THE DIET OF THE BRIDLED NAILTAIL WALLABY (ONYCHOGALEA-FRAENATA) .1. SITE AND SEASONAL INFLUENCES AND DIETARY OVERLAP WITH THE BLACK-STRIPED WALLABY (MACROPUS-DORSALIS) AND DOMESTIC CATTLE

The bridled nailtail wallaby (Onychogalea fraenata) is one of Australia's rarest marsupials, persisting only in a small area in central Queensland. Its diet and those of two sympatric herbivores, the black-striped wallaby (Macropus dorsalis) and domestic cattle (Bos taurus/indicus), were assessed by identifying plant fragments in their faeces. The diet of O. fraenata was diverse, consisting of herbaceous plants, grasses and browse. In good seasons the intake was biased towards forbs and other herbaceous plants. Browse was only important when vegetation availability was low. Grass could be a major part of the diet when forbs were scarse. Black-striped wallabies and cattle were largely grass eaters. When conditions were dry, browse contributed up to 16% of the diet of M. dorsalis and 10% of the diet of cattle. Dietary overlap with O. fraenata was greatest at such times, being above 50% for both species. Potential for dietary competition was apparent and it is suggested that this may have been a factor in the decline of O. fraenata with the advancement of European settlement and spread of domestic stock.