Camera trap detection of mycophagy among co‐occurring vertebrates

Abstract

Thirty camera traps were deployed for a total of 4179 trap-nights between January and June 2020 as part of a project assessing post-fire recovery of pademelons (Thylogale spp.) in northern New South Wales. By chance, one camera documented a site that was highly productive for the ectomycorrhizal fungal genus Amanita. This camera provided a rare opportunity to document a diversity of co-habitating vertebrates that utilise these ectomycorrhizal fungi for food and in turn perform an important ecosystem function through the dispersal of their spores. Our camera recorded eleven vertebrate species; of these, we captured photographic evidence of Australian brush-turkeys (Alectura lathami), a parma wallaby (Notamacropus parma), long-nosed bandicoots (Perameles nasuta), red-legged pademelons (Thylogale stigmatica) and red-necked pademelons (T. thetis) feeding on fungal fruiting bodies.

Mammalian Mycophagy: a Global Review of Ecosystem Interactions Between Mammals and Fungi

“… Walton (1903) noted that North American red squirrels ( Tamiasciurus hudsonicus ) regularly ate the gills of mushrooms and rejected the rest of the sporocarp. Using camera trapping, Elliott & Vernes (2021a) showed that several species of Australian vertebrates (both mammals and birds) fed on Amanita mushrooms, with a preference for the caps of sporocarps. We observed that many small mammals (especially rodents) preferentially eat the hymenium before other portions of the fungal sporocarp ( Fig.…”

“…Camera trapping requires the researchers to either place fungi within the field of view of the camera or be very strategic and/or lucky with camera placement to actually capture fungal sporulation ( Vernes et al 2014 , Vernes & Jarman 2014 , Schmid et al . 2019 , Ferkingstad 2020 , Elliott & Vernes 2021a , see Supplementary Video S1 ).…”

Mound‐building behaviour of a keystone bioturbator alters rates of leaf litter decomposition and movement in urban reserves

“…Movement of leaf litter by male brush‐turkeys in the breeding season may have reduced the habitat and resources available for decomposing species surrounding their mounds. Brush‐turkey foraging for invertebrates and fungi may also have reduced the abundance of decomposing species (Elliott & Vernes, 2021; Jones & Göth, 2008). However, the greater difference in decomposition between mesh sizes in the breeding season suggests that macroinvertebrates played a greater role in decomposition during this season.…”