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David A Westcott - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Visual lures increase camera-trap detection of the southern cassowary (Casuarius Casuarius johnsonii)
    Wildlife Research, 2017
    Co-Authors: Wren R. Mclean, David A Westcott
    Abstract:

    Context Monitoring is a key component in managing wildlife populations and is critical for revealing long-term population trends of endangered species. Cryptic or highly mobile species that occur in low densities and in remote terrain require the development of specific monitoring methods. The southern cassowary is an Australian endangered species that poses many challenges for conducting population surveys. Aims The aims of the present study were to determine the effectiveness of camera traps in detecting cassowaries at a site, to determine whether visual lures increased detection rates, and to explore the potential of camera traps in population surveys. Methods Coloured lures (mimicking large blue and red fruit) were placed in front of a set of camera traps and compared with controls (no lures) at 29 survey sites on the Daintree coast, northern Queensland, Australia. Key results Camera traps with lures (1) detected more birds, (2) had a shorter detection latency, (3) had a marginally greater number of captures, (4) experienced a longer capture duration, (5) were more likely to have the cassowary stop in front of the camera, and (6) achieved a 95% probability of detecting cassowaries in 12 trap days, compared with 28 trap days without lures. Conclusions An increase in the number of cassowaries detected, the reduction in camera latency times and the ability to identify the birds enables a more efficient approach to estimating population sizes over existing methods. This is the first published study to use visual lures to conduct camera trapping of birds. Implications The use of camera traps with lures is a practical and cost-efficient technique for the rapid detection of cassowaries at a site and lends itself to studies of population structure, size and trends.

  • prioritising the protection of habitat utilised by southern cassowaries Casuarius Casuarius johnsonii
    Endangered Species Research, 2012
    Co-Authors: Hamish A Campbell, Ross G Dwyer, Sean Fitzgibbons, Carissa J Klein, Graham Lauridsen, Adam Mckeown, Annebelle Olsson, Scott Sullivan, Matthew E Watts, David A Westcott
    Abstract:

    The southern cassowary Casuarius Casuarius johnsonii L. is an endangered flightless bird from northern Australia. The cassowaries' rainforest habitat has been extensively cleared, and the population primarily exists within discrete protected areas. They do, however, venture outside the reserves into modified landscapes, and it is here they are exposed to threatening pro- cesses. We used GPS-based telemetry and the adaptive local convex hull (a-LoCoH) non-paramet- ric kernel method to define the relationship between cassowary home range (HR) and a protec- tion-area network. The study showed that: (1) females had a larger HR than males; (2) overlapping HR occurred between but not within the sexes; (3) HRs of the same sex partitioned along defined boundaries; and (4) the current protected areas only encompassed core HR for the inhabiting cas- sowaries. This information was incorporated within a spatial-conservation-prioritisation analysis to define the relative cost:benefit relationship for protecting the currently non-protected land utilised by the cassowaries. The results showed that the current reserve system may accommodate up to 24 adult cassowaries, only offering HR protection at the 40 to 60% a-LoCoH. This could be raised, relatively cheaply (1.2-fold the current costs), to 70% a-LoCoH for all birds by protecting adjacent forested areas on private land. Protection beyond the 70% a-LoCoH, however, required protection of large expanses of agricultural land, resulting in an exponential increase in monetary cost (5.1-fold). We argue that total HR protection for the cassowaries was an unfeasible conserva- tion option, but protection of core habitat was achieved relatively cheaply. Combining core HS protection with target incentives to landowners of adjacent cleared land may be the most cost- effective conservation strategy for C.c. johnsonii.

  • Predation of cassowary dispersed seeds: is the cassowary an effective disperser?
    Integrative Zoology, 2011
    Co-Authors: Matt Bradford, David A Westcott
    Abstract:

    Abstract Post-dispersal predation is a potentially significant modifier of the distribution of recruiting plants and an oftenunmeasured determinant of the effectiveness of a frugivore’s dispersal service. In the wet tropical forests of Austra-lia and New Guinea, the cassowary provides a large volume, long distance dispersal service incorporating benefi-cial gut processing; however, the resultant clumped deposition might expose seeds to elevated mortality. We exam-ined the contribution of post-dispersal seed predation to cassowary dispersal effectiveness by monitoring the fateof 11 species in southern cassowary (Casuarius Casuarius johnsonii Linnaeus) droppings over a period of 1 year.Across all species, the rate of predation and removal was relatively slow. After 1 month, 70% of seeds remainedintact and outwardly viable, while the number fell to 38% after 1 year. The proportion of seeds remaining intact indroppings varied considerably between species: soft-seeded and large-seeded species were more likely to escaperemoval and predation. Importantly, across all species, seeds in droppings were no more likely to be predated thanthose left undispersed under the parent tree. We speculate that seed predating and scatter-hoarding rodents areresponsible for the vast majority of predation and removal from droppings and that the few seeds which undergosecondary dispersal survive to germination. Our findings reinforce the conclusion that the cassowary is an impor-tant seed disperser; however, dispersal effectiveness for particular plant species can be reduced by massive post-dispersal seed mortality.Key words: Australia, Casuarius Casuarius, disperser effectiveness, secondary dispersal, seed shadow.

  • Predation of cassowary dispersed seeds: is the cassowary an effective disperser?
    Integrative zoology, 2011
    Co-Authors: Matt Bradford, David A Westcott
    Abstract:

    Post-dispersal predation is a potentially significant modifier of the distribution of recruiting plants and an often unmeasured determinant of the effectiveness of a frugivore's dispersal service. In the wet tropical forests of Australia and New Guinea, the cassowary provides a large volume, long distance dispersal service incorporating beneficial gut processing; however, the resultant clumped deposition might expose seeds to elevated mortality. We examined the contribution of post-dispersal seed predation to cassowary dispersal effectiveness by monitoring the fate of 11 species in southern cassowary (Casuarius Casuarius johnsonii Linnaeus) droppings over a period of 1 year. Across all species, the rate of predation and removal was relatively slow. After 1 month, 70% of seeds remained intact and outwardly viable, while the number fell to 38% after 1 year. The proportion of seeds remaining intact in droppings varied considerably between species: soft-seeded and large-seeded species were more likely to escape removal and predation. Importantly, across all species, seeds in droppings were no more likely to be predated than those left undispersed under the parent tree. We speculate that seed predating and scatter-hoarding rodents are responsible for the vast majority of predation and removal from droppings and that the few seeds which undergo secondary dispersal survive to germination. Our findings reinforce the conclusion that the cassowary is an important seed disperser; however, dispersal effectiveness for particular plant species can be reduced by massive post-dispersal seed mortality.

  • Consequences of southern cassowary (Casuarius Casuarius, L.) gut passage and deposition pattern on the germination of rainforest seeds
    Austral Ecology, 2010
    Co-Authors: Matt Bradford, David A Westcott
    Abstract:

    In Australia's tropical rainforests the endangered southern cassowary, Casuarius Casuarius, L., is the largest native frugivore and many plant species, because of the size of their fruits or seeds, are thought to be largely dependent on cassowaries for their dispersal. In this study we asked whether the contribution of cassowaries to plant recruitment extends beyond removing seeds from the vicinity of the parent. To do this we conducted germination trials involving 17 rainforest plant species to test whether cassowary consumption and seed deposition pattern alter germination probability or time to germination. Twenty-four per cent of species showed changed germination probabilities, with one species showing no germination without cassowary consumption, and 35% showed changed time to germination. However these differences did not translate into any significant effects when considered across all species. We examined gut scarification, fruit pulp removal (de-inhibition) and deposition in faecal material as mechanisms for changing germination success; each contributed to the changed success of individual species. There was a negative effect of seed clumping on five species. We conclude that cassowary consumption can modify germination performance in a minority of rainforest plants and that the effect is generally positive. Although the effect on large seeded species was small it is most likely to be important as the cassowary is the only animal in Australia able to internally process large numbers of these seeds.

Trevor H. Worthy - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • The phylogenetic significance of the morphology of the syrinx, hyoid and larynx, of the southern cassowary, Casuarius Casuarius (Aves, Palaeognathae).
    BMC evolutionary biology, 2019
    Co-Authors: Phoebe Louise Mcinerney, Mike S. Y. Lee, Alice M. Clement, Trevor H. Worthy
    Abstract:

    Palaeognathae is a basal clade within Aves and include the large and flightless ratites and the smaller, volant tinamous. Although much research has been conducted on various aspects of palaeognath morphology, ecology, and evolutionary history, there are still areas which require investigation. This study aimed to fill gaps in our knowledge of the Southern Cassowary, Casuarius Casuarius, for which information on the skeletal systems of the syrinx, hyoid and larynx is lacking - despite these structures having been recognised as performing key functional roles associated with vocalisation, respiration and feeding. Previous research into the syrinx and hyoid have also indicated these structures to be valuable for determining evolutionary relationships among neognath taxa, and thus suggest they would also be informative for palaeognath phylogenetic analyses, which still exhibits strong conflict between morphological and molecular trees. The morphology of the syrinx, hyoid and larynx of C. Casuarius is described from CT scans. The syrinx is of the simple tracheo-bronchial syrinx type, lacking specialised elements such as the pessulus; the hyoid is relatively short with longer ceratobranchials compared to epibranchials; and the larynx is comprised of entirely cartilaginous, standard avian anatomical elements including a concave, basin-like cricoid and fused cricoid wings. As in the larynx, both the syrinx and hyoid lack ossification and all three structures were most similar to Dromaius. We documented substantial variation across palaeognaths in the skeletal character states of the syrinx, hyoid, and larynx, using both the literature and novel observations (e.g. of C. Casuarius). Notably, new synapomorphies linking Dinornithiformes and Tinamidae are identified, consistent with the molecular evidence for this clade. These shared morphological character traits include the ossification of the cricoid and arytenoid cartilages, and an additional cranial character, the articulation between the maxillary process of the nasal and the maxilla. Syrinx, hyoid and larynx characters of palaeognaths display greater concordance with molecular trees than do other morphological traits. These structures might therefore be less prone to homoplasy related to flightlessness and gigantism, compared to typical morphological traits emphasised in previous phylogenetic studies.

  • The phylogenetic significance of the morphology of the syrinx, hyoid and larynx, of the Southern Cassowary, Casuarius Casuarius (Aves, Palaeognathae)
    2019
    Co-Authors: Phoebe Louise Mcinerney, Mike S. Y. Lee, Alice M. Clement, Trevor H. Worthy
    Abstract:

    Abstract Background: The Palaeognathae are a basal clade within Aves and include the large and flightless ratites and the smaller, volant tinamous. Although much research has been conducted on various aspects of palaeognath morphology, ecology, and evolutionary history, there are still areas which require investigation. This study aimed to fill gaps in our knowledge of the Southern Cassowary, Casuarius Casuarius, for which information on the skeletal systems of the syrinx, hyoid and larynx is lacking - despite these structures having been recognised as performing key functional roles associated with vocalisation, respiration and feeding. Previous research into the syrinx and hyoid have also indicated these structures to be valuable for determining evolutionary relationships among neognath taxa, and thus suggest they would also be informative for palaeognath phylogenetic analyses, which still exhibits strong conflict between morphological and molecular trees. Results: The morphology of the syrinx, hyoid and larynx of C. Casuarius is described from CT scans. The syrinx is of the simple tracheo-bronchial syrinx type, lacking specialised elements such as the pessulus; the hyoid is relatively short with longer ceratobranchials compared to epibranchials; and the larynx is comprised of entirely cartilaginous, standard avian anatomical elements including a concave, basin-like cricoid and fused cricoid wings. As in the larynx, both the syrinx and hyoid lack ossification and all three structures were most similar to Dromaius. We documented substantial variation across palaeognaths in the skeletal character states of the syrinx, hyoid, and larynx, using both the literature and novel observations (e.g. of C. Casuarius). Notably, new synapomorphies linking Dinornithiformes and Tinamidae are identified, consistent with the molecular evidence for this clade. These shared morphological character traits include the ossification of the cricoid and arytenoid cartilages, and an additional cranial character, the articulation between the maxillary process of the nasal and the maxilla. Conclusion: Syrinx, hyoid and larynx characters of palaeognaths display greater concordance with molecular trees than do other morphological traits. These structures might therefore be less prone to homoplasy related to flightlessness and gigantism, compared to typical morphological traits emphasised in previous phylogenetic studies. Key Words: Palaeognathae, Cassowary, Syrinx, Hyoid, Larynx, Morphology, Phylogenetics, Optimisation

  • The phylogenetic significance of the morphology of the syrinx, hyoid and larynx, of the Southern Cassowary, Casuarius Casuarius (Aves, Palaeognathae)
    2019
    Co-Authors: Phoebe Louise Mcinerney, Mike S. Y. Lee, Alice M. Clement, Trevor H. Worthy
    Abstract:

    Abstract The Palaeognathae are a basal clade within Aves and include the large and flightless ratites and the smaller, volant tinamous. Although much research has been conducted on various aspects of palaeognath morphology, ecology, and evolutionary history, there are still areas which require investigation. This study aimed to fill gaps in our knowledge of the Southern cassowary, Casuarius Casuarius , for which information on the skeletal systems of the syrinx, hyoid and larynx is lacking despite these structures having been recognised as performing key functional roles associated with vocalisation, respiration and feeding. Previous research into the syrinx and hyoid have also indicated these structures to be valuable for determining evolutionary relationships among neognath taxa, and thus be informative for palaeognath phylogenetic analyses, which still exhibits strong conflict between morphological and molecular trees. We documented variation across palaeognaths in the skeletal character states of the syrinx, hyoid, and larynx, using both the literature and novel observations (e.g. of cassowary). Notably the molecular moa-tinamou clade was found to share morphological character traits including the ossification of the cricoid and arytenoid cartilages, and an additional cranial character, the articulation between the maxillary process of the nasal and the maxilla. These findings contributed to optimisation of syrinx, hyoid and larynx characters showing increased phylogenetic support for palaeognath relationships derived from a molecular and morphological combined-data topology.

  • The phylogenetic significance of the morphology of the syrinx, hyoid and larynx, of the Southern Cassowary, Casuarius Casuarius (Aves, Palaeognathae)
    2019
    Co-Authors: Phoebe Louise Mcinerney, Alice M. Clement, Trevor H. Worthy
    Abstract:

    Abstract The Palaeognathae are a basal clade within Aves and include the large and flightless ratites and the smaller, volant tinamous. Although much research has been conducted on various aspects of palaeognath morphology, ecology, and evolutionary history, there are still areas which require investigation. This study aimed to fill gaps in our knowledge of the Southern cassowary, Casuarius Casuarius, for which information on the syrinx, hyoid and larynx is lacking despite these structures having been recognised as performing key functional roles associated with vocalisation, respiration and feeding. Previous research into the syrinx and hyoid have also indicated these structures to be valuable for determining evolutionary relationships among neognath taxa, and thus may also shed light on palaeognath phylogeny, which still exhibits strong conflict between morphological and molecular trees. We thus documented variation across palaeognaths in syringeal, hyoidal, and laryngeal character states, using both the literature and novel new observations (e.g. of cassowary). Notably the molecular moa-tinamou clade was found to share derived morphological traits including the ossification of the cricoid and arytenoid cartilages, and an additional cranial character, the articulation between the maxillary process of the nasal and the maxilla. Syringeal, hyoidal and laryngeal characters better optimised onto the topology resulting from phylogenetic analyses of a combined molecular and morphology analysis, than molecular-only or morphological-only trees. One primary factor for this support was the aforementioned shared character states between the moa and tinamou, also present in Lithornis and outgroup taxa.

  • NASTRAN file of southern cassowary (Casuarius Casuarius) skull
    2016
    Co-Authors: Marie R. G. Attard, Laura A. B. Wilson, Trevor H. Worthy, Paul Scofield, Peter Johnston, William C. H. Parr, Stephen Wroe
    Abstract:

    This zip file contains NASTRAN files (.nas) of the final cranium and mandible volume mesh used to create the finite element model of the southern cassowary (Casuarius Casuarius) specimen CMAv14294 analysed in the paper

Hamish A Campbell - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Using citizen-collected wildlife sightings to predict traffic strike hot spots for threatened species: a case study on the southern cassowary
    Journal of Applied Ecology, 2016
    Co-Authors: Ross G Dwyer, Luke Carpenter‐bundhoo, Craig E Franklin, Hamish A Campbell
    Abstract:

    Assessing the causal factors underpinning the distribution and abundance of wildlife road-induced mortality can be challenging. This is particularly ubiquitous for rare or elusive species, because traffic strikes occur infrequently for these populations and information about localized abundance, distribution and movements are generally lacking. Here, we assessed whether citizen-collected sightings data may serve as a low cost and efficient means of gathering long-term animal roadside presence and road-crossing information, which could then be used to assess the causative factors and direct mitigation actions aimed at reducing wildlife traffic strike frequency. We explored this principle using two decades of traffic strike records and citizen-collected sightings of the southern cassowary Casuarius Casuarius johnsonii. Roads have bisected the cassowaries' rain forest habitat and despite considerable investment into mitigation strategies for this species, road-induced mortality is considered one of the primary threatening processes affecting the population. Using a Bayesian approach and controlling for spatial autocorrelation with conditional autoregressive models, we demonstrate that traffic strikes are primarily a density-dependent process in the southern cassowary. That is, traffic strike clusters occurred along stretches of road where cassowaries were most frequently sighted. There were, however, road stretches where traffic strike frequency was greater than predicted by the number of roadside sightings, illustrating when and where density-independent processes increased the mortality potential for a road-crossing cassowary.Synthesis and applications. This is the first time that citizen-collected sightings data have been used to systematically inform upon the abundance and distribution of wildlife traffic strike. The technique not only predicts where incidents are likely to occur but also helps us to understand the factors responsible for strike clustering. While not a replacement for systematic surveys, we highlight citizen-collected sightings data as a low-cost option when assessing contributing factors to vehicle-induced mortality. Accounting for density-dependent and density-independent processes will ensure the most effective allocation of resources when implementing wildlife traffic strike mitigation.

  • chemical immobilisation and satellite tagging of free living southern cassowaries
    Australian Veterinary Journal, 2014
    Co-Authors: Hamish A Campbell, Ross G Dwyer, Scott Sullivan, D Mead, Graham Lauridsen
    Abstract:

    Background: The southern cassowary (Casuarius Casuarius johnsonii) attains 1.8m in height and over 80kg in weight. These large birds are equipped with large claws and, although not a direct threat to humans, they have caused serious injury to handlers and members of the public. Methods and results: This study describes chemical immobilisation, restraint, transport and post-monitoring (satellite tracking) methodologies for adult and juvenile southern cassowaries, captured and released from their natural environment. Conclusions: The described methods have improved the management and research opportunities for the southern cassowary and may be transferable to other species of large ratite.

  • prioritising the protection of habitat utilised by southern cassowaries Casuarius Casuarius johnsonii
    Endangered Species Research, 2012
    Co-Authors: Hamish A Campbell, Ross G Dwyer, Sean Fitzgibbons, Carissa J Klein, Graham Lauridsen, Adam Mckeown, Annebelle Olsson, Scott Sullivan, Matthew E Watts, David A Westcott
    Abstract:

    The southern cassowary Casuarius Casuarius johnsonii L. is an endangered flightless bird from northern Australia. The cassowaries' rainforest habitat has been extensively cleared, and the population primarily exists within discrete protected areas. They do, however, venture outside the reserves into modified landscapes, and it is here they are exposed to threatening pro- cesses. We used GPS-based telemetry and the adaptive local convex hull (a-LoCoH) non-paramet- ric kernel method to define the relationship between cassowary home range (HR) and a protec- tion-area network. The study showed that: (1) females had a larger HR than males; (2) overlapping HR occurred between but not within the sexes; (3) HRs of the same sex partitioned along defined boundaries; and (4) the current protected areas only encompassed core HR for the inhabiting cas- sowaries. This information was incorporated within a spatial-conservation-prioritisation analysis to define the relative cost:benefit relationship for protecting the currently non-protected land utilised by the cassowaries. The results showed that the current reserve system may accommodate up to 24 adult cassowaries, only offering HR protection at the 40 to 60% a-LoCoH. This could be raised, relatively cheaply (1.2-fold the current costs), to 70% a-LoCoH for all birds by protecting adjacent forested areas on private land. Protection beyond the 70% a-LoCoH, however, required protection of large expanses of agricultural land, resulting in an exponential increase in monetary cost (5.1-fold). We argue that total HR protection for the cassowaries was an unfeasible conserva- tion option, but protection of core habitat was achieved relatively cheaply. Combining core HS protection with target incentives to landowners of adjacent cleared land may be the most cost- effective conservation strategy for C.c. johnsonii.

Matt Bradford - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Predation of cassowary dispersed seeds: is the cassowary an effective disperser?
    Integrative Zoology, 2011
    Co-Authors: Matt Bradford, David A Westcott
    Abstract:

    Abstract Post-dispersal predation is a potentially significant modifier of the distribution of recruiting plants and an oftenunmeasured determinant of the effectiveness of a frugivore’s dispersal service. In the wet tropical forests of Austra-lia and New Guinea, the cassowary provides a large volume, long distance dispersal service incorporating benefi-cial gut processing; however, the resultant clumped deposition might expose seeds to elevated mortality. We exam-ined the contribution of post-dispersal seed predation to cassowary dispersal effectiveness by monitoring the fateof 11 species in southern cassowary (Casuarius Casuarius johnsonii Linnaeus) droppings over a period of 1 year.Across all species, the rate of predation and removal was relatively slow. After 1 month, 70% of seeds remainedintact and outwardly viable, while the number fell to 38% after 1 year. The proportion of seeds remaining intact indroppings varied considerably between species: soft-seeded and large-seeded species were more likely to escaperemoval and predation. Importantly, across all species, seeds in droppings were no more likely to be predated thanthose left undispersed under the parent tree. We speculate that seed predating and scatter-hoarding rodents areresponsible for the vast majority of predation and removal from droppings and that the few seeds which undergosecondary dispersal survive to germination. Our findings reinforce the conclusion that the cassowary is an impor-tant seed disperser; however, dispersal effectiveness for particular plant species can be reduced by massive post-dispersal seed mortality.Key words: Australia, Casuarius Casuarius, disperser effectiveness, secondary dispersal, seed shadow.

  • Predation of cassowary dispersed seeds: is the cassowary an effective disperser?
    Integrative zoology, 2011
    Co-Authors: Matt Bradford, David A Westcott
    Abstract:

    Post-dispersal predation is a potentially significant modifier of the distribution of recruiting plants and an often unmeasured determinant of the effectiveness of a frugivore's dispersal service. In the wet tropical forests of Australia and New Guinea, the cassowary provides a large volume, long distance dispersal service incorporating beneficial gut processing; however, the resultant clumped deposition might expose seeds to elevated mortality. We examined the contribution of post-dispersal seed predation to cassowary dispersal effectiveness by monitoring the fate of 11 species in southern cassowary (Casuarius Casuarius johnsonii Linnaeus) droppings over a period of 1 year. Across all species, the rate of predation and removal was relatively slow. After 1 month, 70% of seeds remained intact and outwardly viable, while the number fell to 38% after 1 year. The proportion of seeds remaining intact in droppings varied considerably between species: soft-seeded and large-seeded species were more likely to escape removal and predation. Importantly, across all species, seeds in droppings were no more likely to be predated than those left undispersed under the parent tree. We speculate that seed predating and scatter-hoarding rodents are responsible for the vast majority of predation and removal from droppings and that the few seeds which undergo secondary dispersal survive to germination. Our findings reinforce the conclusion that the cassowary is an important seed disperser; however, dispersal effectiveness for particular plant species can be reduced by massive post-dispersal seed mortality.

  • Consequences of southern cassowary (Casuarius Casuarius, L.) gut passage and deposition pattern on the germination of rainforest seeds
    Austral Ecology, 2010
    Co-Authors: Matt Bradford, David A Westcott
    Abstract:

    In Australia's tropical rainforests the endangered southern cassowary, Casuarius Casuarius, L., is the largest native frugivore and many plant species, because of the size of their fruits or seeds, are thought to be largely dependent on cassowaries for their dispersal. In this study we asked whether the contribution of cassowaries to plant recruitment extends beyond removing seeds from the vicinity of the parent. To do this we conducted germination trials involving 17 rainforest plant species to test whether cassowary consumption and seed deposition pattern alter germination probability or time to germination. Twenty-four per cent of species showed changed germination probabilities, with one species showing no germination without cassowary consumption, and 35% showed changed time to germination. However these differences did not translate into any significant effects when considered across all species. We examined gut scarification, fruit pulp removal (de-inhibition) and deposition in faecal material as mechanisms for changing germination success; each contributed to the changed success of individual species. There was a negative effect of seed clumping on five species. We conclude that cassowary consumption can modify germination performance in a minority of rainforest plants and that the effect is generally positive. Although the effect on large seeded species was small it is most likely to be important as the cassowary is the only animal in Australia able to internally process large numbers of these seeds.

  • Diet and Dietary Preferences of the Southern Cassowary (Casuarius Casuarius) in North Queensland, Australia
    Biotropica, 2008
    Co-Authors: Matt Bradford, A. J. Dennis, David A Westcott
    Abstract:

    We investigated the diet of the southern cassowary (Casuarius Casuarius) by identifying the seeds and fruits in fecal droppings encountered on a set of transects over 2 yr in upland rain forest in the wet tropics of North Queensland. A total of 198 droppings containing 56 plant species were found. We surveyed fleshy fruit availability over the subsequent 68 mo on transects in the same area to ascertain fruiting patterns in the study area. The number of droppings found each month did not correspond to the pattern of available fruit biomass. There was no relationship between the fruit traits of moisture content, flesh to seed mass ratio, color, or crop size to contribution of a species to the diet. During the lean fruiting season (May-July) cassowaries relied more on species that fruited continuously throughout the year as they were significantly over-represented in droppings, while annual fruiting species were under-represented. During months of high fruit availability (October-December), continuously fruiting species were still over-represented in the diet but became less important while annual and biennial species became more important. Significantly more species with large fruit and large seeds appeared in the diet than expected and we confirm that the cassowary contributes to the continued dispersal of these species over long distances and in large quantities.

  • Cassowary dispersal of the invasive pond apple in a tropical rainforest: the contribution of subordinate dispersal modes in invasion
    Diversity and Distributions, 2007
    Co-Authors: David A Westcott, Adam Mckeown, Matt Bradford, Melissa J. Setter, Stephen D. Setter
    Abstract:

    Dispersal is a significant determinant of the pattern and process of invasions; however, weed dispersal distances are rarely described and descriptions of dispersal kernels are completely lacking for vertebrate-dispersed weeds. Here, we describe dispersal kernels generated by a native disperser, the endangered southern cassowary (Casuarius Casuarius, L.) for an invasive, tropical rainforest plant, pond apple (Annona glabra, L.). Pond apple is primarily water-dispersed and is managed as such. We consider whether cassowary dispersal, as a numerically subordinate dispersal mode, provides an additional dispersal service that may modify the invasion process. In infested areas, pond apple seed was common in cassowary dung. Gut passage had no effect on the probability of single seed germination but deposition in clumps or as whole fruits reduced the probability of germination below that of single seeds. Gut passage times ranged from 65 to 1675 min. Combined with cassowary movement data, this resulted in estimated dispersal distances of 12.5-5212 m, with a median distance of 387 m (quartile range 112-787 m). Native frugivores can be effective dispersers of weeds in rainforest and even terrestrial dispersers can provide long-distance dispersal. Importantly, though pond apple might be expected to be almost entirely dispersed downstream and along the margins of aquatic and marine habitats, cassowaries provide dispersal upstream and between drainages, leading to novel dispersal outcomes. Even through the provision of small quantities of novel dispersal outcomes, subordinate dispersal modes can play a significant role in determining invasion pattern and influence the ultimate success of control programs by providing dispersal to locations unattainable via the primary mode.

Dimara, Petrus A. - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • PERBURUAN KASUARI (Casuarius spp.) SECARA TRADISIONAL OLEH MASYARAKAT SUKU NDUGA DI DISTRIK SAWAERMA KABUPATEN ASMAT (The traditional hunting of Kasuari (Casuarius sp.) by Nduga tribe in Sawaerma District, Asmat Regency)
    'Universitas Gadjah Mada', 2014
    Co-Authors: Rahawarin, Yohanes Y., Kilmaskossu M. St. E., Kerepea Y., Mofu, Wolfram Y., Angrianto Rusdi, Peday, Hans F. Z., Sinery, Anton S., Dimara, Petrus A.
    Abstract:

    ABSTRAKPenelitian ini bertujuan mengkaji kegiatan perburuan kasuari secara tradisonal oleh masyarakat suku Nduga di Distrik Sawaerma, Kabupaten Asmat. Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah metode deskriptif dengan teknik studi kasus. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa perburuan kasuari oleh masyarakat suku Nduga di Distrik Sawaerma bertujuan untuk memenuhi kebutuhan protein hewani dan pendapatan ekonomi keluarga. Aktivitas berburu kasuari oleh masyarakat suku Nduga masih dilakukan secara tradisional dengan menggunakan alat-alat tradisional seperti parang, kapak dan busur, anak panah. Selain itu cara penangkapan kasuari dilakukan dengan jerat leher dan jerat kaki maupun bantuan anjing berburu. Kegiatan berburu kasuari dilakukan secara secara perorangan maupun kelompok sesuai dengan hak adat (dusun). Kegiatan berburu lebih banyak dilakukan pada pagi dan malam hari, terutama saat musim hujan. Jenis kasuari yang terdapat pada areal hutan di sekitar Distrik Sawaerma adalah Kasuari Gelambir Ganda (Casuarius-Casuarius), Kasuari Gelambir Tunggal (Casuarius unppendiculatus), dan Kasuari Kerdil (Casuarius bennetti). Rata-rata jumlah hasil buruan kasuari yang mengunakan jerat kaki atau leher sebanyak 2-3 ekor/hari, sedangkan menggunakan anjing berburu 1-2 ekor/hari. ABSTRACTThe research was aimed to discribe how the Nduga tribe in Sawaerma district, Asmat Regency is hunting kasuari traditionally. Descriptive method with case study was employed in this research. The resultshave shown that the main purposes of hunting kasusari by Nduga tribe were to fulfill their own need of protein as well as family income. The Nduga tribe have hunted kasuari traditionally by using traditional tools including cleavers, axe, and arrow. In addition, this tribe also hunts kasuari using neck and feet trapsas well as hunting dogs.The result also showed that Nduga tribe hunted kasuari alone or in group, and they did it based on their land customary. The most hunting time were in the morning and evening especially during rainy seasons. Single wattle (Casuarius unppendiculatus),double wattle (Casuarius-Casuarius),and dwarf (Casuarius bennetti) cassowaries were foundin the area. Average number of kasuari hunted using neck and feet trap was 2 – 3 individu per day, while using hunting dogs was 1 – 2 individu per day.ABSTRAKPenelitian ini bertujuan mengkaji kegiatan perburuan kasuari secara tradisonal oleh masyarakat suku Nduga di Distrik Sawaerma, Kabupaten Asmat. Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah metode deskriptif dengan teknik studi kasus. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa perburuan kasuari oleh masyarakat suku Nduga di Distrik Sawaerma bertujuan untuk memenuhi kebutuhan protein hewani dan pendapatan ekonomi keluarga. Aktivitas berburu kasuari oleh masyarakat suku Nduga masih dilakukan secara tradisional dengan menggunakan alat-alat tradisional seperti parang, kapak dan busur, anak panah. Selain itu cara penangkapan kasuari dilakukan dengan jerat leher dan jerat kaki maupun bantuan anjing berburu. Kegiatan berburu kasuari dilakukan secara secara perorangan maupun kelompok sesuai dengan hak adat (dusun). Kegiatan berburu lebih banyak dilakukan pada pagi dan malam hari, terutama saat musim hujan. Jenis kasuari yang terdapat pada areal hutan di sekitar Distrik Sawaerma adalah Kasuari Gelambir Ganda (Casuarius-Casuarius), Kasuari Gelambir Tunggal (Casuarius unppendiculatus), dan Kasuari Kerdil (Casuarius bennetti). Rata-rata jumlah hasil buruan kasuari yang mengunakan jerat kaki atau leher sebanyak 2-3 ekor/hari, sedangkan menggunakan anjing berburu 1-2 ekor/hari. ABSTRACTThe research was aimed to discribe how the Nduga tribe in Sawaerma district, Asmat Regency is hunting kasuari traditionally. Descriptive method with case study was employed in this research. The resultshave shown that the main purposes of hunting kasusari by Nduga tribe were to fulfill their own need of protein as well as family income. The Nduga tribe have hunted kasuari traditionally by using traditional tools including cleavers, axe, and arrow. In addition, this tribe also hunts kasuari using neck and feet trapsas well as hunting dogs.The result also showed that Nduga tribe hunted kasuari alone or in group, and they did it based on their land customary. The most hunting time were in the morning and evening especially during rainy seasons. Single wattle (Casuarius unppendiculatus),double wattle (Casuarius-Casuarius),and dwarf (Casuarius bennetti) cassowaries were foundin the area. Average number of kasuari hunted using neck and feet trap was 2 – 3 individu per day, while using hunting dogs was 1 – 2 individu per day

  • Perburuan Kasuari (Casuarius Spp.) Secara Tradisional Oleh Masyarakat Suku Nduga Di Distrik Sawaerma Kabupaten Asmat (the Traditional Hunting of Kasuari (Casuarius SP.) by Nduga Tribe in Sawaerma District, Asmat Regency)
    Gadjah Mada University, 2014
    Co-Authors: Rahawarin, Yohanes Y., Kerepea Y., Mofu, Wolfram Y., Sinery, Anton S., Kilmaskossu M. S., Angrianto R., Peday H. F., Dimara, Petrus A.
    Abstract:

    The research was aimed to discribe how the Nduga tribe in Sawaerma district, Asmat Regency is hunting kasuari traditionally. Descriptive method with case study was employed in this research. The resultshave shown that the main purposes of hunting kasusari by Nduga tribe were to fulfill their own need of protein as well as family income. The Nduga tribe have hunted kasuari traditionally by using traditional tools including cleavers, axe, and arrow. In addition, this tribe also hunts kasuari using neck and feet trapsas well as hunting dogs.The result also showed that Nduga tribe hunted kasuari alone or in group, and they did it based on their land customary. The most hunting time were in the morning and evening especially during rainy seasons. Single wattle (Casuarius unppendiculatus),double wattle (Casuarius-Casuarius),and dwarf (Casuarius bennetti) cassowaries were foundin the area. Average number of kasuari hunted using neck and feet trap was 2 – 3 individu per day, while using hunting dogs was 1 – 2 individu per day