Inter-population differences in the tolerance of a marsupial folivore to plant secondary metabolites

DeGabriel, Jane L.; Moore, Ben D.; Shipley, Lisa A.; Krockenberger, Andrew K.; Wallis, Ian R.; Johnson, Christopher N.; Foley, William J.

doi:10.1007/s00442-009-1407-9

Cited by 18 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 51 publications

(53 reference statements)

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“…For example, T. v. hypoleucus were found to withstand much higher concentrations of the metabolic poison sodium fluoroacetate of the plant genera Gastrolobium and Oxylobium native to south-west Australia, compared to T. v. vulpecula from South Australia, where Gastrolobium and Oxylobium are uncommon (King et al 1978). Two populations of T. v. vulpecula and a population of T. v. johnstonii also varied in their tolerance to three types of Eucalyptus anti-feedants (DeGabriel et al 2009b). Lastly, the degree of folivory in T. vulpecula may also be influenced by the timing and flushing of new leaves and the seasonal availability of non-foliar foods (Freeland & Winter 1975;Fitzgerald 1976;Kerle 1985 and this study; Cowan & Moeed 1987;Cowan 1990).…”

Section: Comparisons Between Subspeciesmentioning

confidence: 92%

“…Some insect species have elevated levels of toxins or fibre (DeFoliart 1992) and are thus less nutritious than foliage. The quality of a food item thus depends not just on its broad type (foliar vs. non-foliar), but also on the species or individual it belongs to, its age and/or regional distribution (Kavanagh & Lambert 1990;DeGabriel et al 2009b). Our analysis could thus be improved in future research by obtaining more accurate measures of the quality of each food item in the diet, both in terms of nutritional value and antifeedants.…”

Section: Comparisons Between Subspeciesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Are smaller subspecies of common brushtail possums more omnivorous than larger ones?

Cruz

Sutherland²,

Martin³

et al. 2012

Austral Ecology

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Body size is often associated with a dietary divergence within taxonomically related groups so that large animals are often folivorous, while smaller species shift progressively towards omnivory or carnivory.This trend may be influenced by allometric constrains which result in relatively high energetic requirements, but low gut capacities in small animals, compared to their large counterparts. The common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula, Phalangeridae) has six subspecies ranging widely in weight (1-4 kg). They are not strictly folivorous, but supplement their diet with more nutritious, non-foliar foods. We predicted that T. vulpecula subspecies diverged in diet in association with body size, with smaller subspecies consuming higher proportions of non-foliar foods. We assessed this with a review and a meta-analysis of previous Australian studies. We also investigated the previously unquantified diet of T. v. hypoleucus at three sites in the northern jarrah forest of Western Australia. Results from the meta-analysis and the review supported our prediction. However, the large variability in the data highlighted their limitations and those of the techniques commonly used to quantify the diet of T. vulpecula. Nonetheless, small subspecies of T. vulpecula appear to consume higher proportions of non-foliar foods. These results should encourage further research into the body size/diet relationship within T. vulpecula and other possum species. Results from the dietary study of T. v. hypoleucus emphasized their omnivorous diet, which was dominated by foliage and flowers and smaller proportions of invertebrates, seeds and fruits. The common brushtail possum is seldom an exclusive arboreal folivore, but rather ranges from folivory to omnivory.

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Section: Comparisons Between Subspeciesmentioning

confidence: 92%

Section: Comparisons Between Subspeciesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Are smaller subspecies of common brushtail possums more omnivorous than larger ones?

Cruz

Sutherland²,

Martin³

et al. 2012

Austral Ecology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…These thresholds are largely influenced by intrinsic factors, such as hepatic biotransformation enzyme activity [7,8]. Laboratory studies have established that mammalian herbivores ranging from domesticated goats and sheep [9,10] to wild marsupials [11,12] and rodents [13,14] significantly reduce food intake to avoid overingestion of PSCs, thereby remaining below PSC threshold doses (i.e. the amount of PSCs willingly ingested by an herbivore [13]).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ambient temperature influences tolerance to plant secondary compounds in a mammalian herbivore

2016

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Growing evidence suggests that plant secondary compounds (PSCs) ingested by mammals become more toxic at elevated ambient temperatures, a phenomenon known as temperature-dependent toxicity. We investigated temperaturedependent toxicity in the desert woodrat (Neotoma lepida), a herbivorous rodent that naturally encounters PSCs in creosote bush (Larrea tridentata), which is a major component of its diet. First, we determined the maximum dose of creosote resin ingested by woodrats at warm (28-298C) or cool (21-228C) temperatures. Second, we controlled the daily dose of creosote resin ingested at warm, cool and room (258C) temperatures, and measured persistence in feeding trials. At the warm temperature, woodrats ingested significantly less creosote resin; their maximum dose was two-thirds that of animals at the cool temperature. Moreover, woodrats at warm and room temperatures could not persist on the same dose of creosote resin as woodrats at the cool temperature. Our findings demonstrate that warmer temperatures reduce PSC intake and tolerance in herbivorous rodents, highlighting the potentially adverse consequences of temperature-dependent toxicity. These results will advance the field of herbivore ecology and may hone predictions of mammalian responses to climate change.

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“…For example, populations may become more specialised on local plants, as in the case of woodrats (McEachern et al 2006), or they may be better able to cope with higher concentrations of PSMs in their diets compared to their conspecifics (Mangione et al 2000). Amongst the marsupials, DeGabriel et al (2009b) demonstrated differences in the ability of spatially and genetically separated populations of brushtail possums to tolerate PSMs, with possums from southern Australia showing a more marked decrease in food intake from diets containing terpenes, tannins, a bitter compounds (salicin) and FPCs, than were possums from northern Australia. In contrast, common brushtail possums from eucalypt woodland in northern Australia and the rainforest specialist coppery brushtail possums showed very similar responses to PSMs, despite originating from habitats with very different plant assemblages and PSM profiles.…”

Section: Consequences Of Spatial Variability In the External Environmmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of plant secondary metabolites on the interplay between the internal and external environments of marsupial folivores

et al. 2009

Self Cite

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Most woody plants contain a diverse array of plant secondary metabolites (PSMs) that deter vertebrate herbivores. However, mammalian folivores have evolved a complex of physiological and behavioural strategies to counter these compounds, leading to the development of an ''evolutionary arms race''. Marsupial folivores are ideal models to investigate the role of PSMs in the interaction between the external foraging environment and the digestive physiology of mammalian herbivores, as we have a very strong understanding of the diversity and modes of action of PSMs in Eucalyptus, as well as the mechanisms by which animals overcome the effects of these compounds. Studies of marsupial folivores have benefited from the facts that: these herbivores subsist on relatively poor quality diets; they include feeding types from specialist species such as the koala, to generalists; and life history factors such as maternal investment in reproduction can be measured more easily than in eutherians. Here, we describe patterns of spatial variation in the types and distributions of plant secondary metabolites in Australian forests and discuss how this variation influences foraging behaviour, habitat selection and life history strategies in arboreal, folivorous marsupials. We also provide a summary of our understanding of the mechanisms by which marsupials detect and regulate their intake of toxic compounds. While our examples are drawn largely from studies of the interaction between marsupials and Eucalyptus, this knowledge is applicable to advancing our understanding of interactions in plant-mammal systems more broadly. We also identify and discuss key areas that should be the focus of future research.

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Inter-population differences in the tolerance of a marsupial folivore to plant secondary metabolites

Cited by 18 publications

References 51 publications

Are smaller subspecies of common brushtail possums more omnivorous than larger ones?

Are smaller subspecies of common brushtail possums more omnivorous than larger ones?

Ambient temperature influences tolerance to plant secondary compounds in a mammalian herbivore

The effect of plant secondary metabolites on the interplay between the internal and external environments of marsupial folivores

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