Prey naivety in southern hairy-nosed wombats (Lasiorhinus latifrons) isolated from dingoes (Canis familiaris) for over 80 years

Key findings from this study

This research indicates that:

• Dingo-absent wombats investigate novel scent cues less frequently than dingo-exposed wombats, indicating experience-dependent differences in environmental monitoring.
• Both population groups discriminate between predator and neutral odors, suggesting that predator-specific recognition persists despite 80 years of isolation.
• Reduced attentiveness to environmental chemical signals in isolated populations may compromise threat detection if predators recolonize historically predator-free areas.

Overview

Southern hairy-nosed wombats have been functionally isolated from dingoes for over 80 years across much of their range. This study tested whether prey naivety—loss of predator recognition—has developed in dingo-absent populations compared to dingo-exposed populations. Researchers examined behavioral responses to predator and neutral scent cues using camera traps deployed at wombat burrows.

Methods and approach

Camera traps monitored southern hairy-nosed wombat burrows in dingo-exposed and dingo-absent areas. Three olfactory treatments were assigned: dingo faeces, rabbit faeces, and no scent control. Researchers established an ethogram categorizing behaviors as active, inactive, vigilant, investigative, scent investigative, or grooming. Beta regression models analyzed proportion of time allocated to behaviors. Logistic and gamma models assessed likelihood and duration of scent cue investigation.

Results

Both dingo-exposed and dingo-absent wombats showed similar response patterns, investigating dingo scent more frequently than rabbit scent. However, dingo-exposed wombats demonstrated significantly greater likelihood of investigating scent cues generally, suggesting enhanced attentiveness to environmental novelty and potential threats. Investigation of unfamiliar scent cues represents the initial phase of threat assessment, preceding any direct anti-predator behavioral response.

The data indicate that dingo-absent wombats retain some capacity to discriminate between predator and non-predator odors despite prolonged predator absence. The behavioral difference between populations manifests not in scent type discrimination but in overall responsiveness to environmental chemical signals. This distinction suggests that while predator-specific recognition persists, attentiveness to novel stimuli may be experience-dependent.

Implications

These findings demonstrate that prey naivety in isolated populations is not absolute; wombats maintain baseline discriminatory abilities even after 80 years of predator absence. However, reduced vigilance in dingo-absent populations could prove detrimental if dingoes recolonize these areas or if wombats are translocated to predator-occupied regions. The differential investment in threat assessment between populations indicates that experience shapes not just recognition but active monitoring behavior.

The research establishes that predator reintroduction efforts or range expansion may require behavioral assessment of target populations. Wombats lacking recent predator experience may exhibit compromised threat detection despite retaining baseline discriminatory capacity. These results suggest that conservation strategies addressing prey naivety should account for differential threat-sensing rather than assuming complete loss of predator recognition.

Scope and limitations

This summary is based on the study abstract and available metadata. It does not include a full analysis of the complete paper, supplementary materials, or underlying datasets unless explicitly stated. Findings should be interpreted in the context of the original publication.