DIET SELECTION BY THE SWAMP WALLABY (WALLABIA BICOLOR): FEEDING STRATEGIES UNDER CONDITIONS OF CHANGED FOOD AVAILABILITY

Abstract

Mammals can have either generalized (mixed) or specialized diets. We expected swamp wallabies (Wallabia bicolor) to have mixed diets, and predicted a negative relationship between the selection of a food type and its relative availability (negative frequency dependence). We collected data on diets in a native Eucalyptus forest where the relative availability of food types (defined as 5 plant functional groups: ferns, forbs, monocots, shrubs, and trees) had been altered by timber harvesting. A comparison of diets between individuals living in 2 habitat types (unharvested forest and 5-year-old regenerating areas) showed that in both habitats forbs were the major dietary component, although mod..