Research Grant
[Cite as https://purl.org/au-research/grants/nesp/naer/3.2]Researchers Graeme Gillespie
Brief description
Improving our understanding of the role of predators, specifically feral cats, in small mammal declines across northern Australia is critical to the development of management responses.
Building on a project commenced under NERP in 2013, the responses of small mammal populations to predator (cat and dingo/dog) exclusion will be experimentally evaluated at sets of paired fenced and unfenced sites in Kakadu National Park. The densities of cats and dingoes will be estimated in the surrounding landscape using camera traps, and their prey evaluated through scat analysis. The findings will inform management responses to address mammal declines in Kakadu National Park specifically and northern Australia more generally.
Research outputs:
• Recommendations on the future of the exclosure experiment, and the longer term use of the exclosure assets within Kakadu National Park.
• Publications on (i) the effect of predator exclusion on native mammals in Kakadu National Park; (ii) comparative diets of feral cats and dingoes.
• Illustrated booklets/posters on the findings of the project disseminated to land managers and indigenous groups
• Presentations to NRM forums and other public events.
Notes In addition to the NESP funding, this project is matched by an equivalent amount of in-kind support and co-investment from project partners and collaborators.
