Occupancy and co-occurrence patterns of endemic mammals and introduced predators across a broad geographical gradient in eastern Australia

Abstract Invasive predators, land clearing and altered fire regimes have been implicated in species decline extinction worldwide. Enhanced knowledge of how these factors interact influence medium-sized mammals is warranted. We tested three hypotheses using occupancy data for a diverse mammal assemblage including threatened species, five common two introduced mesopredators an apex predator eastern Australia. hypothesised that within the would be influenced by (i) physical environment (rainfall, vegetation type elevation), (ii) habitat disturbance (number fires fragmentation) (iii) mesopredator release, whereby and/or detection are mesopredators, feral cat ( Felis catus ) red fox Vulpes vulpes ), which predator, dingo Canis familiaris ). utilised camera-trapping from 173 sites (692 camera locations) across north–south gradient spanning ~ 1500 km Although i (physical environment) ii (habitat disturbance) not mutually exclusive, we show variables considered each were only weakly correlated. conducted modelling to investigate hypotheses. co-occurrence interactions between species. The hypothesis best supported models six species: red-necked pademelon Thylogale thetis bandicoots Isoodon macrourus Perameles nasuta swamp wallaby Wallabia bicolor Macropus rufogriseus grey kangaroo giganteus cat. four long-nosed potoroo Potorous tridactylus both mesopredators. Support release was equivocal. Large macropods showed site avoidance towards fox. Four higher at where detected. negative interaction did not. Our study highlights such as rainfall, clearing, elevation number macroecological scale. findings implications conservation managed landscapes suggestions further research following recent 2019–2020 wildfires.