The behavioural ecology of dingoes in north-western Australia. III. Hunting and Feeding behaviour, and diet.

1992 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 531 ◽  
Author(s):  
PC Thomson
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Feeding Ecology ◽  
Feeding Behaviour ◽  
Canis Familiaris ◽  
Alternative Food ◽  
Behavioural Ecology ◽  
Large Prey ◽  
Radio Tracking ◽  
Cooperative Effort ◽  
North Western

Observations from aerial radio-tracking were used together with analysis of scat and stomach samples to investigate the feeding ecology of dingoes, Canis familiaris dingo, on the lower Fortescue River in Western Australia. Between 1977 and 1984, 1948 records of hunting and feeding were obtained, and 352 scats and 119 stomachs were collected. Dingoes preyed predominantly on kangaroos, Macropus robustus and M. rufus, the most abundant and widely distributed of the larger native mammals in the area. In one site dingoes partially switched to alternative food (smaller prey and cattle carrion) when kangaroo abundance declined. However, they continued to hunt and kill kangaroos even when easyto- obtain cattle carrion was available. The increased utilisation of smaller prey by dingoes coincided with changes in sociality (disintegration of packs and an increased number of solitary dingoes). In a sheepgrazing area, sheep were 'easy' prey and dingoes killed sheep and kangaroos in excess of their needs for food, although kangaroo remained a major component of their diet. Dingoes cooperating in groups were more successful than solitary dingoes in hunting large prey (kangaroos, calves). Cooperative effort was not required for dingoes to catch or kill sheep.

The behavioural ecology of dingoes in north-western Australia. V. Population dynamics and variation in the soical system

1992 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 565 ◽  
Author(s):  
PC Thomson ◽  
K Rose ◽  
NE Kok
Keyword(s):  
Population Density ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Social System ◽  
Canis Familiaris ◽  
Behavioural Ecology ◽  
High Population Density ◽  
Dispersal Strategy ◽  
The Social ◽  
Surrounding Areas ◽  
North Western

Between 1975 and 1984, 105 radio-collared dingoes, Canis familiaris dingo, were tracked and observed from aircraft on the Fortescue River in Western Australia. The majority of dingoes were members of 18 territorial packs, including four pairs. Five packs were monitored for more than three years. Most bitches became pregnant, including those 9-10 months old, although not all litters were raised. Packs raised an average of 1.1 litters per year. Instances of packs raising the litters of two bitches in a year were recorded. The area (up to 400km*2) was covered initially (1975-78) by a mosaic of stable pack territories. Little emigration occurred and population density rose to a peak of 22.2 dingoes per 100km*2 in 1978 due to an increase in pack size. Perturbations to the social system, including disintegration of some packs, an increase in emigration, shifts of pack territories and contraction of territories into the most favoured areas, coincided with high population density and a reduced food supply. After aerial baiting in 1980 killed all the dingoes from the study site, immigrants from surrounding areas established a new population. The increase in density was moderated by the formation of new pairs or packs that occupied surrounding vacant areas. The dispersal strategy of pack members was a major factor affecting the population density of dingoes in the study area.

Dingoes in North-Western Australia.

1992 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 509 ◽  
Author(s):  
PC Thomson ◽  
K Rose ◽  
NE Kok
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Social Organization ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Age Determination ◽  
Behavioural Ecology ◽  
Hunting Behaviour ◽  
North Western

This issue comprises 8 papers by P. C. Thomson (some in collaboration with K. Rose and N. E. Kok) on the dingo in North Western Australia. They cover the behavioural ecology including activity patterns, diet, hunting behaviour, social organization, population dynamics, dispersal, age determination and immobilization using darts fired from an aircraft.

The behavioural ecology of dingoes in north-western Australia. VI. Temporary extraterritorial movements and dispersal

1992 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 585 ◽  
Author(s):  
PC Thomson ◽  
K Rose ◽  
NE Kok
Keyword(s):  
Small Groups ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Canis Lupus ◽  
Site Fidelity ◽  
Dispersal Distance ◽  
Livestock Grazing ◽  
Behavioural Ecology ◽  
Buffer Zones ◽  
Control Work ◽  
North Western

Between 1975 and 1984, 105 radio-collared dingoes, Canis familiaris dingo, were tracked and observed from aircraft on the Fortescue River in Western Australia. Dingoes maintained strong site fidelity and seldom travelled far beyond their territories. In total, 81 forays (moves > 2km beyond territory boundaries) were identified from 6598 independent locations of pack members; 80 were < 10km from territory boundaries. Forays involved individuals as well as small groups; 68.2% of 22 confirmed individual forays were made by males. Forays occurred in all seasons and years. Some forays appeared to be related to subsequent dispersal. A total of 25 dingoes dispersed as solitary individuals. Mean dispersal distance beyond known pack territories was 20.1km (n = 19, range = 1-184 km). Males tended to disperse further than females and had a higher incidence of dispersal. Five groups of pack members and one entire pack also dispersed. The incidence of dispersal was highest when population density was high and food supply was low. Dispersal was facilitated by the availability of vacant areas. Humans caused much of the mortality of dispersing dingoes. The patterns of dispersal by individuals and groups, and the factors that influence them are similar for dingoes and the related canid, the wolf, Canis lupus. Control work in buffer zones must provide a satisfactory dispersal sink to minimise the risk of incursions by dingoes into livestock-grazing areas.

scholarly journals Large‐scale eDNA metabarcoding survey reveals marine biogeographic break and transitions over tropical north‐western Australia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katrina West ◽  
Michael J. Travers ◽  
Michael Stat ◽  
Euan S. Harvey ◽  
Zoe T. Richards ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
North Western

Bysmatrum teres sp. nov., a new sand-dwelling dinoflagellate from north-western Australia

Phycologia ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 161-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shauna Murray ◽  
Mona Hoppenrath ◽  
Jacob Larsen ◽  
David J. Patterson
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
North Western

Feeding behaviour of Merino wethers under conditions similar to lot-feeding before live export

1990 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 343 ◽  
Author(s):  
CL McDonald ◽  
RT Norris ◽  
EJ Speijers ◽  
H Ridings
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Feeding Behaviour ◽  
Reliable Indicator ◽  
Central Location ◽  
Feeding Experiments ◽  
Linear Relationships ◽  
Diet Type ◽  
Live Export ◽  
As If

Sheep from different farms (lines) in Western Australia were mixed in 3 experiments and lot-fed for 6-7 days as if for export. A marking method to identify sheep which eat from troughs was tested and used to examine the effects of feeding treatments on the proportion of sheep which eat during lot-feeding. Paint soaked sponges attached to troughs were used to monitor whether sheep ate. Positive linear relationships between liveweight change and paint marking score (R = 0.93, 0.93 and 0.94, in the 3 experiments) suggested that the technique was a reliable indicator of feed intake. Feeding treatments imposed were period of fasting before lot feeding (experiments 2 and 3); and diet type (hay pellets, hay/pellet mix) and trough location in the feedlot (experiment 3). There were large differences between lines in the percentage of sheep not marked. Values � s.e. ranged from 1 � 1 to 79 � 3% for the 8 lines used in 3 experiments. In experiment 2, fasting for 48 h before lot-feeding resulted in more sheep (P<0.05) not marked (18 � 7 3%) than did fasting for <12 h (9 � 3%) and <24 h (8 � 2%). In experiment 3, fasting for 96 h compared with 48 h resulted in fewer sheep marked daily when fed a hay-pellet mixture (75 � 2 v. 93 � 1%; P<0.001). When fed only pellets in experiment 3, the percentages of marked sheep increased with time (days). Feeding pellets only compared with a hay-pellet mixture resulted in fewer sheep marked daily (60 � 2 v. 79 � 2%; P<0.001) and more sheep not marked (11 � 3 v. 3 � 2%; P<0.05). If troughs were located in the centre of yards instead of on the fenceline, it took 2 rather than 7 days for the daily percentage of animals marked on the pellets only diet to exceed 80%. The central location also resulted in a mean of 78 � 2% of sheep marked daily compared with 67 � 2% for fenceline troughs (P<0.001) and a mean intake higher (P<0.01) by 0.13 � 0.04 kg/wether.day. It was concluded that line of sheep, fasting, diet and trough location all had significant effects on feeding behaviour during lot feeding. Of these treatments, the greatest variation in feeding behaviour was associated with the line of sheep.

Feral pigs in north-western Australia: population recovery after 1080 baiting and further control

2006 ◽  
Vol 33 (5) ◽  
pp. 417 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurie E. Twigg ◽  
Tim Lowe ◽  
Michael Everett ◽  
Gary Martin
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Population Recovery ◽  
Feral Pigs ◽  
Muddy Water ◽  
Good Body Condition ◽  
Bait Station ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Bait Stations ◽  
North Western ◽  
Fitzroy River

The recovery rate of a population of feral pigs (Sus scrofa) in the west Kimberley in north-western Australia was determined 12 months after a 1080 (sodium fluoroacetate)-baiting program. An estimated 56 pigs were present in the 15 000-ha study area in August 2005 compared with the prebaiting levels of 250–275 pigs in 2004 (11 pigs were known to be alive on site after the 2004 baiting). This represents a population recovery of 20–23% of the 2004 prebaiting levels. Although most pigs were in good body condition, environmental conditions were quite different between the two years. In 2005, some waterholes were dry or comprised mainly muddy water with little associated shelter for feral pigs. Consequently, and in contrast to 2004, no pigs were seen, and no bait take could be attributed to feral pigs, at the four resurveyed waterholes. Most pig sightings, and activity, were close to the Fitzroy River. Fermented wheat, with blood and bone, was used to determine areas of pig activity, and also used as prefeed before 1080-baiting commenced in 2005. Using the same bait stations as for 2004, plus additional stations established in new areas of pig activity, 1080-treated wheat and malted barley again proved highly effective in reducing pig numbers. The daily sighting index before and after 1080-baiting indicated that pig numbers had been reduced by ~90% within four days. Estimated pre- and postpoisoning density, with and without an edge effect, was 0.12–1.7 pigs km–2 and 0.05–0.67 pigs km–2. Pig tracks decreased to zero on the six track plots within two days of baiting, but the number of macropod tracks remained constant over the four-day baiting period. Thirty-eight poisoned pigs were found after 1080-baiting, and these were generally in clustered groups within 200 m of an active bait station. Poisoned juvenile pigs were again found closer to the active bait stations than were adult or subadult pigs (P < 0.05).

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