Scat happens: spatiotemporal fluctuation in dingo scat collection rates
The number of dingo (Canis lupus dingo and hybrids) scats collected from an area has been used as a measure of pack stability in order to make inferences about dingo pack structures and function. In doing so, some studies sampling different sites at different times/seasons have been forced to assume...
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2012
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Online Access: | https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:285209 |
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ftunivqespace:oai:espace.library.uq.edu.au:UQ:285209 2023-05-15T15:49:44+02:00 Scat happens: spatiotemporal fluctuation in dingo scat collection rates Allen, Benjamin L. 2012-01-01 https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:285209 eng eng C S I R O Publishing doi:10.1071/ZO12038 issn:0004-959X issn:1446-5698 Canis lupus dingo Defaecation Lethal control Pack structure Population indexing Scent-marking Social stability Predator Control Australia Numbers Impact 1103 Animal Science and Zoology 1105 Ecology Evolution Behavior and Systematics Journal Article 2012 ftunivqespace https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO12038 2020-08-05T04:12:38Z The number of dingo (Canis lupus dingo and hybrids) scats collected from an area has been used as a measure of pack stability in order to make inferences about dingo pack structures and function. In doing so, some studies sampling different sites at different times/seasons have been forced to assume that scat collection rates vary little throughout the year in order to attribute observed site/treatment differences to the effect of interventions (e.g. lethal control), rather than natural spatiotemporal variation in scat densities. In this study, 4112 dingo scats systematically collected from adjacent dingobaited and unbaited areas at three arid-zone sites on a regular basis over 2-4 years are used to test this assumption. Scat collection rates varied between treatments, sites and surveys, with substantial differences occurring within a few weeks or months. Similar temporal trends between treatments at each site demonstrated that scat collection rates fluctuated independently of dingo control. It was concluded that observations of different scat collection rates between different sites sampled at different times may simply reflect normal spatiotemporal variability in scat densities, which may not reflect absolute dingo abundance. Article in Journal/Newspaper Canis lupus The University of Queensland: UQ eSpace Australian Journal of Zoology 60 2 137 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
The University of Queensland: UQ eSpace |
op_collection_id |
ftunivqespace |
language |
English |
topic |
Canis lupus dingo Defaecation Lethal control Pack structure Population indexing Scent-marking Social stability Predator Control Australia Numbers Impact 1103 Animal Science and Zoology 1105 Ecology Evolution Behavior and Systematics |
spellingShingle |
Canis lupus dingo Defaecation Lethal control Pack structure Population indexing Scent-marking Social stability Predator Control Australia Numbers Impact 1103 Animal Science and Zoology 1105 Ecology Evolution Behavior and Systematics Allen, Benjamin L. Scat happens: spatiotemporal fluctuation in dingo scat collection rates |
topic_facet |
Canis lupus dingo Defaecation Lethal control Pack structure Population indexing Scent-marking Social stability Predator Control Australia Numbers Impact 1103 Animal Science and Zoology 1105 Ecology Evolution Behavior and Systematics |
description |
The number of dingo (Canis lupus dingo and hybrids) scats collected from an area has been used as a measure of pack stability in order to make inferences about dingo pack structures and function. In doing so, some studies sampling different sites at different times/seasons have been forced to assume that scat collection rates vary little throughout the year in order to attribute observed site/treatment differences to the effect of interventions (e.g. lethal control), rather than natural spatiotemporal variation in scat densities. In this study, 4112 dingo scats systematically collected from adjacent dingobaited and unbaited areas at three arid-zone sites on a regular basis over 2-4 years are used to test this assumption. Scat collection rates varied between treatments, sites and surveys, with substantial differences occurring within a few weeks or months. Similar temporal trends between treatments at each site demonstrated that scat collection rates fluctuated independently of dingo control. It was concluded that observations of different scat collection rates between different sites sampled at different times may simply reflect normal spatiotemporal variability in scat densities, which may not reflect absolute dingo abundance. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Allen, Benjamin L. |
author_facet |
Allen, Benjamin L. |
author_sort |
Allen, Benjamin L. |
title |
Scat happens: spatiotemporal fluctuation in dingo scat collection rates |
title_short |
Scat happens: spatiotemporal fluctuation in dingo scat collection rates |
title_full |
Scat happens: spatiotemporal fluctuation in dingo scat collection rates |
title_fullStr |
Scat happens: spatiotemporal fluctuation in dingo scat collection rates |
title_full_unstemmed |
Scat happens: spatiotemporal fluctuation in dingo scat collection rates |
title_sort |
scat happens: spatiotemporal fluctuation in dingo scat collection rates |
publisher |
C S I R O Publishing |
publishDate |
2012 |
url |
https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:285209 |
genre |
Canis lupus |
genre_facet |
Canis lupus |
op_relation |
doi:10.1071/ZO12038 issn:0004-959X issn:1446-5698 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO12038 |
container_title |
Australian Journal of Zoology |
container_volume |
60 |
container_issue |
2 |
container_start_page |
137 |
_version_ |
1766384772108517376 |