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Faunal Community Structure and Predator Relationships in Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park, Central Australia

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Faunal Community Structure and Predator Relationships in Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park, Central Australia Faunal community structure and predator relationships in Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park, central Australia Kerrie Bennison Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, 2020 A thesis submitted to fulfil the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Abstract This thesis focuses on the main habitat types at Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park (UKTNP), in central Australia, and examines how and why native species are distributed throughout the system. ‘Top down’ and ‘bottom up’ processes are examined, with a spotlight on the role of predation in driving the dynamics of the vertebrate community and the subsequent effects on the diversity, abundance and distribution of native prey. Over the course of nine chapters and using a combination of long term historical, and contemporary data, this study examines the diversity of fauna contained within the different areas of UKTNP and which species play particular roles in defining fauna assemblages. A range of inputs into a typical desert system, informed by the literature review of Chapter Two, are examined for their effect on fauna including rainfall, fire, the role of the apex predator, the influence of the apex predator on smaller predators, the structure of the vegetation community and the food resources available. Conclusions and management recommendations are contained within the final section of the thesis. Authorship attribution statement Chapter Four of this thesis is published as Bennison, K., Godfree, R. and Dickman, C.R., 2018. Synchronous boom–bust cycles in central Australian rodents and marsupials in response to rainfall and fire. Journal of Mammalogy, 99(5), pp.1137-1148. I organised and co-analysed the data and wrote the drafts of the manuscript. Statement of originality This is to certify that to the best of my knowledge; the content of this thesis is my own work. This thesis has not been submitted for any degree or other purposes. I certify that the intellectual content of this thesis is the product of my own work and that all the assistance received in preparing this thesis and sources have been acknowledged. i Acknowledgments I have been stomping around the bush measuring things, sitting at a desk writing things or thinking about things to do with this study for so long that it feels like an old friend. And, as is the case with old friendships, it has introduced me to many amazing people along the way. The first person to thank is the best supervisor I ever could have imagined, Professor Chris Dickman. An extraordinarily kind and caring man who taught me as much about humility, resilience and passion for Australia’s environment as he did about study design and modelling approaches. Without fail Chris was there when I needed him, responding rapidly to pleas for help and always making time for a discussion, catch up or coffee. Chris was patient and supportive when life took an unexpected wrong turn halfway through, and in his quiet belief in this study and me, gave me the confidence to pick it back up again and get to the end. Chris, I honestly don’t know how to thank you. Drs Rhonda and Alasdair Melzer and Dr Bob Godfree were also with me the whole way, swimming through murky data sets, designing study options, editing chapters and providing words of encouragement, soul lifting lunches, hideaways in the Queensland bush when needed, and finally friendship that will endure long past this study. I thank you three for your contribution to this study and, even more valuable, for the amazing friendships. The Director of National Parks allowed me to use data and equipment which was essential to the completion of this study. I am extremely lucky to work in an organisation full of enthusiastic and passionate people and without their approval to use cameras, buckets, Elliot traps, quad bikes and a myriad of other bits and bobs I could not have completed the field work and work full time. I also appreciate and want to acknowledge the dedication of my division to see truly adaptive management being undertaken to protect the natural values of our national parks, leading to the permission to allow me to analyse a long term data set that had been sitting on the shelf, in the hope of unravelling the guidance it may hold. I would also like to thank the Department of the Environment (as was) for the award that allowed me to travel to the US to learn occupancy modelling. Particular thanks to Dr Judy West for ongoing support, interest and encouragement. ii There were many wonderful past and present Uluru colleagues and Mutitjulu community members who collected, or helped collect, the historic data over many years. They include Steve McAlpin, Daisy Walkabout, Peter Wilson, Leroy Lester, Barbara Tjikatu, Judy Trigger, James Aitken, Nelson Okai, Phillip Driffen, David Moneymoon, Gary Cole, Craig Woods, Mick Starkey, Patrick Hookey, Diane Scopel, Reggie Uluru, Tracey Guest, Mim Jambrecina, Shane Wright, Nyinku Jingo, Imantura Richards, Melinda Wilson, Richie Frith, Jim Clayton, Sam Steele, Ben Thornton, and many other devoted and dedicated members of the UKTNP team who have since passed away and so should not be named here. Many friends kept me going and you don’t often find a fitting place where you can acknowledge the friendships that keep you on track in life and in study. Bec, Penn, Pia, Ed, Paul, Lara, Kate, Glen, Kim, Adrienne, Barry, Speedy and Marns - I don’t have the words to express the joy you bring to this life I lead. JA, I love our robust discussions, thank goodness for Comet River. Craig, as well as a lifelong friendship, you planted the seed of a possible future PhD after I watched you so deftly and calmly complete yours after we finished vet school all those years ago. Thanks Bud. Jimma, you showed me what doing a PhD and working full time looks like and your help with bucket digging and fauna surveys in the early days was monumental. There is much of you in these pages. To the surprise and delight that is my partner Ben- from editing endless chapters, fighting with my bibliography and table of contents, smoothing my frustration, consoling when the modelling just seemed too much, gently encouraging ongoing application to the computer and foregoing so many adventures on this beautiful island we live on so that I could sit at this desk- thank you. For being the most intelligent person I have ever met; your ability to think deeply about a problem and then concisely explain the answer so it suddenly crystalises into glorious comprehension for me; and for bringing a dimension into the discussion of this study I never expected? Well that just goes to show how lucky I am to have found you. You have added so much more to this study than words and edits. iii And finally, to a happy, loyal, trusting and ever-present soul whom I have just lost. Dizzy, I’ll never forget the adventures we had in our desert home we loved so much. I miss you loyal friend. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract i Authorship attribution statement i Statement of originality i Acknowledgments ii Table of Contents v Tables and Figures vii Chapter One - Faunal community structure and predator relationship in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, central Australia Introduction 1 Overview 1 Chapter Two - Literature review: drivers of ecological community structure in global and Australian deserts 1. Global deserts 10 2. Australian deserts 20 3. Mesopredator release theory - international literature 25 4. Mesopredator release theory - Australian literature 27 5. Conclusion 29 Chapter Three - Historical habitat use and spatial distribution of native vertebrates at Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park Introduction 30 Methods 32 Results 36 Discussion 41 Chapter Four - Synchronous boom-bust cycles in central Australian rodents and marsupials in response to rainfall and fire Introduction 47 Methods 51 Results 55 v Discussion 63 Chapter Five - Historical habitat use and spatial distribution of native vertebrates in three major habitats at Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park Introduction 67 Methods 69 Results 71 Discussion 78 Chapter Six - Spatial and temporal relationships between a top predator and mesopredators in an arid environment Introduction 84 Methods 87 Results 90 Discussion 94 Chapter Seven - The influence of dingoes on the foraging intensity of small mammals in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park Introduction 98 Methods 101 Results 105 Discussion 108 Chapter Eight - The influence of microhabitat and resource variation in structuring fauna communities at Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park Introduction 112 Methods 113 Results 119 Discussion 131 Chapter Nine – Conclusion 135 Contribution of this study to the scientific field 135 Summary of study findings 139 Management recommendations 141 Literature 144 vi Appendix 1 Pooled numbers of mammals, birds and reptiles recorded in surveys at eight sites (S1–S8) in Uluru- Kata Tjuta National Park between 1994 and 2010 187 Appendix 2 Map of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park with historical fauna survey sites 192 Map of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park with contemporary fauna survey sites 193 Appendix 3 Dietary preference of reptiles at three sites in Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park between 1994 and 2010 194 TABLES AND FIGURES Tables Table 3.1. Dominant vegetation of eight fauna survey sites, Uluru–Kata Tjuta National Park 33 Table 3.2. Species diversity and total number of records of vertebrates at eight fauna survey sites, Uluru–Kata Tjuta National Park 37 Table 3.3. Pairwise similarity comparisons (R values) between eight survey sites (s1 – s8) at Uluru- Kata Tjuta National Park 40 Table 4.1. Survey sites affected by fire between 1994 and 2010. Red hatching indicates that the site had been partially or completely burnt within the previous five years.
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