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.

The behavioural ecology of dingoes in north-western Australia. IV. Social and spatial organistaion, and movements

1992 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 543 ◽  
Author(s):  
PC Thomson
Keyword(s):  
Territory Size ◽  
Large Prey ◽  
Seasonal Influence ◽  
Night Time ◽  
Variable Size ◽  
Buffer Zones ◽  
Pack Size ◽  
Control Work ◽  
North Western

Dingoes, Canis familiaris dingo, were studied on the lower Fortescue River during a period when minimal natural or artificial disturbances occurred. From 1975 to 1978, 34 radio-collared dingoes were tracked and observed from aircraft for 2-36 months (mean 11 months). Tracking yielded 9179 daytime and 2229 night-time locations. In all, 25% of dingoes sighted were alone, 21% were in pairs, and 54% were in groups of three or more. Most dingoes were members of five discrete packs (mean monthly pack size 3-12 members) that occupied long-term essentially non-overlapping territories. Territory size (44.5-113.2km*2) was not correlated with pack size. Between-pack encounters were extremely rare. Members of packs were most often seen in smaller groups of variable size (mean 2.2, range 1-12); the largest observed groups of pack members were associated with feeding and hunting activities involving large prey. Dingoes were most gregarious during the prebreeding season. Lone dingoes (n = 3) displayed no pack affiliations, occupied large ranges that overlapped the mosaic of pack territories, and avoided encounters with packs. Dingoes utilised some habitats more heavily than others, with activity often being centred on riverine areas. The greatest seasonal influence on movement patterns occurred during the nursing period when breeding females were mostly confined to den areas. Implications for the control of dingoes, including the strategy of confining control work to buffer zones, are discussed.

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.

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

scholarly journals Site fidelity and localised homing behaviour in three-spined sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus)

Behaviour ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 150 (14) ◽  
pp. 1689-1708 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.J.W. Ward ◽  
R. James ◽  
A.D.M. Wilson ◽  
M.M. Webster
Keyword(s):  
Social Facilitation ◽  
Site Fidelity ◽  
Gasterosteus Aculeatus ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Small Fish ◽  
Behavioural Ecology ◽  
Model Species ◽  
Homing Behaviour ◽  
Capture Site

The ability of animals to disperse towards their original home range following displacement has been demonstrated in a number of species. However, little is known about the homing ability of three-spine sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus), an important model species in behavioural ecology. In addition, few studies have examined the role of social facilitation in relation to homing behaviour in fishes. We examined homing behaviour of sticklebacks displaced over distances of between 80 m and 160 m in land-drains with directional water flow. Fish were translocated from their original capture site, tagged and then released either in groups or solitarily. We performed recapture transects either one or two days later. Data provided by recaptured sticklebacks show that the fish dispersed in the direction of their original capture site. Although fish translocated downstream typically moved further than those translocated upstream, both dispersed towards their original capture site. There was no difference between fish released solitarily or in groups in their homing ability and indeed there was little evidence that fish translocated in groups remained together following their release. The homing ability of the fish was demonstrated by the finding that up to 80% of fish returned to their home ranges within two days of release over a distance equivalent to approximately 5000 body lengths of these small fish.

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
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