Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Russell Palmer, Hannah Anderson, Brooke Richards, Michael D. Craig, Lesley Gibson
Summary: The study demonstrated the positive effect of feral cat baiting on protecting northern quoll populations, with evidence of range expansion in a relatively short-term project. Strategic long-term feral cat management approaches are likely needed to maximize control program efficacy and improve conservation outlook for vulnerable threatened fauna.
Article
Pathology
Kita D. Hull, Sonja Jeckel, Jonathan M. Williams, Sherryn A. Ciavaglia, Lucy M. Webster, Ella Fitzgerald, Yu-Mei Chang, Henny M. Martineau
Summary: This study ruled out the involvement of a human serial cat killer, instead finding that mutilation of the cat carcasses was likely caused by postmortem scavenging by red foxes. The study highlights the value of a multidisciplinary approach in fully investigating cases of suspected human-inflicted mutilation of animals.
VETERINARY PATHOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
T. L. Kreplins, M. S. Kennedy, R. A. O'Leary, P. J. Adams, S. J. Dundas, P. A. Fleming
Summary: The study found that there was no correlation between the population density and capture rate of dingoes and feral cats in dingo-baited areas. Although dingoes and feral cats had high overlap in activity patterns, there were significant differences in activity peaks. The suppression of feral cat population by dingoes was not evident.
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Patricia A. Fleming, Alyson M. Stobo-Wilson, Heather M. Crawford, Stuart J. Dawson, Chris R. Dickman, Tim S. Doherty, Peter J. S. Fleming, Thomas M. Newsome, Russell Palmer, Jim A. Thompson, John C. Z. Woinarski
Summary: Introduction of domestic cat and red fox has had a devastating impact on Australian native fauna. This study analyzed the diet of these predators to identify prey species, quantify dietary overlap, and understand the dynamics of their diets over time. The findings highlighted the importance of controlling foxes and cats to protect Australian wildlife, but also raised questions about the role of dingoes in suppressing these mesopredators.
ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Michael Thomas Lohr, Dave Algar, Neil Hamilton, Cheryl Anne Lohr
Summary: Feral cats have been a major threat to Australian fauna since European colonisation. A study conducted in the arid subtropics of Western Australia revealed a high density of feral cats, leading to a depauperate native mammal assemblage. Intensifying agriculture may cause environmental damage, but implementing conservation projects can help mitigate the threats and protect endangered native species.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Cheryl A. Lohr, Kristen Nilsson, Ashleigh Johnson, Bethany Pittway, Neil Hamilton, Mike Onus, Dave Algar
Summary: The study reveals a significant weakness in current feral cat survey methods and emphasizes the importance of cat detectability for accurate estimates of feral cat abundance or occupancy.
BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Shahar Dubiner, Itai Namir, Ron Chen, Eran Levin
Summary: Camouflage, specifically the tabby pattern, is advantageous for feral cats in natural habitats. This pattern allows them to better blend in with their surroundings, increasing their probability of survival.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Christophe Barbraud, Baudouin des Monstiers, Adrien Chaigne, Cedric Marteau, Henri Weimerskirch, Karine Delord
Summary: Feral cats have been found to prey on wandering albatrosses at Kerguelen Island, negatively impacting breeding success and population growth rate. A cat control experiment significantly increased breeding success and population growth rate, indicating the importance of implementing feral cat control measures to prevent population decline or local extinction of large albatross species.
BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Bronwyn A. Fancourt, Christine Zirbel, Peter Cremasco, Peter Elsworth, Glen Harry, Matthew N. Gentle
Summary: Feral cats pose a significant threat to wildlife, agriculture, and human health, but controlling them is challenging. New 1080-based feral cat baits have shown promising results in Australia, but their safety for nontarget species in eastern Australia needs further assessment. Our study found that small Eradicat baits present a greater risk to nontarget species in eastern Australia, emphasizing the importance of conducting site-specific risk assessments for different bait types.
INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Dawn Millicent Scott, Robert Fowler, Ariadna Sanglas, Bryony Anne Tolhurst
Summary: Hedgehogs are one of several mammals that occur in urban areas in the United Kingdom and are fed by people. In this study, the researchers analyzed videos submitted by the public to determine the interactions between hedgehogs, foxes, badgers, and cats. They found that agonistic interactions were more common than neutral interactions, and interactions between different species showed greater aggression. The species interacting affected the level of aggression, with cats and foxes showing the highest level when together. Hedgehogs dominated access to food over cats, but badgers outcompeted cats in contests over food.
Article
Ecology
G. Barry Baker, Steven Candy, Sue Robinson, J. Anthony Friend, Mark Holdsworth, Katrina Jensz, Manda Page, Dave Algar
Summary: The study showed that trained detection dogs can reliably detect feral cat scats in woodland conservation reserves in the Wheatbelt of Western Australia. Results indicated that detection probabilities for scats decreased with distance from the transect line and with an increasing age of the scat.
Article
Ecology
Tim S. Doherty, Michelle L. Hall, Ben Parkhurst, Vanessa Westcott
Summary: The baiting program had modest effects on feral cat populations in some years, but overall, interference from non-target species and low baiting density likely reduced its efficacy. Further testing and refinement of ground baiting strategies are needed to improve effectiveness.
Article
Ecology
Rosemary Hohnen, James Smith, Josh Mulvaney, Tom Evans, Trish Mooney
Summary: This study examined the impact of a Curiosity baiting program on feral cat populations in continuous woodland habitats of Kangaroo Island, Australia. The results showed that the baiting program successfully reduced the density of feral cats, but roads may facilitate the recolonization of baited areas by cats.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Alyson M. Stobo-Wilson, Brett P. Murphy, Sarah M. Legge, Hernan Caceres-Escobar, David G. Chapple, Heather M. Crawford, Stuart J. Dawson, Chris R. Dickman, Tim S. Doherty, Patricia A. Fleming, Stephen T. Garnett, Matthew Gentle, Thomas M. Newsome, Russell Palmer, Matthew W. Rees, Euan G. Ritchie, James Speed, John-Michael Stuart, Andres F. Suarez-Castro, Eilysh Thompson, Ayesha Tulloch, Jeff M. Turpin, John C. Z. Woinarski
Summary: This study assesses the predation of two introduced predators, red foxes and feral cats, on terrestrial vertebrates in Australia. The results show that foxes kill more reptiles, birds, and mammals than cats in most unmodified temperate and forested areas of mainland Australia. However, cats kill more animals than foxes in the arid central and tropical northern regions of the continent. Overall, this study highlights the significant and ongoing impact of introduced predators on Australian reptiles, birds, and mammals, posing a challenge to conservation efforts in the country.
DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS
(2022)
Article
Zoology
Kerry M. Borkin, Luke Easton, Lucy Bridgman
Summary: This paper reports two cases of cats attacking bats in New Zealand and confirms the predation through diet analysis, pathological assessment, and DNA identification. It suggests that predation of bats by feral, stray, and companion cats is likely to be substantial and ubiquitous.
NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Alex Callen, Matt W. Hayward, Kaya Klop-Toker, Benjamin L. Allen, Guy Ballard, Chad T. Beranek, Femke Broekhuis, Cassandra K. Bugir, Rohan H. Clarke, John Clulow, Simon Clulow, Jennifer C. Daltry, Harriet T. Davies-Mostert, Yamil E. Di Blanco, Victoria Dixon, Peter J. S. Fleming, Lachlan G. Howell, Graham I. H. Kerley, Sarah M. Legge, Dean J. Lenga, Tom Major, Robert A. Montgomery, Katherine Moseby, Ninon Meyer, Dan M. Parker, Stephanie Periquet, John Read, Robert J. Scanlon, Craig Shuttleworth, Cottrell T. Tamessar, William Andrew Taylor, Katherine Tuft, Rose M. O. Upton, Marcia Valenzuela, Ryan R. Witt, Wolfgang Wuster
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2020)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Ganesh Pant, Tek Maraseni, Armando Apan, Benjamin L. Allen
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2020)
Letter
Biodiversity Conservation
Alex Callen, Matt W. Hayward, Kaya Klop-Toker, Benjamin L. Allen, Guy Ballard, Chad T. Beranek, Femke Broekhuis, Cassandra K. Bugir, Rohan H. Clarke, John Clulow, Simon Clulow, Jennifer C. Daltry, Harriet T. Davies-Mostert, Yamil E. Di Blanco, Victoria Dixon, Peter J. S. Fleming, Lachlan G. Howell, Graham I. H. Kerley, Sarah M. Legge, Dean J. Lenga, Tom Majorq, Robert A. Montgomery, Katherine Moseby, Ninon Meyer, Dan M. Parker, Stephanie Periquet, John Read, Robert J. Scanlon, Craig Shuttleworth, Cottrell T. Tamessar, William Andrew Taylor, Katherine Tuft, Rose M. O. Upton, Marcia Valenzuela, Ryan R. Witt, Wolfgang Wuster
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2020)
Article
Ecology
Deane Smith, Benjamin L. Allen
Summary: Managing pest species within exclusion fences in central-western Queensland, Australia affects the habitat use of endangered yellow-footed rock-wallabies, with increasing habitat complexity and vegetation coverage positively correlated with their presence. However, there was no difference in habitat selection by the rock-wallabies inside and outside the exclusion fences, potentially due to surviving predator populations inside the fence.
JOURNAL OF ARID ENVIRONMENTS
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Jordan O. Hampton, Timothy H. Hyndman, Benjamin L. Allen, Bob Fischer
Summary: Consideration of animal welfare in food choices is an influential contemporary theme, with a shift towards a broader perspective that includes the impacts on wildlife. Ethical food choices have become important in post-industrial societies, with an increasing focus on the welfare implications for all animals, not just livestock. The analysis suggests that intensive animal agriculture industries are likely to impose the greatest overall breadth of harms to animals, while harvesting of locally available wild plants, mushrooms, or seaweed may impose the least harms.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Christopher Bobier, Benjamin Allen
Summary: Compassionate conservationists advocate against intentionally harming animals in conservation policies, but in practice they may face challenges related to ethical principles and virtues.
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Geoff Castle, Deane Smith, Lee R. Allen, Benjamin L. Allen
Summary: Experimental removal and suppression of Australian dingoes did not result in mesopredator release effects, as the relative abundances of mesopredators remained stable and low. This adds to previous evidence indicating a widespread absence of reliable evidence for top-predator removal cascading effects in terrestrial ecosystems. The lack of negative relationships between predators also suggests that negative interactions may not always scale-up to population level effects.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Lana Harriott, Benjamin L. Allen, Matthew Gentle
Summary: The study used GPS collar data from wild dogs in peri-urban areas to determine the most effective placement of canid pest ejectors. Results showed that placing ejectors at intersections led to the highest probability of wild dog encounters, highlighting the importance of considering both interactions and efficiency in device deployment for wildlife management.
APPLIED ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Ganesh Pant, Tek Maraseni, Armando Apan, Benjamin L. Allen
Summary: The study utilized ensemble models to predict the changes in habitat suitability for the greater one-horned rhinoceros, showing that over one-third of the current habitat may become unsuitable in the next 50 years. Climate change has a greater impact on rhinoceros habitat suitability than land use change. Recommendations include relocating the proposed Nijgad International Airport.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ganesh Pant, Tek Maraseni, Armando Apan, Benjamin L. Allen
Summary: Climate change poses a serious threat to global biodiversity, including the greater one-horned rhinoceros in Nepal. However, the impacts of climate change have not been well integrated into formal conservation planning for the rhinoceros. This study identified adaptation actions, such as identifying and protecting climate refugia and restoring existing habitats, which could help reduce the vulnerability of the rhinoceros to climate change.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Geoff Castle, Deane Smith, Lee R. Allen, John Carter, Peter Elsworth, Benjamin L. Allen
Summary: Increased demand for livestock products has led to conflicts with predators, prompting the implementation of predation management practices, such as the erection of exclusion fences in Australia. Concerns have been raised about the potential cascading effects on wildlife populations. However, experimental results show that the removal of apex predators does not routinely cause trophic cascades in Australian rangeland ecosystems. This suggests that there are opportunities to promote the recovery of threatened species in predator-free areas used for livestock production.
Article
Ecology
Courtney J. MARNEWECK, Benjamin L. ALLEN, Andrew R. BUTLER, Emmanuel DO LINH SAN, Stephen N. HARRIS, Alex J. JENSEN, Elizabeth A. SALDO, Michael J. SOMERS, Keifer TITUS, Michael MUTHERSBAUGH, Abi VANAK, David S. JACHOWSKI
Summary: Small carnivores are more appropriate sentinels of global change than large carnivores due to their greater species diversity, wider range of ecological niches, more direct effect from changes at different trophic levels, faster response rates, easier management and monitoring.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Linda Behrendorff, Rachel King, Benjamin L. Allen
Summary: This study collected and analyzed reports of human-dingo interactions on K'gari Island since 1990. The results showed that food influences dingo behavior and that nonlethal management actions can reduce food-related interactions. Further innovations are needed to reduce serious incidents involving dingoes and humans.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Surendranie J. Cabral de Mel, Saman Seneweera, Ashoka Dangolla, Devaka K. Weerakoon, Tek Maraseni, Benjamin L. Allen
Summary: This study assessed the opinions of stakeholders on the potential use of aversive geofencing devices (AGDs) on Asian elephants. Most respondents expressed positive opinions on the effectiveness of AGDs in managing elephant movement and believed that shock collars could be a useful tool to mitigate human-elephant conflict.
Article
Ecology
David McKenzie Berman, Jill Pickering, Deane Smith, Benjamin L. Allen
Summary: Based on our study in two regions, we found that the impact of feral horses on the environment is directly related to their population density. However, further research is needed to determine the optimal level of control required to achieve conservation objectives.