Changes to a population of common ringtail possums (Pseudocheirus peregrinus) after bushfire

Russell, Benjamin G.; Smith, Barbara L.; Augee, M. L.

doi:10.1071/wr01047

Cited by 38 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Animals spend some time on the ground; they utilize dreys, enclosed nest-like constructions, in addition to tree hollows [47]. The choice of dreys over hollows for nests may be a response to predation risk, as dreys more successfully facilitate escape from arboreal predators [48], [49]. Ringtails form the major prey of the fox and the lace monitor in the study region [50], [51], providing potential for competition between the two predators over this shared resource [52].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stress Triangle: Do Introduced Predators Exert Indirect Costs on Native Predators and Prey?

et al. 2013

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Non-consumptive effects of predators on each other and on prey populations often exceed the effects of direct predation. These effects can arise from fear responses elevating glucocorticoid (GC) hormone levels (predator stress hypothesis) or from increased vigilance that reduces foraging efficiency and body condition (predator sensitive foraging hypothesis); both responses can lead to immunosuppression and increased parasite loads. Non-consumptive effects of invasive predators have been little studied, even though their direct impacts on local species are usually greater than those of their native counterparts. To address this issue, we explored the non-consumptive effects of the invasive red fox Vulpes vulpes on two native species in eastern Australia: a reptilian predator, the lace monitor Varanus varius and a marsupial, the ringtail possum Pseudocheirus peregrinus. In particular, we tested predictions derived from the above two hypotheses by comparing the basal glucocorticoid levels, foraging behaviour, body condition and haemoparasite loads of both native species in areas with and without fox suppression. Lace monitors showed no GC response or differences in haemoparasite loads but were more likely to trade safety for higher food rewards, and had higher body condition, in areas of fox suppression than in areas where foxes remained abundant. In contrast, ringtails showed no physiological or behavioural differences between fox-suppressed and control areas. Predator sensitive foraging is a non-consumptive cost for lace monitors in the presence of the fox and most likely represents a response to competition. The ringtail’s lack of response to the fox potentially represents complete naiveté or strong and rapid selection to the invasive predator. We suggest evolutionary responses are often overlooked in interactions between native and introduced species, but must be incorporated if we are to understand the suite of forces that shape community assembly and function in the wake of biological invasions.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stress Triangle: Do Introduced Predators Exert Indirect Costs on Native Predators and Prey?

et al. 2013

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“…In an experiment where exclosures were erected to exclude predators including V. gouldii from a natural habitat, the density of small reptiles significantly increased [59]. In another example, recovery of a ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus) population after fire was limited by a proportional increase in predation rates by lace monitors and diamond pythons (Morelia spilota spilota) Review [60]. In the Great Victoria Desert, Pianka [35] described V. gouldii as a keystone predator as it consumes the largest array of reptile species including three other species of Varanus, as well as its own kind.…”

Section: Varanids and Prey Community Structurementioning

confidence: 99%

Could controlling mammalian carnivores lead to mesopredator release of carnivorous reptiles?

Sutherland¹,

Glen²,

Tores³

2010

Proc. R. Soc. B.

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Emerging evidence increasingly illustrates the importance of a holistic, rather than taxon-specific, approach to the study of ecological communities. Considerable resources are expended to manage both introduced and native mammalian carnivores to improve conservation outcomes; however, management can result in unforeseen and sometimes catastrophic outcomes. Varanid lizards are likely to be apex-or mesopredators, but being reptiles are rarely considered by managers and researchers when investigating the impacts of mammalian carnivore management. Instances of mesopredator release have been described for Varanus gouldii as a result of fox and cat management in Australia, with cascading effects on faunal community structure. A meta-analysis showing extensive dietary niche overlap between varanids, foxes and cats plus a review of experimental and circumstantial evidence suggests mesopredator release of V. gouldii and about five other medium to large species of varanid lizard is likely in other regions. This highlights the need for managers to adopt a whole-of-community approach when attempting to manage predators for sustained fauna conservation, and that additional research is required to elucidate whether mesopredator release of varanids is a widespread consequence of carnivore management, altering the intended faunal responses.

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“…Indeed, Australia's mammalian fauna has evolved in relative isolation for around 40 million years, and is dominated by marsupials, rather than placental mammals as throughout the rest of the world (Strahan 1998). Thus potential prey may have defences which have evolved mechanisms to reduce predation by marsupials such as Tiger Quolls, but these may not function for evolutionary novel predators like foxes (Russell et al 2003). Similarly, defences which have evolved to reduce predation by foxes among northern hemisphere prey species may not have evolved Australian Zoologist volume 33 (2) in Australia at all.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Responses of four Critical Weight Range (CWR) marsupials to the odours of native and introduced predators

Russell¹,

Banks²

2005

Australian Zoologist

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In Australia many critical weight range (CWR) species are threatened by predation from the introduced Red Fox Vulpes vulpes. Understanding how these prey species respond to native predators such as the Tiger Quoll Dasyurus maculatus, and comparing their responses to foxes is important in understanding why fox predation is such a problem. Many northern hemisphere mammalian species have developed responses to the odours of the main species which prey upon them. The situation in Australia remains unclear. We looked at the effect of scenting traps with the faeces of the Tiger Quoll and the Red Fox on the capture rates of four species of CWR marsupials, the Long-nosed Bandicoot Perameles nasuta, the Southern Brown Bandicoot Isoodon obesulus, the Northern Brown Bandicoot I. macrourus and the Common Brushtail Possum Trichosurus vulpecula. None of these species responded to fox odour. However despite low capture rates, Northern Brown Bandicoots and Common Brushtail Possums were captured significantly more often in traps scented with Tiger Quoll faeces. This indicates that these species may be responding to predator odours, but not with the traditionally expected avoidance. Reasons for why this may be so are discussed.

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Changes to a population of common ringtail possums (Pseudocheirus peregrinus) after bushfire

Cited by 38 publications

References 20 publications

Stress Triangle: Do Introduced Predators Exert Indirect Costs on Native Predators and Prey?

Stress Triangle: Do Introduced Predators Exert Indirect Costs on Native Predators and Prey?

Could controlling mammalian carnivores lead to mesopredator release of carnivorous reptiles?

Responses of four Critical Weight Range (CWR) marsupials to the odours of native and introduced predators

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