Genetic viability of a reintroduced population of south-western common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula hypoleucus), Western Australia

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 282
Author(s):  
Lara Semple ◽  
Kym Ottewell ◽  
Colleen Sims ◽  
Henner Simianer ◽  
Margaret Byrne
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Sign Test ◽  
Brushtail Possum ◽  
Trichosurus Vulpecula ◽  
Tissue Samples ◽  
Reintroduced Population ◽  
Common Brushtail Possum ◽  
Source Populations ◽  
The Impact

This study focused on a reintroduced population of south-western common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula hypoleucus) to assess genetic variability and inform future management strategies. Individuals were translocated to Matuwa Kurarra-Kurarra Indigenous Protected Area, Western Australia, from four source populations, but subsequent monitoring has indicated a 50% reduction in population size from original founder numbers in the eight years since establishment. Tissue samples from three of the four source populations and an additional four comparative sites (n=140 animals total) were analysed using 13 microsatellite loci. Inbreeding was lower and heterozygosity was higher in the translocated Matuwa population than in two of the source populations studied, highlighting the benefits of promoting outbreeding through the use of multiple source populations in translocations. However, allelic richness at Matuwa is low relative to two of the source populations, suggesting the impact of population bottlenecks on genetic diversity, which was supported by significant allele frequency mode shift and Wilcoxon rank sign test for heterozygosity excess tests for genetic bottlenecks. Despite the genetic health of the population being stronger than predicted, this population is still at risk due to environmental factors, small size and fragmentation. This is the first study to document patterns of genetic diversity and to highlight issues with translocation for this subspecies and adds to the limited literature illustrating how outbreeding can be used for conservation purposes.

Building selection by the common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)

2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 186
Author(s):  
Yuqing Chen ◽  
Bruce Doran ◽  
Sharyn Sinclair-Hannocks ◽  
John Mangos ◽  
Philip Gibbons
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Brushtail Possum ◽  
Suitable Habitat ◽  
Trichosurus Vulpecula ◽  
Building Maintenance ◽  
National University ◽  
The Common ◽  
Common Brushtail Possum

Abstract ContextThe common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) is a protected native species in Australia that can access buildings in urban areas and cause considerable damage or disruption to building occupants. Although several strategies to discourage this species from entering buildings have been recommended, few have been evaluated empirically. AimsOur study aims to analyse how landscaping and building construction influence occupancy of buildings by the common brushtail possum. MethodsWe collated reports of possums occupying 134 buildings over 12 years on the campus of The Australian National University (ANU), in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). We used generalised linear modelling (GLM) to identify associations between the total number of reported possum-related incidents for buildings and a range of landscape and building characteristics. Key resultsControlling for the effect of building size, we found that the number of reported possum-related incidents in buildings was positively associated with the percentage of tree and shrub canopy cover within the calculated home-range buffer distance of 49m from buildings, length of canopy overhanging roofs and building age, and negatively associated with tree species richness and number of trees with natural hollows and nest boxes within 49m of buildings. There were likely to be more possum-related reports from buildings in areas where the dominant tree genus was native, buildings with parapets (walls extending above the roof), buildings with structures penetrating from the roof, buildings with tile roofs and gable roofs. ConclusionsA combination of suitable habitat surrounding buildings, suitable access to the roofs of buildings and weak points in building roofs (e.g. parapets, roof penetrations), makes them more vulnerable to occupancy by the common brushtail possum. Implications Our results provided clues for managing existing buildings, or designing new buildings, in a way that may reduce the likelihood of occupancy by the common brushtail possum. Our study also demonstrated how building-maintenance records can be used to address human–wildlife conflict over time.

Chemical characterization of milk oligosaccharides of the common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)

2014 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 387-399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tadasu Urashima ◽  
Saori Fujita ◽  
Kenji Fukuda ◽  
Tadashi Nakamura ◽  
Tadao Saito ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Characterization ◽  
Brushtail Possum ◽  
Trichosurus Vulpecula ◽  
Milk Oligosaccharides ◽  
The Common ◽  
Common Brushtail Possum
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