Home range and den use of common brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) in urban forest remnants

2005 ◽  
Vol 32 (8) ◽  
pp. 681 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Harper
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Urban Forest ◽  
Brushtail Possum ◽  
Urban Landscapes ◽  
Trichosurus Vulpecula ◽  
Residential Areas ◽  
Minimum Convex Polygon ◽  
Close Proximity ◽  
Forest Remnants ◽  
Den Use

The common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) is an arboreal marsupial that has adapted well to urban landscapes. Fifteen adult possums (12 female, 3 male) caught in small patches of indigenous vegetation (remnants) in the south-east of metropolitan Melbourne were radio-tracked over a three-month period to investigate nocturnal behaviour and den use. Minimum convex polygon (100%) home-range estimates of both female (1.02 ± 0.28 ha) and male (1.19 ± 0.33 ha) urban brushtail possums trapped in urban forest remnants appear to be smaller than those previously reported for urban brushtail possums. All the brushtail possums foraged extensively in remnants but made repeated forays into adjacent residential areas. The use of few dens, by both female (2.21 ± 0.35 ha) and male (2.51 ± 1.45 ha) brushtail possums, in close proximity to their nocturnal ranges is similar to the behaviour of non-urban brushtail possums

Den use, home range and territoriality of the koomal (Trichosurus vulpecula hypoleucus) with implications for current forest management strategies

2012 ◽  
Vol 60 (3) ◽  
pp. 141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennyffer Cruz ◽  
Duncan R. Sutherland ◽  
Luke K.-P. Leung
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Spatial Dynamics ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Trichosurus Vulpecula ◽  
Jarrah Forest ◽  
Den Use ◽  
Western Australian ◽  
Eucalyptus Wandoo ◽  
Near Threatened

The koomal (Trichosurus vulpecula hypoleucus) is a declining subspecies (‘near-threatened’), residing largely within the Western Australian jarrah forest, a forest managed for both conservation and for forestry (roughly half is available for logging). Information on the spatial dynamics of koomal is essential to evaluating whether logging prescriptions provide adequate protection for this threatened species. Here we describe the home range and territoriality of koomal, as well as the characteristics and use of their den trees, at multiple sites within the jarrah forest. We also compare the characteristics of den trees used by koomal against logging prescriptions and previous models that estimate availability of den trees. Results suggested that koomal home ranges varied between sites and sexes, with males having the larger home ranges. Koomal also maintained exclusive core territories, probably to protect their den trees from same-sex individuals. Den trees used by koomal had similar characteristics to those outlined in logging prescriptions, but also included two additional characteristics that may improve the retention of trees suitable for koomal: den trees were preferentially of marri (Corymbia calophylla) and wandoo (Eucalyptus wandoo) species, and had some level of canopy connectivity. Overall, findings from this study should help future evaluations of the effectiveness of logging prescriptions in providing adequate den availability for koomal.

A method for estimating wildlife detection probabilities in relation to home-range use: insights from a field study on the common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)

2005 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 217 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen J. Ball ◽  
David Ramsey ◽  
Graham Nugent ◽  
Bruce Warburton ◽  
Murray Efford
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Radio Telemetry ◽  
Distance Sampling ◽  
Brushtail Possum ◽  
Native Forest ◽  
Trichosurus Vulpecula ◽  
Radio Receivers ◽  
Detection Probabilities ◽  
Home Range Use ◽  
Wildlife Detection

Using field data from brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula), we present a method for modelling wildlife detection probabilities. Whereas detection functions typically (e.g. for distance sampling) describe the probability of direct human observations of animal subjects, we adapted this approach for cryptic species where observation depends on animals being caught in traps. Specifically, we characterised the probability of individual brushtail possums being caught by leg-hold traps in an area of farmland and native forest in New Zealand. Detection probability was defined as the per-individual, per-trap, per-night probability of a possum being captured, and was modelled as a function of home-range utilisation. Radio-telemetry was used to define the home-range distributions of 18 possums, and a combination of scanning radio-receivers and movement-activated video-cameras recorded instances when radio-collared possums encountered and stepped on the trigger of leg-hold traps (inactivated by being wired open). We estimated a 5% chance of trapping individual possums with a single leg-hold trap located in the centre of their home range for one night (median value across possums). Furthermore, this probability decreased rapidly as a function of distance, so that at 120 m from the centre of the home range there was less than a 1% chance of trapping success per possum per night. The techniques developed in this study could be applied to a wide variety of species and sampling methods.

scholarly journals Preovulatory follicle development and ovulation in the brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) monitored by repeated laparoscopy

Reproduction ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 110 (2) ◽  
pp. 361-370 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. L. Crawford ◽  
G. H. Shackell ◽  
E. G. Thompson ◽  
B. J. McLeod ◽  
P. R. Hurst
Keyword(s):  
Brushtail Possum ◽  
Follicle Development ◽  
Trichosurus Vulpecula ◽  
Preovulatory Follicle

Field Observations on the Common Striped Possum (Dactylopsila Trivirgata) in North Queensland.

1996 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 755 ◽  
Author(s):  
KA Handasyde ◽  
RW Martin
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Home Range ◽  
Foraging Behaviour ◽  
Male Body ◽  
Radio Tracking ◽  
Minimum Convex Polygon ◽  
Far North ◽  
Large Trees ◽  
The Common ◽  
Primary Habitat

Habitat utilisation and foraging behaviour by the common striped possum (Dactylopsila trivirgata) was investigated by means of spotlighting and radio-tracking at Shiptons Flat, far north Queensland. Vine forest was the primary habitat of D. trivirgata; however, animals were also observed in open eucalypt (Eucalyptus tereticornis) woodland. Information collected on foraging behaviour suggests that D. trivirgata are generalist insectivores consuming some fruit and other foodstuffs, such as honey. Radio-tracking data were used to calculate the home-range areas of two subadult males. The home range of the smaller male (body weight 290 g) was 5.2 ha (by the 95% harmonic mean (HM) method) or 6.5 ha (by the minimum convex polygon (MCP) method), and that of the larger male (body weight 415 g) was 21.2 ha (95% HM) or 21.3 ha (MCP). Large trees with hollows, which are utilized for denning, appear to be an important feature of the habitat for this species. D. trivirgata exhibits a pronounced degree of sociality and may breed seasonally. Observations suggest that amethystine pythons (Morelia amethistina) may be major predators of D. trivirgata at Shiptons Flat.

Expression of the FcRn receptor (α and β) gene homologues in the intestine of suckling brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) pouch young

2003 ◽  
Vol 39 (12) ◽  
pp. 707-717 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.H Western ◽  
D.C Eckery ◽  
J Demmer ◽  
J.L Juengel ◽  
K.P McNatty ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Brushtail Possum ◽  
Trichosurus Vulpecula

Patterns of exotic plants in relation to anthropogenic edges within urban forest remnants

2012 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 525-535 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard LaPaix ◽  
Karen Harper ◽  
Bill Freedman
Keyword(s):  
Urban Forest ◽  
Exotic Plants ◽  
Forest Remnants
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