Factors affecting the distribution and abundance of Western grey kangaroos (Macropus fuliginosus) and euros (M. robustus) in a fragmented landscape

Abstract

All the remnants of native vegetation in a 1680 km2 area of the central wheatbelt of Western Australia were assessed for use by two species of kangaroo (Western grey kangaroo Macropus fuliginosus and euro M. robustus). Use was determined from faecal pellet density. Densities over large areas (100 km2) varied with the amount of residual native vegetation in the area. The less the vegetation the lower was the faecal density, indicating that increased separation between remnants has led, over the 50–70 years since fragmentation, to lower kangaroo densities.