Patterns of Detection and Capture Are Associated with Cohabiting Predators and Prey

摘要: Avoidance behaviour can play an important role in structuring ecosystems but be difficult to uncover and quantify. Remote cameras have great as yet unrealized potential patterns arising from predatory, competitive or other interactions that structure animal communities by detecting species are active at the same sites recording their behaviours times of activity. Here, we use multi-season, two-species occupancy models test for evidence between introduced (feral cat Felis catus) native predator (Tasmanian devil Sarcophilus harrisii) small mammal (swamp rat Rattus lutreolus velutinus) combinations baited camera cool temperate forests southern Tasmania. In addition, investigate capture rates swamp rats traps scented with feral faecal odours. We observed one could reduce probability another a site. particular, cats were detected less frequently occupied devils, whereas detection associated devils varied study Captures not odours on traps, although fewer captures tended occur odour cats. The observation carnivorous marsupial, Tasmanian devil, suppress detectability eutherian predator, cat, is consistent dominant – mesopredator relationship. Such relationship has implications interaction lower trophic guilds form prey, especially if activity increases places where populations declining. More generally, population estimates derived devices such remote need acknowledge change another, incorporate this assessments numbers survival.