Diet of the Dingo in Subtropical Australian Forests: Are Small, Threatened Macropods at Risk?

Carnivores fulfil important ecological roles in natural systems yet can also jeopardise the persistence of threatened species. Understanding their diet is, therefore, essential for managing populations carnivores, as well those prey. This study was designed to better understand an Australian apex predator, dingo, and determine whether it poses a threat at-risk small macropods two floristically different geographically close reserves subtropical Australia. Based on analysis 512 scats, dingo diets comprised 34 prey taxa, which 50% were common between reserves. Our findings add support paradigm that dingoes are opportunistic generalist predators primarily abundant mammalian fauna. Their Border Ranges dominated by possum species (frequency occurrence (FOC) = 92.5%), while Richmond Range characterised high prevalence pademelon (FOC 46.9%). Medium-sized mammals most dietary items both across all seasons. The frequency medium-sized generally related availability (indexed camera trapping); however, avoidance some with indicates accessibility may be dictating choices. Other categories supplementary varied importance according seasonal changes availability. included macropods, red-legged black-striped wallaby. estimates, together earlier studies spanning 30 years, suggest is resilient observed predation. wallaby occurred only scats collected from not detected cameras so this could determined. Two locally but highly (the koala long-nosed potoroo) dingoes’ diets, suggesting do at present pose these populations. highlights site-based assessments, population monitoring including data investigations.