Dingoes dining with death

Dingoes (Canis dingo) are known for hunting and killing animals to meet their energetic requirements, but like almost all predators they also scavenge animal remains. To improve our understanding of dingo scavenging ecology, we investigated the role abiotic biotic factors in shaping carcass utilisation by dingoes further determined whether influenced persistence landscape. do so, monitored visitation using remote cameras positioned on 119 kangaroo carcasses open closed canopy habitats warm cool seasons. The were across multiple study sites, which incorporated forest, alpine desert ecoregions Australia. We found that season played an important dingoes, as well persistence. Warmer seasons increased rate discovery 6.3-fold Forest site 4.8-fold Alpine site, time spent feeding site. Further, persisted at least 4.7 times longer compared with On other hand, was not habitat, although more likely persist Finally, showed may contribute substantial removal certain contexts. Indeed, decreased evident season, when occurred during first two weeks monitoring. variability results highlights complexity patterns and, broadly, vertebrate scavenging. It emphasises need consider properly understand functional roles different scavenger species. Longer-term studies additional seasonal replicates yield a detailed picture apex scavengers.