Evidence that dingoes limit abundance of a mesopredator in eastern Australian forests

摘要: 1. Aggressive behaviour of top predators may have strong effects on the distribution and abundance mesopredator species. Such interactions between predator species can reduce intensity predation vulnerable prey. Suppression mesopredators by is a potentially important process that could protect small prey from unsustainable predation. 2. There some evidence in Australia, dingo Canis lupus suppresses populations red fox Vulpes vulpes. This interaction be significant to biodiversity conservation because while dingoes been Australia for several thousand years coexist with wide range mammals, recent arrival which has caused declines extinctions, continues to threaten many species. 3. However strength effect foxes unclear, published data interpreted as demonstrating no relationship two These come forested habitats eastern suggest negative relationships do not occur complex habitats. 4. We re-analyse vs. wild dog (i.e. plus, potentially, feral dogs hybrids) forests. reveal triangular density: when are abundant, consistently rare, abundant but always so. suggests sets an upper limit foxes, does fully determine abundance. 5. Standard regression correlation methods appropriate analysing such relationships. apply statistical used characterize edges distributions, use these demonstrate maximum dogs. 6. Synthesis applications. Our analysis adds habitats, therefore, mammal Australia. It also illustrates problems solutions one function another it interaction.