DOES DINGO PREDATION OR BUFFALO COMPETITION REGULATE FERAL PIG-POPULATIONS IN THE AUSTRALIAN WET-DRY TROPICS - AN EXPERIMENTAL-STUDY

Dingo (Canis familiaris dingo) predation on feral pigs (Sus scrofa) in response to experimental changes in prey populations was measured ove r seven yeats in the seasonally wet-dry tropics of northern Australia. Following the removal of feral swamp buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) from h alf of the 614-km(2) study area, the number of pigs doubled and there was a 3-fold increase of pig in dingo diet. The relationship between t he functional response of the dingo and pig abundance was negative and significant for both the treatment and control areas. This indicated that dingoes were not regulating the pig population. Instead, dingo pr edation probably acted in concert with interference competition by buf falo which decreased access to critical subterranean food for pigs dur ing the dry season and thus limited population growth in pigs.