Activity may not reflect the numbers: an assessment of capture rate and population density of dingoes (Canis familiaris) within landscape-scale cell-fencing

Activity may not reflect the numbers: an assessment of capture rate and population density of dingoes (Canis familiaris) within landscape-scale cell-fencing | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 4 February 2025 V1 Latest version Share on Activity may not reflect the numbers: an assessment of capture rate and population density of dingoes (Canis familiaris) within landscape-scale cell-fencing Authors : Moses Ilugbekhai Omogbeme 0009-0000-7178-8809 [email protected] , Malcolm Kennedy , Tracey Kreplins , Halina Kobryn , and Patricia Fleming 0000-0002-0626-3851 Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/au.173869594.47005818/v1 Published Ecology and Evolution Version of record Peer review timeline 266 views 112 downloads Contents Abstract Supplementary Material Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract not-yet-known not-yet-known not-yet-known unknown Most human–carnivore conflicts arise from the impact of predation on livestock. In Australian rangelands, considerable resources are allocated to constructing exclusion fences and implementing control measures to manage dingo populations for sustainable livestock enterprise. Assessing the effectiveness of these measures is crucial for justifying the investment. We used a replicated experimental design to examine the effect of landscape-scale dingo-proof exclusion fences (‘cell-fencing’) on activity and population density of dingoes. We monitored dingo populations for 22-24 months across six study sites nested within a landscape of about 75,000 km2 and defined ‘fence level’ as the number of dingo-proof fences enclosing each study site. We used camera trap capture rate (number of independent capture events per 100 trap nights) as a metric for dingo activity (including the availability of resources as other potential covariates), estimated dingo density using spatially explicit mark-resight models, and tested the relationship between capture rate and estimated density of dingoes for each study site. Significant variation in both metrics was observed between sites and across time. Fence level and prey occurrence significantly influenced dingo activity. The annual mean dingo density estimate across study sites was below 2 dingoes per 100 km2 (i.e., 0.02 dingoes per km2; the maximum value believed to be compatible with small livestock) at only one study site in the first year, but it was higher across all sites during the second year of monitoring. Dingo activity correlated with estimated dingo density at only two sites, suggesting differences in dingo behaviour and detection across the six study sites. This study provides experimental evidence that camera trap capture rate is not a reliable method for assessing variations in the population size of dingoes. These results have implications for monitoring outcomes of dingo control programs across Australia. Supplementary Material File (omogbeme mi et al._dingo density and capture rate.docx) Download 2.58 MB Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 04 February 2025 Peer review timeline Published Ecology and Evolution Version of Record 27 Apr 2025 Published Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License. Keywords ecological experiment ecosystem population ecology terrestrial vertebrate Authors Affiliations Moses Ilugbekhai Omogbeme 0009-0000-7178-8809 [email protected] Murdoch University - Perth Campus View all articles by this author Malcolm Kennedy Queensland Department of Environment and Science View all articles by this author Tracey Kreplins Western Australia Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development View all articles by this author Halina Kobryn Murdoch University - Perth Campus View all articles by this author Patricia Fleming 0000-0002-0626-3851 Murdoch University - Perth Campus View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 266 views 112 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Moses Ilugbekhai Omogbeme, Malcolm Kennedy, Tracey Kreplins, et al. Activity may not reflect the numbers: an assessment of capture rate and population density of dingoes (Canis familiaris) within landscape-scale cell-fencing. Authorea . 04 February 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.173869594.47005818/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu . Format Please select one from the list RIS (ProCite, Reference Manager) EndNote BibTex Medlars RefWorks Direct import Tips for downloading citations document.getElementById('citMgrHelpLink').addEventListener('click', function() { popupHelp(this.href); return false; }); $(".js__slcInclude").on("change", function(e){ if ($(this).val() == 'refworks') $('#direct').prop("checked", false); $('#direct').prop("disabled", ($(this).val() == 'refworks')); }); Cited by Moses I. Omogbeme, Malcolm S. Kennedy, Tracey L. Kreplins, Halina T. Kobryn, Patricia A. Fleming, Activity May Not Reflect the Numbers: An Assessment of Capture Rate and Population Density of Dingoes ( Canis familiaris ) Within Landscape‐Scale Cell‐Fencing , Ecology and Evolution, 15 , 4, (2025). https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.71328 Crossref Loading... View Options View options PDF View PDF Figures Tables Media Share Share Share article link Copy Link Copied! Copying failed. 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