Pursuit dynamics among Australian marsupials and dogs: comparative locomotor performance and escape probability
4 affiliations
- 1School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
- 2School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD 4556, Australia
- 3School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4067, Australia
- 4School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4067, Australia
Abstract
Predation can strongly influence population outcomes, and locomotor performance may be especially important during pursuit–evasion interactions. We hypothesised that differences in performance-based escape capacity could contribute to the abundance and distribution of prey populations. We compared the locomotor performance of northern brown bandicoots (Isoodon macrourus), which persist across mainland Australia, and northern quolls (Dasyurus hallucatus), which have declined on the mainland, with that of domestic dogs (Canis familiaris; multiple breeds, 3.4–44 kg) as an approximation of canid performance. Velocity, acceleration and changes in heading were extracted from top-down video footage and used to estimate relative escape performance. Dogs achieved the highest mean and maximum speeds, whereas quolls showed the greatest turning capacity. Bandicoots were the slowest, least agile and most predictable of the three groups. The ability of quolls to outmanoeuvre a pursuing predator may help explain their association with structurally complex habitats, where agility should provide a greater advantage. By contrast, the persistence and abundance of northern brown bandicoots are likely supported by other ecological traits because their locomotor capacity for avoiding pursuit predators appears limited. These findings show that locomotor performance alone cannot explain prey population outcomes, but may interact with habitat complexity to favour different escape strategies.
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BibTeX
@article{gaschk2026pursuit,
title = {{Pursuit dynamics among Australian marsupials and dogs: comparative locomotor performance and escape probability}},
author = {Joshua L. Gaschk and Kaylah Del Simone and Ami Fadhillah Amir Abdul Nasir and Mikaela J. Bratovic and Robbie S. Wilson and Christofer J. Clemente},
journal = {The Journal of Experimental Biology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1242/jeb.252204},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.252204},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Pursuit dynamics among Australian marsupials and dogs: comparative locomotor performance and escape probability
AU - Joshua L. Gaschk
AU - Kaylah Del Simone
AU - Ami Fadhillah Amir Abdul Nasir
AU - Mikaela J. Bratovic
AU - Robbie S. Wilson
AU - Christofer J. Clemente
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/05
JO - The Journal of Experimental Biology
DO - 10.1242/jeb.252204
UR - https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.252204
AB - Predation can strongly influence population outcomes, and locomotor performance may be especially important during pursuit–evasion interactions. We hypothesised that differences in performance-based escape capacity could contribute to the abundance and distribution of prey populations. We compared the locomotor performance of northern brown bandicoots (Isoodon macrourus), which persist across mainland Australia, and northern quolls (Dasyurus hallucatus), which have declined on the mainland, with that of domestic dogs (Canis familiaris; multiple breeds, 3.4–44 kg) as an approximation of canid performance. Velocity, acceleration and changes in heading were extracted from top-down video footage and used to estimate relative escape performance. Dogs achieved the highest mean and maximum speeds, whereas quolls showed the greatest turning capacity. Bandicoots were the slowest, least agile and most predictable of the three groups. The ability of quolls to outmanoeuvre a pursuing predator may help explain their association with structurally complex habitats, where agility should provide a greater advantage. By contrast, the persistence and abundance of northern brown bandicoots are likely supported by other ecological traits because their locomotor capacity for avoiding pursuit predators appears limited. These findings show that locomotor performance alone cannot explain prey population outcomes, but may interact with habitat complexity to favour different escape strategies.
SN - 0022-0949
SN - 1477-9145
ER -