Interactions between a Top Order Predator and Exotic Mesopredators in the Australian Rangelands

摘要: An increase in mesopredators caused by the removal of top-order predators can have significant implications for threatened wildlife. Recent evidence suggests that Australia’s predator, dingo, may suppress introduced cat and red fox. We tested this relationship reintroducing 7 foxes 6 feral cats into a 37 km2 fenced paddock arid South Australia inhabited male female dingo. GPS datalogger collars recorded locations all experimental animals every 2 hours. Interactions between species, mortality rates, postmortems were used to determine mechanisms any suppression. Dingoes killed within 17 days their introduction no pre-death interactions recorded. All died 20 103 after release dingoes implicated deaths at least 3 cats. typically stayed with fox carcasses several hours death and/or returned times ensuing days. There was intraguild predation, interference competition dominant mechanism Our results support anecdotal exotic mesopredators, particularly foxes. outline further research required if suppression translates net benefit prey species.