http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jbi.12469
A continental-scale analysis of feral cat diet in AustraliaTim S. Doherty1,*,
Robert A. Davis1, Eddie J. B. van Etten1, Dave Algar2, Neil Collier3, Chris R.
Dickman4, Glenn Edwards5, Pip Masters6, Russell Palmer2 andSue Robinson7
Article first published online: 2 FEB 2015
AbstractAimReducing the impacts of feral cats (Felis catus)
is a priority for conservation managers across the globe, and success
in achieving this aim requires a detailed understanding of the species’
ecology across a broad spectrum of climatic and environmental
conditions. We reviewed the diet of the feral cat across Australia and
on Australian territorial islands, seeking to identify biogeographical
patterns in dietary composition and diversity, and use the results to
consider how feral cats may best be managed.
LocationAustralia and its territorial islands.
MethodsUsing
49 published and unpublished data sets, we modelled trophic diversity
and the consumption of eight food groups against latitude, longitude,
mean temperature, precipitation, environmental productivity and
climate-habitat regions.
ResultsWe
recorded 400 vertebrate species that feral cats feed on or kill in
Australia, including 28 IUCN Red List species. We found evidence of
continental-scale prey-switching from rabbits to small mammals,
previously recorded only at the local scale. The consumption of
arthropods, reptiles, rabbits, rodents and medium-sized native mammals
varied with different combinations of latitude, longitude, mean annual
precipitation, temperature and environmental productivity. The frequency
of rodents and dasyurids in cats’ diets increased as rabbit consumption
decreased.
Main conclusionsThe
feral cat is an opportunistic, generalist carnivore that consumes a
diverse suite of vertebrate prey across Australia. It uses a facultative
feeding strategy, feeding mainly on rabbits when they are available,
but switching to other food groups when they are not. Control programmes
aimed at culling rabbits could potentially decrease the availability of
a preferred food source for cats and then lead to greater predation
pressure on native mammals. The interplay between cat diet and prey
species diversity at a continental scale is complex, and thus cat
management is likely to be necessary and most effective at the local
landscape level.
Media:
Feral feast: cats kill hundreds of Australian animals
https://theconversation.com/feral-feast-cats-kill-hundreds-of-australian-animals-35555
"Feral cats are estimated to eat tens of millions of native animals each night
in Australia. But what kinds of wildlife are they eating? In research published
today
in the Journal of Biogeography, my colleagues and I show that cats kill
hundreds of different kinds of animals, including at least 16 species
considered globally threatened.
Feral cats are a serious threat to wildlife globally, contributing to the
extinction of numerous birds, mammals and reptiles worldwide.
In Australia, cats have been implicated in the extinction of at least
20 mammal species and sub-species, including the lesser bilby and desert
bandicoot.
Cats are widespread across the country, so it’s likely that their
diet varies according to the local environment and fauna community –
which might be affected by many factors, such as the amount of rainfall
that an area receives or the native plant life.
Knowing what cats eat can help us decide how best to manage them."
From:
To: ; ;
Subject: Feral cat nos: "How many are there? The use and misuse of
continental-scale wildlife abundance estimates
Date: Sat, 7 Mar 2015 09:23:52 +0930
Although research groups would like more money, various groups are tackling cat
issues.....
""How many are there? The use and misuse of continental-scale wildlife
abundance estimates"
http://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/WR14059.htm
Jim
Hone
A
C
and
Tony
Buckmaster
A
B
A
Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT 2601,
Australia.
B
Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre, University of Canberra, Canberra,
ACT 2601, Australia.
C
Corresponding author. Email:
Abstract
The number of individuals in a wildlife population is often estimated
and the estimates used for wildlife management. The scientific basis of
published continental-scale estimates of individuals in Australia of
feral cats and feral pigs is reviewed and contrasted with estimation of
red kangaroo abundance and the usage of the estimates. We reviewed all
papers on feral cats, feral pigs and red kangaroos found in a Web of
Science search and in Australian Wildlife Research and Wildlife Research,
and related Australian and overseas scientific and ‘grey’ literature.
The estimated number of feral cats in Australia has often been repeated
without rigorous evaluation of the origin of the estimate. We propose an
origin. The number of feral pigs in Australia was estimated and since
then has sometimes been quoted correctly and sometimes misquoted. In
contrast, red kangaroo numbers in Australia have been estimated by more
rigorous methods and the relevant literature demonstrates active
refining and reviewing of estimation procedures and management usage. We
propose four criteria for acceptable use of wildlife abundance
estimates in wildlife management. The criteria are: use of appropriate
statistical or mathematical analysis; precision estimated; original
source cited; and age (current or out-of-date) of an estimate evaluated.
The criteria are then used here to assess the strength of evidence of
the abundance estimates and each has at least one deficiency (being
out-of-date). We do know feral cats, feral pigs and red kangaroos occur
in Australia but we do not know currently how many feral cats or feral
pigs are in Australia. Our knowledge of red kangaroo abundance is
stronger at the state than the continental scale, and is also
out-of-date at the continental scale. We recommend greater consideration
be given to whether abundance estimates at the continental scale are
needed and to their use, and not misuse, in wildlife management.
Additional keywords:
feral cat, feral pig, population estimation, red kangaroo, wildlife management
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