bandicoots (Isoodon macrourus), canefield rats (Rattus sordidus), agile wallabies (Macropus agilis). All common associated relatively open grass/woodland habitats. Stable analysis suggested sourced their nutrients primarily habitats choice, as identified alone, was poor indicator primary foraging general, we find use does not pose major and/or fauna, including specialists. fact, results suggest "pest" may represent an important service outweighs biodiversity threats. A more targeted approach managing wild canids needed if ecosystem services they provide these contested landscapes maintained, while simultaneously avoiding negative conservation economic impacts.