Diets of insectivorous marsupials in arid Australia: selection for prey type, size or hardness?

doi:10.1006/jare.1993.1072

Journal of Arid Environments

Volume 25, Issue 4, November 1993, Pages 397-410

https://doi.org/10.1006/jare.1993.1072 Get rights and content

Abstract

The diets of six species of arid zone dasyurid marsupials were investigated at study areas in Queensland and Western Australia. At least 11 orders of insects were taken, as well as spiders, scorpions and centipedes. Beetles and spiders were taken more frequently than expected along foraging trails, whereas ants were avoided; there was no selectivity for other taxa. All species ate small prey (< 2·5 mm long) less frequently than expected. Four of the five species of smaller dasyurids (⩽ 13 g) showed some preference for prey 5·0-7·4 mm long, whereas the largest species, Dasycercus cristicauda (65 g), preferred prey >7·5 mm in length. Dasycercus cristicauda was also the only dasyurid regularly to include large, hard beetles in its diet. Beetles with hard cuticles were not eaten by the small dasyurids, although the three smallest species foraged in areas where hard prey were seldom encountered.

Dasyurid marsupials are conspicuously successful inhabitants of the arid zone of Australia; most species are wholly insectivorous. Dietary generalism should be advantageous in arid zone dasyurids by permitting continuous exploitation of a temporally and spatially unpredictable food resource.

References (0)

Cited by (78)

Community structure of dasyurid marsupials in the arid Pilbara is consistent with a top-down system, their distribution and abundance depend on that of larger members of the guild
2022, Journal of Arid Environments
Citation Excerpt :
Dusky antechinus (Antechinus swainsoniiIi, ∼50 g) suppress brown antechinus (A. stuartii, ∼27 g) through a mechanism of interference competition (resulting in death of brown antechinus) and perhaps predation risk in forests (Dickman, 1986). Larger dasyurids use microhabitats in which prey are larger and more profitable, suggesting that they typically restrict smaller species to suboptimal habitat (Fisher and Dickman, 1993). In a desert environment, experimental manipulations showed that brush-tailed mulgaras (Dasycercus blythi, ∼100 g) suppressed lesser hairy-footed dunnarts (Sminthopsis youngsoni, ∼10 g) through fear of predation and predation (Dickman, 2006, 2014).
The semi-arid Pilbara region of Western Australia has an exceptionally large number of sympatric carnivorous marsupials (dasyurids). The multi-scale patchwork of sandplain grassland, riparian and rock outcrop habitats overlain with fine-scale variation in fire age may provide opportunities for exceptional niche differentiation. The goal of this study was to determine how dasyurids in the Pilbara partition these habitats in space and time. We focused on four species detectable on camera traps: northern quolls (largest), mulgaras, kalutas, and stripe-faced dunnarts (smallest). We found fine-scale partitioning in spatial and temporal patterns among sympatric species, and unusually, fire age specialisation in the smallest species, dunnarts, which were associated with recently burnt areas that had low prey availability. Kalutas were active throughout the 24-h period, with seasonal differences that support the hypothesis of energy preservation. Opposing habitat associations of kalutas and dunnarts are consistent with top-down pressures. We suggest that, in habitats where quolls and mulgaras are absent, kalutas may have experienced mesopredator release.
Small mammal and reptile persistence in desert grasslands during a period of low rainfall – Part 1
2018, Journal of Arid Environments
Citation Excerpt :
Four vertebrate pitfalls (described above) were used as large pitfalls, with the four small pitfalls consisting of plastic containers (75 mm diameter, 130 mm deep) also deployed (see Molyneux et al., in press for details). Only ground dwelling invertebrates were sampled as they represented the largest component of the diets recorded for small mammals and reptiles in the area (Fisher and Dickman, 1993). As large pitfall traps also captured invertebrate consumers (i.e. mammals and reptiles); potential bias in invertebrate numbers caused by predation within traps was assessed (see Molyneux et al., in press for details).
The abundance of Australia's arid zone vertebrates is typically driven by fluctuations in rainfall, which dictate productivity across functional groups. Many species fluctuate from highly abundant during high rainfall periods to low abundance during low rainfall periods. Although these fluctuations are well documented, little is known regarding the factors affecting fauna persistence during periods of low rainfall. We examined the relationship between several influential factors and the richness and abundance of nocturnal small mammal and reptiles in the spinifex sand plains of central Australia. The study was conducted during a period of low rainfall following the decline of most vertebrate species in the area. Mammals showed species-specific responses, with varying dependencies on cover and climatic factors, whilst reptiles showed a surprisingly limited response to resource abundances and rainfall. The most consistent factor associated with small mammal and reptile abundances was the presence of large predators. Cats had greater suppressive effects on small mammals whilst reptiles declined with greater wild dog presence. These results likely represent a combination of selective foraging and seasonal fluctuations in activity of the two predators. Our results highlight the importance of controlling predator numbers during low rainfall periods to reduce their potential suppressive effects.
Why is the marsupial kaluta, Dasykaluta rosamondae, diurnally active in winter: Foraging advantages or predator avoidance in arid northern Australia?
2016, Journal of Arid Environments
Citation Excerpt :
Overall, the food categories consumed by kalutas in spinifex sandplain in the Pilbara are broadly similar to that of other small (≤50 g) arid-zone carnivorous marsupials that are known to be nocturnal. These species include the southern ningaui, Ningaui yvonneae (6–14 g); Giles’ planigale, Plaingale gilesi (5–16 g); fat-tailed dunnart, Sminthopsis crassicaudata (10–20 g); and stripe-faced dunnart, S. macroura (15–25 g) (Morton et al., 1983; Fisher and Dickman, 1993; Warnecke et al., 2012). If diurnal activity occurred because it provided access to a different prey base, we expected to see an increase in occurrence of diurnal vertebrates and invertebrates in the diet compared to similar-sized dasyurid species that are nocturnal.
The majority of animals have a specific activity rhythm over the 24 h daily cycle such that they can be categorised as either diurnal or nocturnal. This stability creates interest in understanding species that can invert their activity rhythm. The kaluta, Dasykaluta rosamondae, a small dasyurid marsupial endemic to northern arid Australia, is one such species. In contrast to most other dasyurid species and in fact most small mammals, the kaluta is almost exclusively diurnal in winter. To assess the potential benefits of diurnal activity we examined the diet and assessed potential predators and competitors. We identified 33 food categories including four classes of invertebrates, three classes of vertebrates and plant material. Diet was dominated by Coleoptera (beetles, 26.7% volume) and Formicidae (ants, 25.0% volume). We found no evidence that the prey base of kalutas differed as a consequence of diurnal activity. Likewise, diurnal foraging was probably not driven by competition. A likely explanation of diurnal activity in winter in this species is that it both allows temporal separation in activity from a significant predator, the brush-tailed mulgara, Dasycercus blythi, and reduces thermoregulatory foraging costs.
The relationship between diet and body mass in terrestrial mammals
2016, Paleobiology
Capture tolerance: A neglected third component of aposematism?
2024, Evolutionary Ecology
Comparison of Predatory Performance among Three Ladybird Species, Harmonia axyridis, Coccinella septempunctata and Hippodamia variegata, Feeding on Goji Berry Psyllid, Bactericera gobica
2024, Insects

View all citing articles on Scopus

View full text

Regular ArticleDiets of insectivorous marsupials in arid Australia: selection for prey type, size or hardness?

Abstract

Regular Article
Diets of insectivorous marsupials in arid Australia: selection for prey type, size or hardness?