White-footed dunnarts (Sminthopsis leucopus) in Queensland’s Wet Tropics, with the description of a new subspecies
Tyrone H. Lavery A B C * , Rachael Collett D , Diana O. Fisher D , Conrad J. Hoskin E and Jesse Rowland F
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Queensland Museum, Corner of Grey and Melbourne Streets, South Brisbane, Qld 4101, Australia.
B Negaunee Integrative Research Centre, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL 60605, USA.
C Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University, 141 Linnaeus Way, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia.
D School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld 4072, Australia.
E College of Science & Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld 4811, Australia.
F School of Science and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Qld 4556, Australia.
Australian Mammalogy 45(1) 77-90 https://doi.org/10.1071/AM22002
Submitted: 11 January 2022 Accepted: 16 June 2022 Published: 13 July 2022
© 2023 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of the Australian Mammal Society.
Abstract
A population of white-footed dunnarts (Sminthopsis leucopus) occurs in the Wet Tropics bioregion of tropical north Queensland, Australia separated by about 1800 km from conspecifics in temperate New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. We conducted targeted surveys for S. leucopus in north-east Queensland and obtained new records, including the first reported capture of the species in Queensland in 18 years. We assessed the genetic and morphological divergence of the north Queensland population against New South Wales, Victorian and Tasmanian S. leucopus, in conjunction with distribution and habitat differences, to assess whether this isolate should be described as a distinct taxon. Sequencing of the mitochondrial Cytochrome b gene revealed genetic divergence estimates of 2.3–2.8% and 4.3–4.8% between the north Queensland population and S. l. ferruginifrons (Victoria) and S. l. leucopus (Tasmania) respectively. Based on genetic divergence, cranial morphology, differences in habitat, and geographical isolation, we describe the north Queensland population as a new subspecies of Sminthopsis leucopus. We suggest a conservation classification of Endangered given its small distribution, apparent low density, tropical upland location and potential threats, especially related to climate change.
Keywords: Atherton Tablelands, climate change, Dasyuridae, endemic, high elevation, mammal, rainforest, threatened.
References
Accad, A., Kelley, J. A. R., Richter, D., Neldner, V. J., and Li, J. (2021). ‘Remnant Regional Ecosystem Vegetation in Queensland, Analysis 1997–2019.’ (Queensland Department of Environment and Science: Brisbane.) Available at https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/plants-animals/plants/ecosystems/remnant-vegetationAMTC (2021). The AMTC Australian Mammal Species List. Version 1.0. Available at https://australianmammals.org.au/publications/amtc-species-list
Archer, M. (1981). Results of the Archbold expeditions No. 104. Systematic revison of the marsupial dasyurid genus Sminthopsis Thomas. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 168, 61–224.
Baker, A.M., and Van Dyck, S. (2013). Taxonomy and redescription of the Atherton Antechinus, Antechinus godmani (Thomas) (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae) Zootaxa 3670, 401.
| Taxonomy and redescription of the Atherton Antechinus, Antechinus godmani (Thomas) (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae)Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 26438953PubMed |
Baker, A. M., Mutton, T. Y., and Van Dyck, S. (2012). A new dasyurid marsupial from eastern Queensland, Australia: the Buff-footed Antechinus, Antechinus mysticus sp. nov. (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae). Zootaxa 3515, 1–37.
| A new dasyurid marsupial from eastern Queensland, Australia: the Buff-footed Antechinus, Antechinus mysticus sp. nov. (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Baker, A. M., Mutton, T. Y., and Hines, H. B. (2013). A new dasyurid marsupial from Kroombit Tops, south-east Queensland, Australia: the Silver-headed Antechinus, Antechinus argentus sp. nov. (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae). Zootaxa 3746, 1–39.
| A new dasyurid marsupial from Kroombit Tops, south-east Queensland, Australia: the Silver-headed Antechinus, Antechinus argentus sp. nov. (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Baker, A. M., Mutton, T. Y., Hines, H. B., and Van Dyck, S. V. (2014). Black-tailed antechinus Antechinus arktos a new species from montane regions of the Tweed Caldera eastern Australia. Zootaxa 3765, 101–133.
| Black-tailed antechinus Antechinus arktos a new species from montane regions of the Tweed Caldera eastern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 24870890PubMed |
Baverstock, P. R., Adams, M., and Archer, M. (1984). Electrophoretic resolution of species boundaries in the Sminthopsis murina complex (Dasyuridae). Australian Journal of Zoology 32, 823–832.
Blacket, M. J., Cooper, S. J. B., Krajewski, C., and Westerman, M. (2006). Systematics and Evolution of the Dasyurid Marsupial Genus Sminthopsis: II. The Murina Species Group. Journal of Mammalian Evolution 13, 125–138.
| Systematics and Evolution of the Dasyurid Marsupial Genus Sminthopsis: II. The Murina Species Group.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Brown, M., Cooksley, H., Carthew, S. M., and Cooper, S. J. B. (2006). Conservation units and phylogeographic structure of an arboreal marsupial, the yellow-bellied glider (Petaurus australis) Australian Journal of Zoology 54, 305.
| Conservation units and phylogeographic structure of an arboreal marsupial, the yellow-bellied glider (Petaurus australis)Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Burbidge, A. A., and McKenzie, N. L. (1989). Patterns in the modern decline of Western Australia’s vertebrate fauna: Causes and conservation implications. Biological Conservation 50, 143–198.
| Patterns in the modern decline of Western Australia’s vertebrate fauna: Causes and conservation implications.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Collett, R. (2018). Conservation of Australian insectivorous marsupials: biogeography, macroecology and life history. PhD thesis, University of Queensland, Brisbane.
Collett, R. A., and Fisher, D. O. (2017). Time-lapse camera trapping as an alternative to pitfall trapping for estimating activity of leaf litter arthropods. Ecology and Evolution 7, 7527–7533.
| Time-lapse camera trapping as an alternative to pitfall trapping for estimating activity of leaf litter arthropods.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 28944036PubMed |
Cooper, S. J. B., Ottewell, K., MacDonald, A. J., Adams, M., Byrne, M., Carthew, S. M., Eldridge, M. D. B., Li, Y., Pope, L. C., Saint, K. M., and Westerman, M. (2018). Phylogeography of southern brown and golden bandicoots: implications for the taxonomy and distribution of endangered subspecies and species Australian Journal of Zoology 66, 379.
| Phylogeography of southern brown and golden bandicoots: implications for the taxonomy and distribution of endangered subspecies and speciesCrossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Eyre, T., Ferguson, D., Hourigan, C., Smith, G., Mathieson, M., Kelly, A., Venz, M., Hogan, L., and Rowland, J. (2018). ‘Terrestrial Vertebrate Fauna Survey Assessment Guidelines for Queensland.’ (Department of Environment and Science, Queensland Government: Brisbane.)
Heibl, C. (2008 onwards). PHYLOCH: R language tree plotting tools and interfaces to diverse phylogenetic software packages. Available at http://www.christophheibl.de/Rpackages.html
Hendry, H., and Mann, C. (2018). Camelot—intuitive software for camera-trap data management. Oryx 52, 15.
| Camelot—intuitive software for camera-trap data management.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hohnen, R., Murphy, B. P., Gates, J. A., Legge, S., Dickman, C. R., and Woinarski, J. C. Z. (2019). Detecting and protecting the threatened Kangaroo Island dunnart (Sminthopsis fuliginosus aitkeni). Conservation Science and Practice 1, e4.
| Detecting and protecting the threatened Kangaroo Island dunnart (Sminthopsis fuliginosus aitkeni).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
IUCN (2012). ‘IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria: Version 3.1’, 2nd edn. (IUCN: Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK.) Available at https://www.iucn.org/content/iucn-red-list-categories-and-criteria-version-31-second-edition
Jackson, S. M., and Groves, C. P. (2015). ‘Taxonomy of Australian Mammals.’ (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne.)
Johnson, C. N. (1998). Rarity in the Tropics: latitudinal gradients in distribution and abundance in Australian mammals. The Journal of Animal Ecology 67, 689–698.
| Rarity in the Tropics: latitudinal gradients in distribution and abundance in Australian mammals.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Karger, D. N., Kessler, M., Lehnert, M., and Jetz, W. (2021). Limited protection and ongoing loss of tropical cloud forest biodiversity and ecosystems worldwide. Nature Ecology and Evolution 5, 854–862.
| Limited protection and ongoing loss of tropical cloud forest biodiversity and ecosystems worldwide.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 33927369PubMed |
King, D. H. (1980). Extension of the New South Wales range of the White-footed Dunnart (Sminthopsis leucopus Gray). Victorian Naturalist 97, 263–265.
Kocher, T. D., Thomas, W. K., Meyer, A., Edwards, S. V., Pääbo, S., Villablanca, F. X., and Wilson, A. C. (1989). Dynamics of mitochondrial DNA evolution in animals: amplification and sequencing with conserved primers. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 86, 6196–6200.
| Dynamics of mitochondrial DNA evolution in animals: amplification and sequencing with conserved primers.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Krajewski, C., Anderson, F. E., Woolley, P. A., and Westerman, M. (2012). Molecular Evidence for a Deep Clade of Dunnarts (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae: Sminthopsis). Journal of Mammalian Evolution 19, 265–276.
| Molecular Evidence for a Deep Clade of Dunnarts (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae: Sminthopsis).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kutt, A. S., Van Dyck, S., and Christie, S. J. (2005). A significant range extension for the Chestnut Dunnart Sminthopsis archeri (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae) in north Queensland. Australian Zoologist 33, 265–268.
| A significant range extension for the Chestnut Dunnart Sminthopsis archeri (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae) in north Queensland.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Laidlaw, W. S., Hutchings, S., and Newell, G. R. (1996). Home range and movement patterns of Sminthopsis leucopus (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae) in coastal dry heathland, Anglesea, Victoria. Australian Mammalogy 19, 1–9.
| Home range and movement patterns of Sminthopsis leucopus (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae) in coastal dry heathland, Anglesea, Victoria.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Laurance, W. F. (1992). Abundance estimates of small mammals in Australian tropical rainforest: A comparison of four trapping methods. Wildlife Research 19, 651–655.
Leung, L. K.-P., Venables, B., and Pritchard, J. (1994). Terrestrial vertebrate fauna survey of the Iron Range area Cape York Peninsula 1993–94. A report to the Qld Department of Environment and Heritage, Brisbane (unpublished).
Lunney, D. (2008). White-footed dunnart Sminthopsis leucopus. In ‘The Mammals of Australia’. (Eds S. Van Dyck, and R. Strahan) pp. 145–148. (Reed New Holland: Chatswood.)
Lunney, D., O’Connell, M., Sanders, J., and Forbes, S. (1989). Habitat of the white-footed dunnart Sminthopsis leucopus (Gray) (Dasyuridae: Marsupialia) in a logged, burnt forest near Bega, New South Wales. Austral Ecology 14, 335–344.
| Habitat of the white-footed dunnart Sminthopsis leucopus (Gray) (Dasyuridae: Marsupialia) in a logged, burnt forest near Bega, New South Wales.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
McDonald, K., Burnett, S., and Robinson, W. (2013). Utility of owl pellets for monitoring threatened mammal communities: an Australian case study. Wildlife Research 40, 685–697.
| Utility of owl pellets for monitoring threatened mammal communities: an Australian case study.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Menkhorst, P., and Knight, F. (2004). A field guide to the mammals of Australia.’ (Oxford University Press, Melbourne, Australia)
Meynecke, J.-O. (2004). Effects of global climate change on geographic distributions of vertebrates in North Queensland. Ecological Modelling 174, 347–357.
| Effects of global climate change on geographic distributions of vertebrates in North Queensland.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Pope, L. C., Estoup, A., and Moritz, C. (2000). Phylogeography and population structure of an ecotonal marsupial, Bettongia tropica, determined using mtDNA and microsatellites Molecular Ecology 9, 2041–2053.
| Phylogeography and population structure of an ecotonal marsupial, Bettongia tropica, determined using mtDNA and microsatellitesCrossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 11123617PubMed |
Posada, D. (2008). jModelTest: Phylogenetic model averaging. Molecular Biology and Evolution 25, 1253–1256.
| jModelTest: Phylogenetic model averaging.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 18397919PubMed |
Queensland Herbarium (2019). ‘Regional Ecosystem Description Database (REDD). Version 11.1 (April 2019).’ (Department of Environment and Science, Queensland Government.)
R Core Team (2022). ‘R: A language and environment for statistical computing.’ (R Foundation for Statistical Computing: Vienna, Austria.) Available at https://www.R-project.org/
Rambaut, A. (2009). FigTree. Online resource. http://tree.bio.ed.ac.uk/software/figtree/
Ridgway, R. (1912). ‘Color standards and nomenclature.’ (Published by the Author: Washington D.C.)
Rowland, J., Hoskin, C. J., and Burnett, S. (2020a). Camera traps are an effective method for identifying individuals and determining the sex of spotted-tailed quolls (Dasyurus maculatus gracilis). Australian Mammalogy 42, 349–356.
Rowland, J., Hoskin, C. J., and Burnett, S. (2020b). Distribution and diet of feral cats (Felis catus) in the Wet Tropics of north-eastern Australia, with a focus on the upland rainforest. Wildlife Research 47, 649–659.
| Distribution and diet of feral cats (Felis catus) in the Wet Tropics of north-eastern Australia, with a focus on the upland rainforest.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Schliep, K. P. (2011). phangorn: phylogenetic analysis in R. Bioinformatics 27, 592–593.
| phangorn: phylogenetic analysis in R.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 21169378PubMed |
Smith, G. C. (2013). ‘Vertebrate Survey Effort across Queensland.’ (Queensland Herbarium, Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts, Queensland Government: Brisbane.)
Stamatakis, A. (2014). RAxML version 8: a tool for phylogenetic analysis and post-analysis of large phylogenies. Bioinformatics 30, 1312–1313.
| RAxML version 8: a tool for phylogenetic analysis and post-analysis of large phylogenies.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 24451623PubMed |
Swofford, D. (2000). ‘PAUP*. Phylogenetic Analysis Using Parsimony (*and other methods).’ (Sinauer Associates: Sunderland, MA.)
Tilley, E. (2021). Feral cat occupancy increases with latitude and elevation in the habitat of threatened montane dasyurids. PhD thesis, University of Queensland, Brisbane.
Van Dyck, S. (1984). Sminthopsis leucopus (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae) in north Queensland rainforest. Australian Mammalogy 8, 53–60.
Van Dyck, S., Gynther, I., and Baker, A. M. (2013). Field Companion to the Mammals of Australia. (New Holland Publishers: Sydney.)
Venables, W. N., and Ripley, B. D. (2002). ‘Modern Applied Statistics with S’, 4th edn. (Springer: New York.)
Watt, A. (1997). Population ecology and reproductive seasonality in three species of Antechinus (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae) in the Wet Tropics of Queensland. Wildlife Research 24, 531–547.
| Population ecology and reproductive seasonality in three species of Antechinus (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae) in the Wet Tropics of Queensland.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Williams, S. E. (1998). Spatial patterns of vertebrate biodiversity and assemblage structure in the rainforests of the Australian wet tropics. PhD thesis, James Cook University, Townsville.
Williams, K., Dunlop, M., Bustamante, R., Murphy, H., Ferrier, S., Wise, R., Liedloff, A., Skewes, T., Harwood, T., Kroon, F., Williams, R., Joehnk, K., Crimp, S., Stafford Smith, M., James, C., and Booth, T. (2012). Queensland’s biodiversity under climate change: impacts and adaptation – synthesis report. A report prepared for the Queensland Government, Brisbane. (CSIRO Climate Adaptation Flagship: Canberra.)
Woolley, P. A., and Ahern, L. D. (2012). Observations on the ecology and reproduction of Sminthopsis leucopus (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae). Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria 95, 169–180.
Woolley, P. A., Westerman, M., and Krajewski, C. (2007). Interspecific affinities within the genus Sminthopsis (Dasyuromorphia: Dasyuridae) based on morphology of the penis: Congruence with other anatomical and molecular data. Journal of Mammalogy 88, 1381–1392.
| Interspecific affinities within the genus Sminthopsis (Dasyuromorphia: Dasyuridae) based on morphology of the penis: Congruence with other anatomical and molecular data.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Woolley, L.-A., Geyle, H., Murphy, B., Legge, S., Palmer, R., Dickman, C. R., Augusteyn, J., Comer, S., Doherty, T., Eager, C., Edwards, G., Leiper, I., McDonald, P., McGregor, H., Moseby, K., Myers, C., Read, J., Riley, J., Stokeld, D., Turpin, J., and Woinarski, J. (2019). Introduced cats Felis catus eating a continental fauna: inventory and traits of Australian mammal species killed. Mammal Review 49, 354–368.
