The mountain brushtail possum (Trichosurus caninus Ogilby) : disseminator of fungi in the mountain ash forests of the Central Highlands of Victoria?

5 Pages·1993·1.3 MB·English

by  A W Claridge

ResearchReports
Scotts, DJ. and Seebeck, J.H. (1989). Ecology of Stuwe,J.andMueck,S.G.(1990).Vegetationsurveyand
Potorous longipes (Marsupialia: Potoroidae): and classificationoftheCabbageTreeCreekstudyarea.
preliminaryrecommendationsformanagementofits Department ofConsenation. Forests and Lands,
habitat in Victoria, Arthur Rylah Institute for LandsandForestsDivisionS.S.P. TechnicalReport
Environmental Research Technical Report Series No.2.
No. 62. Watts, C.H.S. (1974). The Nuyts Island Bandicoot
Stodart, E. (1983). Long-nosed Bandicoot (Perametes (Isoodon obesulus nauticus). South Australian
nasuta). In 'The Australian Museums Complete Naturalist49:20-24.
BookofAustralianMammals'.EdR.Strahan,p99.
(AngusandRobertson,Sydney).
Stoddart,D.M.(1974).Earthwormsinthedietofthered
fox (Vulpes vulpes). Journal of Zoology 173:
251-275.
The Mountain Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus caninus Ogilby):
Disseminator ofFungi in the Mountain Ash Forests ofthe
Central Highlands ofVictoria ?
A.W. Claridge* and D.B. Lindenmayer**
Abstract mountain ash forests of Victoria because
otherground-dwelling mycophagists such
Faeces collected from the Mountain
as bandicoots and potoroos are rare or
Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus caninus
absent.
Ogilby) at a forest site in the Central
Highlands of Victoria contained fungal
spores. Some spores were from hypogeal Introduction
(underground-fruiting) fungi that form a The Mountain Brushtail Possum,
symbiotic mycorrhizal relationshipon the Trichosurus caninus, is a species of
rootsofavarietyoftreesandshrubs.When arboreal marsupial that islargelyconfined
in symbiosis, these fungi absorb nutrients toforesthabitatsineasternAustralia(How
andwaterfromthesoil anddonatethemto 1983; Lindenmayer et ai 1990). It is
the host plant, and protect its root system common in the montane ash forests ofthe
from deleterious root pathogens. Central Highlands of Victoria
Mycorrhizal fungi are thus integral to the (Lindemayer 1989) where the major
survival, establishment and growth of eucalypt species are Mountain Ash
plants. The possible functional role of T. (Eucalyptus regnans) and Alpine Ash (E.
caninus in dispersing the spores of delegatensis) (Lindenmayer et ai 1991).
mycorrhiza-forming fungi needs to be Despite its status within this region, the
recognized formally in management general ecology of T. caninus remains
practices designed taconserve the species poorly understood although there have
in areas subject to land-uses such as been studies of its diet (Seebeck et ai
logging. The conservation of T. caninus 1984) and habitat requirements
may be particularly important in the (Lindenmayeretal 1990).
Seebeck et ai (1984) found that fungi
* Department of Forestry. Australian National was an important seasonal component of
University.CanberraACT0200,Australia. the diet of T caninus, but did not specify
** Centre for Resource and Environmental Studies. which species were consumed. Here, we
Australian National University. Canberra ACT 0200. describe for the first time some of the
Australia
Addresstor Correspondence(Facsimile:062490746) fungal taxa consumed by 71 caninus at
91
Vol. 110(2)1993
ResearchReports
Cambarville, whichwasthesiteexamined added to the slide and a coverslip placed
bySeebcckctal.(1984). overtheentiresuspension.Thesuspension
wasexaminedusingalightmicroscope(X
Methods 1000 magnification).
Where possible, spore types were
StudySite
The diet ofT. caninus was examined at identifiedtospecies using thedescriptions
Cambarville (37°33'S latitude and of Beaton and Weste (1982; 1984) and
145°53'E longitude), in the Central Beatonetai(1984a; 1984b; 1985a; 1985
Highlands of Victoria, south-eastern b; 1985 c; 1985 d). However, most ofthe
Australia. The area is characterised by spores were placed into a category called
mild summers and cool, wet winters. 'other*(Table 1)becausetheydidnotagree
Furtherdetailsoftheclimate,aswellasthe with any known hypogeal taxa. Most
geology, soils, and vegetation ofthe study spores in the 'other' category were
site have been described in detail by presumed to come from epigeal
Seebeck et ai (1984). The predominant (above-ground) fruiting bodies, although
overstorey tree at Cambarville is E. some may have come from hypogeal
regnans. In gullies, E. returns isreplaced species yet to be formally described. The
bycool temperaterainforestdominatedby relative abundance of all spore types in
Myrtle Beech (Nothofagus cunning* eachof20fieldswasassignedtooneofthe
hamii), Southern Sassafrass (Athero- following categories: I = sparse, one or
spenna moschatum), Silver Wattle two spores; 2 = uncommon, three to five
(Acacia dealbata), Montane Wattle (A spotes or; 3 = common, more than five
frigiscens), Blackwood (Acacia sporespresent inthefieldofview.Withthe
melanoxyhm) and Mountain Hickory exception of the 'epigeal* category,
Wattle (Acacia obliquinerva). Ground individual spore types seldom exceeded
vegetation includes several species of morethansevenoreightsporesinany field
fernsandherbaciousplants(Seebecketai ofview.Forallthesamples,thepercentage
1984). Large decaying logs are abundant occurrence of each spore type was
on the forestfloor. calculated according to the methods of
TrappingandFaecalAnalysis Bennettand Baxter(1989) forall samples.
Trichosuruscaninus was trappedduring These values were added, then divided by
June 1992 in a 14 haarea at Cambarville* 15 (thetotal numberofsamples), toderive
using wire cage traps baited with apple. the average percentage occurrence ofthat
Faecalpelletswerecollectedfromthefloor spore type.
ofthe trapson the first nightan individual
was captured and stored at 0°C until Results
analysis.
Five adult male and ten adult female T
Faecal pellets were thawed and caninus were trapped at Cambarville
macerated using a pestle and mortar, to during June 1992. Faecal samples were
which wasadded a small quantityof70% taken from all the animals caught.
rrcsKpfw1ioetela9zrsh£am8seuacaa9hlnfeti)todoniltlrfeinha.\oagennsngD0dtssiW.lu2sa1uasst4rr2piemr5ldehdyilrnoiceutsomdmrrlhipeosromnws.no(otacufAMtowgdexpawhgsrnelsamtaya0swctsyl.salehrli1isreeede2onxpev5ltot.elrrhaeatwewAfnmcitniedmtotrtdenuh.oerdsCoosmeaftepdTerathtthseneohtlyhednefeo aoMtats7!scaapnoAsxxecdscaaicutaigrtneCnori(siteheda)7ndieanl5duncmwe.ttseooanoi1ftnfs%(iiaiiT)nfetixaidegdbifenseelduananwentfmuegiupsvraf1nil)leihgt.oeeaatrdssdalTTpthshfoioptaresrfeaxpoecxaotsmmliareeoeacrtss.s(osoh,tgpeugeeAlatancfrldshnaelcoatderennemcanorowetmttes1aahosr%bngeopne.eedr.f
92
Victorian Nat.
ResearchReports
placed in the category 'other*. Of the ten seldomconstituted morethan 10%oftotal
taxa identified from spores, eight were matter in faeces, although reached a peak
fromhypogeal basidiomycete fungi. of approximately 25% during April (on a
percentageoccurrencebasis).Inthisstudy,
Discussion we did not attempt to identify spores of
The presence of spores of fungi in the epigealfungiin7^caninusfaeces,although
faecesofTrichosuruscaninusisconsistent they probably represented the bulk of
with the results of Seebeck et al. (1984) spores which we placed in the category
and confirms the partially mycophagous 'other*. Although we did not identify any
feeding habit of this species in the epigeal fungi atthestudysite,anumberof
mountain ash forests of the Central taxa were seen and included agarics,
Highlands of Victoria. Seebeck et al. cup-fungi and boletes. Also ofrelevance,
(fu1n9g8i4)tehsrtoabulgihsohuetdtthhaetTy.ecaarn.inHuoswceovners,umeit ST.eebecacnkientuasl. (1s9o8m4e)tinmoetesdtheaattindeipviigdeuaall
basidiomycete fungi, but did not identify
thesefungi tospecies level. Future studies
should attempt to identify the species of
Table 1: Average percentage (%) occurrence of epigeal fungi eaten by 7^ caninus so that
fungal taxa identified from spores in faeces of the foraging behaviour of the species are
Trichosurus caninus collected in June 1992 at better understood.
Cambarville,Victoria.
Our results and those of Seebeck et al.
Species Average %Occurrence (1984) indicate that T. caninus eats less
fungi than ground-dwelling mammals
Ascomycetes such as potoroos (Guiler 1970; Bennett
Jafneadelphussp. 0.6 and Baxter 1989; Scotts and Seebeck
1989),bandicoots(Quin 1985;Claridgeet
Basidiomycetes
al 1991) and native rats (Cheal 1987).
Gasteromycetes
Chamonixiavittatispora 7.7 Leaf tissue from a variety of plants is a
Hydnangiumsp. (U) 0.7 more important component ofthe diet of
Hymenogasternanus 0.7 T. caninus (Seebeck etai 1984).
//.zeylanicus 0.3
Mesophelliasp. 0.3 Some of the spores identified in T.
Thaxterogastersp. 1 13.3 caninus faeces were from the sporocarps
Thaxterogastersp. 2 0.6 (fruiting-bodies) of hypogeal taxa. Like
Stephanosporaflava 0.4 epigeal fungi, many hypogeal fungi are
presumedtoformasymbioticmycorrhizal
Zygomycetes association with the roots of a variety of
EEnnddooggoonnaecsepa.e(spore walls 0.3 forest trees and shrubs (Trappe and Maser
doublelayered) 1977; Beaton etal. 1985 d). Forexample,
fungi in the genus Mesophellia that were
Other 75.1 identified in Trichosurus caninus faeces
are known to establish ectomycorrhizal
Fruiting habit was either hypogeal or sub- hypo- relationships on the roots of several
geal,except SotJafneadelphussp.whichwasepi- eucalypt species (Dell et al. 1990),
geal.The 'other' categoryreferstomiscellaneous including E. regnans(Ashton 1976)which
hspyoproegetaylpetsaxtahaytetcdoeuslcdrinboetd.beMaanttyriobfuttehdetsopoarneys Cisambtahrevildloem.inanWtithsipneciesthisof otbrleiegataet
cinomtyheco'toithnear'acnadteBgaosriydiwoemryecoptrionbaabtlayxae,pi(gUe)alinAdsi-- association, the fungus accumulates
catesuncertainty in identificationofthatgenus. nutrients and water from the soil and
93
Vol. 110(2)1993
)
ResearchReports
donates them to its plant host(Harley and dactylus) may alter seasonal foraging
Smith 1983). It also protects the roots of patterns to take advantage of seasonal
the host from fungal pathogens such as changes in the relative abundance of
Phytophthora. In return, the mycorrhizal different fungi (Claridge 1993). However,
fungus receives carbohydrates from the a major difference in the diets of P.
hostplant(Hacskaylo 1973). tridactylus and Trichosurus caninus, is
For most hypogeal fungi, dispersal by that the former feeds much more
wind and water is negligible because the extensively on hypogeal fungi. Thus,
fruiting body, and hence the spores, are movements ofT. caninus are less likely to
buried beneath the soil-litter interface. be directly influenced by the fungal food
They rely on being excavated by resource, although inclusion of hypogeal
mycophagous mammals, eaten and the fungi in the diet suggests a deliberate
spores dispersed in faeces as the animal search efforton behalfofT. caninus,
moves throughout its homerange (Trappe Mycorrhizal fungi are integral to the
1988). This contrasts with dispersal survival, establishment and growth of
mechanisms of epigeal fungi that fruit plants. IfT.caninusiscapableofspreading
above the ground, allowing for direct the sporesofthese fungi in its faeces, then
contact between the spore-bearing tissue its role in key ecological processes within
and the surroundingatmosphere. the mountain ash forests may be more
The presence ofthe spores ofhypogeal important than previously recognized.
fungi inthe faecesofTriehasurus'caninus This may be important as other
suggests thatit forages on the forest floor ground-dwelling mammalslikelyto fulfill
and actively excavates the soil-litter this role in the ecosystem, such as
profile in search of sporocarps. This is bandicoots and potoroos, areeitherrareor
consistent with trapping studies, where absent. The importance of mycophagous
animals arcregularlycaptured in traps set mammals needstoberecognizedformally
on the ground (Lindenmayeretai 99 in forest management and logging
T caninus has also been detected o1n t1he practicesneed tobecomemorecompatible
dfournenstgfslpoootrliagnhdtirnugnsnuirnvgeyasloatngCafmablalernvillolges cwaitnhintuhse(cLonisnedrevnamtaiyonerof19s9p2e)c.iessuch as T.
(Lindenmayer, unpubl. data).
It is possible that the seasonal fruiting
Cpaatmtbearrnvsiolflehypogeal fungal sporocarps al Acknowledgements
influences the seasonal
f aging behaviourof7: caninus.Also** Field assistance from K. Viggers and R
studymthecoastalforestsofsouih-eastem Mcggs is most gratefully acknowledged
Australia,suggeststhatdifferentspeciesof D. Gawm assisted in preparation offaecal
samples. Pan of this research was
^^^U993).SomeZainhabS supported by an M.A. Ingram Trust grant
Spr^e!edosmianLantClOynrr,indegdes«an*d*slo*pes,guwihlitlse wtoasD.Bu.ndeLriwnadye,nmaAy.eWr.. WChlialriedgtehewparsojecint
?** In 8ullics tend to be receipt of an Australian Government
ephemeral, and more abundant during tE Postgraduate Research Scholarship.
Zhave^adaVptatinotnshetha^t allow for thetr References
seasonal climatic conditiornesgarAtdTe»suso ^Tu2eX3",£(t'97S6)w- S?lUd*iCS*onAulsblera"liVacnoJnouwmaaelooff
Loosed Potoroo ££**^ Beaton. G. Pegler. D.N. and Young, T.W.K (I984)a.
t
94 I-Hydnangiaceac. KewBulletin39:499-508.
Victorian Nat.
.
ResearchReports
Beaton. G„ Pegler, D.N. and Young. T.W.K. (1984)b. Harley, J.L. and Smith, S.E. (1983). 'Mycorrhizal
GasteroidbasidiomycotaofVictoriaState.Australia Symbiosis*.(AcademicPress: London).
U:Russulales.KewBulletin39:669-698. How, R. (1983). Mountain Brushtail Possum. In
Beaton, G„ Pegler. D.N. and Young. T.W.K. (I985>a. 'Complete Book of Australian Mammals*. Ed. R.
GasteroidbasidiomycotaofVictoriaState,Australia Strahan. pp. 147-148. (Angus and Robertson:
HI:Cortinariales. KewBulletin40: 167-204. Sydney).
Beaton. G., Pegler, D.N. and Young, T.W.K. (1985)b. Lindenmayer, D.B. (1989). 'The ecology and habitat
GasteroidbasidiomycotaofVictoriaStale,Australia requirementsofLeadbealer'sPossum*. PhDthesis,
IV:Hysterangium. KewBulletin40:435-444. AustralianNationalUniversity,Canberra-
Beaton, G., Pegler, D.N. and Young. T.W.K. (1985)c. Lindenmayer, D.B. (1992). Some impacts on arboreal
GasteroidbasidiomycotaofVictoriaState,Australia marsupialsofclearfeilingona80-120yearrotation
V-VII: Boletales. Agaricales and Aphyllophoralcs. inmountainash{Eucalyptusregnans)forestsinthe
KewBulletin40:573-598. Central Highlands of Victoria. The Victorian
Beaton, G.. Pegler. D.N. and Young. T.W.K. (1985ki. Naturalist 109: 181-186.
GasteroidbasidiomycotaofVictoriaState.Australia Lindenmayer, D.B., Cunningham, R.B., Tanton, M.T.,
VIII:AdditionalTaxa.KewBulletin40:827-842. Smith, A.P. and Nix, H.A. (1990). The habitat
Beaton, G. and Weste.G. (1982). Australian hypogean requirementsoftheMountainBrushtailPossumand
ascomycetcs. Transactions of the British theGreaicrGliderinthemontaneash forestsofthe
MycologicalSociety79:455-468. Central Highlands of Victoria. Australian Wildlife
Beaton, G. and Weste. G. (1984). Victorian hypogean Research17:467-478.
tghaestBerriotimsyhccMlyecsol:ogMciscoaplhSeolcliieatcyea8c2.:6T6r5a-n6sa7c1tionsof LindTe.namanydeSre,ebD.eBc.k,,WJa.Hr.ne(k1e9,91R)..MA.,nMoleeggosn,tRh.eAl.o,nLgienvgiat.y
Bennett. A.R and Baxter, B.J. (1989). Diet of the of the Mountain Bushlail Possum, Trichosurus
Long-Nosed Potoroo, Potorous tridactylus caninus in the montain ash forests of the Central
(Marsupialia: Potoroidae),insouthwesternVictoria. HighlandsofVictoria.TheVictorianNaturalist108:
Australian WildlifeResearch 16:263-271. 4-5.
Cheal,D.C.(1987).Thedietsanddietarypreferencesof Mclntyrc, P.W., and Carey. A.B. (1989). 'A
RattusfuscipesandRattttslutreolusatWalkervillein MicrohistologicalTechniqueforAssessingtheFood
Victoria.Australian WildlifeResearch 14:35-44. HabitsofMycophagous Rodents'. U.S.D.A. Forest
Claridgc, A.W. (1993). 'Hypogeal Fungi as a Food Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station Res
Resource for Wildlife in the Managed Eucalypt earchPaper.PNW-RP-404.
Forests of South-Eastern Australia'. PhD thesis, Quin, D.G. (1985). Observations on the diet of the
AustralianNational University,Canberra. Southern Brown Bandicoot, Isoodon obesulus
Claridge, A.W., McNee, A., Tanton, M.T. and Davey, (Marsupialia: Peramclidac), in southern Tasmania.
S.M.(1991). Ecology ofbandicoots in undisturbed AustralianMammalogv 11: 15-25.
foresi adjacent to recently felled loggingcoupes: a Scotts, DJ. and Seebeck, J.H. (1989). 'Ecology of
casestudyfromtheEdenwoodchipagreementarea. Potorous longipes (Marsupialia: Potoroidae): and
In'ConservationofAustralia'sForestFauna'.Ed.D. preliminaryrecommendationsformanagementofits
LNuenwneSyouptph.W3a3l1e-s3:45M.os(mRaony)al.Zoological Society of EhanbviitraotnmienntVailctoRreisa*e.arcAhrthTuecrhnRiyclaalhReIpnsotrittutSeerfioers
ClariCdugnen,inAg.hWa.m,,RRo.bBi.ns(o1n9,93)A..SP.e.asToannatlonp,rodMu.cTt.ionanodf SeebNeoc.k.62J..H., Warneke, R.M. and Baxter, BJ. (1984).
hypogeal fungal sporocarps in a mixed-species Diet of the Bobuck, Trichosurus caninus (Ogilby)
Dell,AeuuBsc.ta,rlayMlpaitlaanjfcoJrzoeuuskrt.nasNlt.a.onfdGBrooitvnaen.syoTu(.tiShn.-pearanessdtse)rT.nhomAussotnra.liGa.. (aViMncadtrosrIui.paDi..alIHinau:m"PePhoasplspaunm1gs4e5an-nd1da5e4G).liidn(eAarussm'to.ruaEnldtisaaniAn.MPf.aormSemmsitatilhn
(c1c9t9o0m)y.coErcrthoimzyacsorirnhit/haefosrpmoartoicoanrpisnEoucfalhyypptougs.coIuVs: TrappScoc.ietJy.:M.Syd(n1e9y8)8).. Lessons from Alpine Fungi.
GuileoMfrfua,ncWgrEeio.spRMt.oeedsr(ion1dp9Aah7uees0)lt).lr.ialaFiJoaaoo.nuddNreCnoaawflsPtthhoeyrotefpooultomMgoiiransomteomua1c(1laM4lao:yrgps4yut4.pf9ioa^rl5e5is62at.::s TrappMbfIeeunynat,cgesoirlJ:lds.ioMsig.acniitnapedalrHniaQndcm:atariMnyo1a.n-ss1Ae0po.rIpfn,rmoC'uaMscuhh(sr1h9otr7oo7om)oMs.myscaEoncldtaoongtmdyryu*cf.MfolarernEshd,i.wziataTlhn.
Hacs2k3a2y-l2o3,4.E (1973). Carbohydrate physiology of CWoalllteegres:Aplpban1y6.5-O1r7e9g.on)(.Linn-Benton Community
ectomycorThizac. In 'Ectomycorrhizac: Their
EcologyandPhysiology'.EdsG.C.MarksandT.T
Kozlowskipp207-230.(AcademicPress:NewYork
and London).
95
Vol. 110(2)1993