Year
2020
Degree Name
Master of Research
Department
School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences
Abstract
Invasive red foxes are recognised as one of the most important threatening processes to the decline of native Australian mammal species. The current study was undertaken to better understand fox behaviour so as to ultimately provide data that can inform more effective fox control. In this thesis, camera trapping was used to investigate fox activity patterns over a full year, as well as the further investigation into the predator – prey activity pattern overlap between foxes and some of their common native and invasive prey species. These prey species include; brown antechinus, native and introduced rodents, long-nosed bandicoot, phalangeriformes (possums) and introduced leporids (i.e. rabbits).
Fifteen baited camera traps were positioned 500 m apart across an agriculturally fragmented landscape throughout an area that also forms part of a proposed wildlife corridor in south eastern NSW, Australia. Data was collected continuously for a period of 365 days from 2019 to 2020. The data was then analysed via the use of Kernel Density estimates, resulting in the output of activity pattern curves for foxes, followed by foxes and their prey (overlap).
Recommended Citation
Dallas, Ryan Kari King, Activity pattern analysis and overlap between the invasive red fox, Vulpes vulpes L. and its prey within a fragmented landscape in south eastern Australia, Master of Research thesis, School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, 2020. https://ro.uow.edu.au/theses1/910
FoR codes (2008)
0602 ECOLOGY, 0608 ZOOLOGY
Unless otherwise indicated, the views expressed in this thesis are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the University of Wollongong.