Abstract Context Feral cats have been identified as a key threat to Australia’s biodiversity, particularly in arid areas and tropical woodlands. Their presence, abundance and potential impacts in rainforest have received less attention. Aims To investigate the distribution and diet of feral cats (Felis catus) in upland rainforest of the Wet Tropics. Methods We collated available occurrence records from the Wet Tropics, and data from upland camera-trapping surveys over an 8-year period, to assess geographic and elevational distribution of feral cats in the bioregion. We also assessed the diet of feral cats from scats collected at upland sites. Key results Feral cats are widespread through the Wet Tropics bioregion, from the lowlands to the peaks of the highest mountains (>1600 m), and in all vegetation types. Abundance appears to vary greatly across the region. Cats were readily detected during camera-trap surveys in some upland rainforest areas (particularly in the southern Atherton Tablelands and Bellenden Ker Range), but were never recorded in some areas (Thornton Peak, the upland rainforest of Windsor Tableland and Danbulla National Park) despite numerous repeated camera-trap surveys over the past 8 years at some of these sites. Scat analysis suggested that small mammals comprise ∼70% of the diet of feral cats at an upland rainforest site. Multivariate analysis could not detect a difference in mammal community at sites where cats were detected or not. Conclusions Feral cats are widespread in the Wet Tropics and appear to be common in some upland areas. However, their presence and abundance are variable across the region, and the drivers of this variability are not resolved. Small mammals appear to be the primary prey in the rainforest, although the impacts of cats on the endemic and threatened fauna of the Wet Tropics is unknown. Implications Given their documented impact in some ecosystems, research is required to examine the potential impact of cats on Wet Tropics fauna, particularly the many upland endemic vertebrates. Studies are needed on (1) habitat and prey selection, (2) population dynamics, and (3) landscape source–sink dynamics of feral cats in the Wet Tropics.

中文翻译：

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野猫（Felis catus）在澳大利亚东北部湿热带地区的分布和饮食，主要集中在高地雨林

摘要背景野猫已被确定为澳大利亚生物多样性的主要威胁，特别是在干旱地区和热带林地。它们在雨林中的存在、数量和潜在影响较少受到关注。目的调查湿热带高地雨林中野猫（Felis catus）的分布和饮食。方法 我们整理了来自湿热带地区的可用事件记录，以及 8 年期间来自高地相机捕获调查的数据，以评估生物区域中野猫的地理和海拔分布。我们还从在高地收集的粪便中评估了野猫的饮食。主要结果 野猫广泛分布于湿热带生物区，从低地到最高山峰 (>1600 m) 以及所有植被类型。该地区的丰度似乎差异很大。在一些山地雨林地区（特别是在阿瑟顿高原南部和贝伦登克山脉）的相机陷阱调查中很容易发现猫，但在一些地区（桑顿峰、温莎高原和丹布拉国家公园的山地雨林）却从未记录到猫在过去 8 年中，在其中一些地点进行了多次重复的相机陷阱调查。Scat 分析表明，在高地雨林地区，小型哺乳动物约占野猫饮食的 70%。多变量分析无法在检测到猫的地点检测哺乳动物群落的差异。结论 野猫在湿热带地区很普遍，在一些高地地区似乎很常见。然而，它们的存在和丰度在整个地区各不相同 并且这种可变性的驱动因素没有得到解决。小型哺乳动物似乎是热带雨林的主要猎物，尽管猫对湿热带地区特有的和受威胁的动物群的影响尚不清楚。含义 鉴于猫对某些生态系统的影响已被记录在案，因此需要研究猫对热带湿地动物群的潜在影响，尤其是对许多高地特有脊椎动物的潜在影响。需要对湿热带野猫的 (1) 栖息地和猎物选择、(2) 种群动态和 (3) 景观源汇动态进行研究。需要研究猫对湿热带动物群的潜在影响，特别是许多高地特有脊椎动物。需要对湿热带野猫的 (1) 栖息地和猎物选择、(2) 种群动态和 (3) 景观源汇动态进行研究。需要研究猫对湿热带动物群的潜在影响，特别是许多高地特有脊椎动物。需要对湿热带野猫的 (1) 栖息地和猎物选择、(2) 种群动态和 (3) 景观源汇动态进行研究。