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Australian Mammalogy Australian Mammalogy Society
Journal of the Australian Mammal Society
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Fungi consumed by translocated Gilbert’s potoroos (Potorous gilbertii) at two sites with contrasting vegetation, south coastal Western Australia

N. L. Bougher A and J. A. Friend B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Department of Environment and Conservation, Locked Bag 104, Bentley Delivery Centre, Bentley, WA 6983, Australia. Email: neale.bougher@dec.wa.gov.au

B Department of Environment and Conservation, 120 Albany Highway, Albany, WA 6330, Australia. Email: tony.friend@dec.wa.gov.au

Australian Mammalogy 31(2) 97-105 https://doi.org/10.1071/AM09012
Submitted: 20 April 2009  Accepted: 2 September 2009   Published: 26 October 2009

Abstract

Gilbert’s potoroo (Potorous gilbertii) was previously widespread in south-west Australia but is now restricted to one location – a granitic area of shrubby heath at Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve on the south coast of Western Australia. To alleviate the threat of extinction a program is under way to establish potoroos in other locations. At Two Peoples Bay Gilbert’s potoroos feed almost exclusively on truffle fungi. However, it was not known whether potoroos translocated to any new areas would be able to rapidly access and consume fungi after translocation, or whether truffles could be a sustainable food supporting breeding populations of potoroos in translocation sites. Furthermore, it was not known whether translocation of potoroos would be successful only in areas with vegetation similar to their refuge at Two Peoples Bay. The current study addressed these questions by analysing the diet of potoroos translocated into two contrasting areas – one on Bald Island with similar topography and vegetation to that of Two Peoples Bay, and the other a 14-ha enclosure on the mainland dominated by EucalyptusAllocasuarina woodland. The diet of potoroos was characterised by microscopic examination of scats from individuals trapped after their translocation to these areas. At Bald Island a diverse range of fungi was consumed immediately after translocation. Four potoroos released onto the island only 4–8 days previously consumed 23 species of fungi. Consumption was sustained over time. Three potoroos released onto Bald Island 1–2 years previously and one island-born individual consumed 27 species of fungi during a two-day sampling period. Nine of the 27 fungi species were the same as those that had been consumed by the potoroos within days after their release onto the island. This indicates that production of fungi and their consumption by potoroos on the island was sustained at least 1–2 years after translocation. Potoroos bred on Bald Island during this period. During the same period, two potoroos that were moved from captivity to the mainland site (Ryedene) were consuming six species of truffles within 29 days after release, and 14 species within three months. Such data indicate that a wider selection of vegetation types and areas than just those similar to where potoroos occur at Two Peoples Bay may be able to sustain potoroos and should be investigated for future translocations.

Additional keywords: fungi, mycophagy, Potorous gilbertii, translocation, truffles.


Acknowledgements

We thank Louisa Bell, Stephanie Hill, Tim Button, Val Hack and Susanne Schreck, DEC Science Division Albany, for excellent technical assistance, and Peter Collins, DEC Albany District, for his superb boatmanship during our trips between the mainland and Bald Island, contributions that made possible the activities outlined in this paper. Funding for aspects of the Gilbert’s potoroo recovery program central to this study was provided by the Australian Government’s Natural Heritage Trust program delivered through South Coast NRM, the Foundation for Australia’s Most Endangered Species, and DEC’s Saving Our Species and Remote Regions Conservation Programs.


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