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Human-resource subsidies alter the dietary preferences of a mammalian top predator

  • Population ecology - Original research
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Abstract

Resource subsidies to opportunistic predators may alter natural predator–prey relationships and, in turn, have implications for how these predators affect co-occurring prey. To explore this idea, we compared the prey available to and eaten by a top canid predator, the Australian dingo (Canis lupus dingo), in areas with and without human-provided food. Overall, small mammals formed the majority of dingo prey, followed by reptiles and then invertebrates. Where human-provided food resources were available, dingoes ate them; 17 % of their diet comprised kitchen waste from a refuse facility. There was evidence of dietary preference for small mammals in areas where human-provided food was available. In more distant areas, by contrast, reptiles were the primary prey. The level of seasonal switching between small mammals and reptiles was also more pronounced in areas away from human-provided food. This reaffirmed concepts of prey switching but within a short, seasonal time frame. It also confirmed that the diet of dingoes is altered where human-provided food is available. We suggest that the availability of anthropogenic food to this species and other apex predators therefore has the potential to alter trophic cascades.

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Acknowledgments

This research was undertaken under the Animal Care and Ethics Authority O06/009 from Orange Animal Ethics Committee, clearance number A05020 from Charles Darwin University Animal Ethics Committee and permit number 33607 from Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife. The Central Land Council provided permit number CD004 for conducting research on Aboriginal Land. We adhered to all conditions. Work was funded and supported by Newmont Tanami Operations, the Invasive Animals Co-operative Research Centre and the Central Land Council. Many members of the Warlpiri community assisted in the field. Particular thanks to Shaun Wilson who assisted on most field trips. Prey availability data were collected as part of the Regional Biodiversity Monitoring Project funded by Newmont Tanami Operations. Many people assisted with that work, in particular those from the Central Land Council and Low Ecological Services. Rachel Paltridge and Steve Eldridge most thoroughly completed the identification of species in faecal samples collected on the first trip. Bill Low, Al Glen and Alex Diment provided valuable comments on early drafts.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Biological Sciences, Heydon-Laurence Building, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia

    Thomas M. Newsome & Christopher R. Dickman

  2. Vertebrate Pest Research Unit, NSW Department of Primary Industries, University of New England, Ring Road North, Armidale, NSW, 2351, Australia

    Guy-Anthony Ballard

  3. Vertebrate Pest Research Unit, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Forest Road, Orange, NSW, 2800, Australia

    Peter J. S. Fleming

  4. Biometric Unit, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Forest Road, Orange, NSW, 2800, Australia

    Remy van de Ven

  5. ‘Scats About’, P.O. Box 45, Majors Creek, NSW, 2622, Australia

    Georgeanna L. Story

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  1. Thomas M. Newsome
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Correspondence to Thomas M. Newsome.

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Communicated by Christopher N Johnson.

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Newsome, T.M., Ballard, GA., Fleming, P.J.S. et al. Human-resource subsidies alter the dietary preferences of a mammalian top predator. Oecologia 175, 139–150 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-014-2889-7

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