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Human-resource subsidies alter the dietary preferences of a mammalian top predator
journal contribution
posted on 2014-05-01, 00:00 authored by Thomas Newsome, G-A Ballard, P J S Fleming, R van de Ven, G L Story, C R DickmanResource 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.
History
Journal
OecologiaVolume
175Issue
1Pagination
139 - 150Publisher
SpringerLocation
Berlin, GermanyPublisher DOI
eISSN
1432-1939Language
engPublication classification
C Journal article; C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalCopyright notice
2014, SpringerUsage metrics
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Keywords
AnimalsAustraliaChoice BehaviorDietFeeding BehaviorFood ChainGarbageHumansPredatory BehaviorWolvesScience & TechnologyLife Sciences & BiomedicineEcologyEnvironmental Sciences & EcologyCanidaeCanis lupus dingoDingoDesertFLUCTUATING PREY POPULATIONSCANIS-LUPUS-DINGOARID AUSTRALIATROPHIC REGULATORFEEDING ECOLOGYTANAMI-DESERTHOME-RANGEMESOPREDATORCARNIVORESRESPONSESEcology
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