Cercartetus nanus: Dickman, C., Lunney, D. & Menkhorst, P.

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
Cercartetus Nanus

High predation risk for a small mammal: the eastern pygmy-possum (Cercartetus nanus)

2013 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bradley Law ◽  
Mark Chidel ◽  
Alf Britton
Keyword(s):  
Predation Risk ◽  
Small Mammal ◽  
High Predation ◽  
Cercartetus Nanus

We report high rates of predation within a population of eastern pygmy-possum (Cercartetus nanus) near Sydney, observed during a study of the impacts of logging on the species. Predation by reptiles was observed on six of 61 radio-tracked pygmy-possums, while two were suspected of being taken by raptors. We further investigated predation by sooty owls (Tyto tenebricosa) by identifying remains in pellets. Pygmy-possums comprised 15% of the 126 dietary items identified. Predation occurred at both logged and unlogged sites in our study. We suggest that documented high rates of predation in our study could make the species vulnerable to altered predation regimes, such as influxes of feral predators, and highlight the need for a better understanding of any influence of logging on predator activity.

Detection of the eastern pygmy-possum Cercartetus nanus (Marsupialia: Burramyidae) at Barren Grounds Nature Reserve, New South Wales.

2005 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 85 ◽  
Author(s):  
JM Harris ◽  
RL Goldingay
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
Survey Methods ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Detection Methods ◽  
Isolated Populations ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Cercartetus Nanus

THE eastern pygmy-possum (Cercartetus nanus) has an extensive distribution, from south-eastern Queensland to south-eastern South Australia, and also into Tasmania (Strahan 1995). Despite this it is rarely detected in fauna surveys (Bowen and Goldingay 2000). This rarity in detection suggested that the species may be characterised by small and isolated populations, and therefore vulnerable to extinction. Consequently, it became listed as a 'Vulnerable' species in New South Wales (NSW) in 2001. Unless resolved, the low rate of detection of C. nanus will continue to hinder the acquisition of basic ecological information that is needed to more clearly define its conservation status and that is fundamental to the development of a recovery plan. An extensive body of survey data for NSW involving C. nanus has been reviewed by Bowen and Goldingay (2000). Among a range of survey methods aimed at detecting this species, trapping within flowering banksias and checking installed nest-boxes had the highest rates of detection. Indeed, one study in northern NSW captured 98 individuals over a 3- year period from within nest-boxes (Bladon et al. 2002). All other studies detected fewer than 15 C. nanus. It is clear that further research is required to investigate the effectiveness of a range of detection methods.

Husbandry and breeding of the Eastern pygmy possum Cercartetus nanus: at Healesville Sanctuary

2003 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 173-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. MURPHY ◽  
B. T. PHILLIPS ◽  
B. MACREADIE
Keyword(s):  
Cercartetus Nanus

Novel field observations of eucalypt sap feeding behaviour in the Eastern Pygmy-possum Cercartetus nanus

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 251-255
Author(s):  
Renae Hockey ◽  
Lachlan Wilmott ◽  
Lachlan Hall ◽  
George Madani
Keyword(s):  
Feeding Behaviour ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Field Observations ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
South Wales ◽  
The Family ◽  
Tree Sap ◽  
Sap Feeding ◽  
Cercartetus Nanus

The Eastern Pygmy-possum Cercartetus nanu s is a small arboreal marsupial in the family Burramyidae that is threatened in parts of its range. Considered a generalist omnivore, its diet is known to include invertebrates, seeds, nectar and pollen. Tree sap has never before been recorded as a part of the diet of C. nanus . Here, we report on two observations of C. nanus feeding on eucalypt sap in south-eastern New South Wales.

Hibernation in the Eastern Pygmy Possum, Cercartetus-Nanus (Marsupialia, Burramyidae)

1993 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 67 ◽  
Author(s):  
F Geiser
Keyword(s):  
Oxygen Consumption ◽  
Body Temperature ◽  
Metabolic Rate ◽  
Air Temperature ◽  
The Body ◽  
Daily Torpor ◽  
Rate Of Oxygen Consumption ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Cercartetus Nanus ◽  
Torpor Bouts

The pattern of torpor was examined in the eastern pygmy possum, Cercartetus nanus (21 g). Animals displayed torpor regularly in the laboratory, and the occurrence of torpor increased with decreasing air temperature (T(a)). At high T(a) (18-degrees-C) animals usually exhibited daily torpor, but torpor bouts of up to 2 days were observed occasionally. The duration of torpor bouts lengthened with a lowering of T(a) and the mean bout duration at T(a) = 5-degrees-C was 17.0 +/- 2.5 days. The minimum metabolic rate (measured as rate of oxygen consumption) of torpid individuals was 0.018 +/- 0.003 mL O2 g-1 h-1, which is less than 2% of the basal metabolic rate. The body temperature (T(b)) Of torpid animals fell to a minimum of 1.3 +/- 0.4-degrees-C. These results clearly demonstrate that Cercartetus nanus is a deep hibernator.

Population ecology of the eastern pygmy-possum (Cercartetus nanus) in a montane woodland in southern New South Wales

2014 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jamie M. Harris ◽  
Ross L. Goldingay ◽  
Lyndon O. Brooks
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Population Ecology ◽  
New South ◽  
Local Population ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
The Body ◽  
Floral Resources ◽  
Nectar Feeding ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Cercartetus Nanus

The population dynamics of nectar-feeding non-flying mammals are poorly documented. We investigated aspects of the population ecology of the eastern pygmy-possum (Cercartetus nanus) in southern New South Wales. We captured 65 individuals over a 4-year period during 5045 trap-nights and 1179 nest-box checks. The body mass of adult males (mean ± s.e. = 24.6 ± 1.0 g) was marginally not significantly different (P = 0.08) from that of non-parous adult females (28.2 ± 1.9 g). Females gave birth to a single litter each year of 3–4 young during February–May. No juveniles were detected in spring of any year. Mark–recapture modelling suggested that survival probability was constant over time (0.78) while recapture probability (0.04–0.81) varied with season and trap effort. The local population (estimated at ~20–25 individuals) underwent a regular seasonal variation in abundance, with a decline in spring coinciding with the cessation of flowering by Banksia. A population trough in spring has been observed elsewhere. This appears to represent some local migration from the study area, suggesting a strategy of high mobility to track floral resources. Conservation of this species will depend on a more detailed understanding of how flowering drives population dynamics.

Effects of habitat fragmentation on the demography, movements and social organisation of the eastern pygmy-possum (Cercartetus nanus) in northern New South Wales

2002 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 105 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. V. Bladon ◽  
C. R. Dickman ◽  
I. D. Hume
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Minimum Size ◽  
Late Winter ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Antechinus Stuartii ◽  
Cercartetus Nanus ◽  
Capture Rates

A population of eastern pygmy-possums (Cercartetus nanus) was studied in northern New South Wales for almost 3 years. A total of 98 pygmy-possums was captured, of which 52 were captured only once. The sex ratio of the population did not differ significantly from parity. Mid-way through the study, 1.4 ha of the 4.0-ha study site was cleared. Pre-clearing capture rates in nest boxes averaged 33.5 ± 5.8 captures per 100 box checks per month, and the population was estimated by three methods to be at least 15–20 animals. There was no significant difference in body mass between adult males (23.7 ± 6.3 g) and adult females (27.1 ± 7.7 g). Males had significantly larger short-term home ranges (0.35 ± 0.14 ha) than females (0.14 ± 0.06 ha) and tended to move over greater distances each night. Breeding occurred from summer to early winter, and juveniles and sub-adults entered the population in autumn and winter. The mean number of pouch young was 3.9. The most likely minimum size at which juveniles left their mother was 9–11 g. Adult body mass and condition were highly variable over time, and did not appear to be related to either the breeding season or Banksia flowering. Fourteen pygmy-possums were found torpid during the study. Population troughs occurred in late winter and spring and were associated with low survival and/or seasonal migration, possibly linked to the cessation of Banksia flowering in July and the lack of alternative food sources at this time and/or increased use of nest boxes by Antechinus stuartii during late winter. Post-clearing, capture rates fell to 7.8 ± 1.6 captures per 100 box checks per month, the estimated population size fell to 5–8 animals, and there was an almost total lack of juvenile/sub-adult recruitment into the population. The results support concerns that the long-term survival of the eastern pygmy-possum in New South Wales is threatened by continued land clearing throughout much of its present range.

Thermal relations of metabolic rate reduction in a hibernating marsupial

1997 ◽  
Vol 273 (6) ◽  
pp. R2097-R2104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaowei Song ◽  
Gerhard Körtner ◽  
Fritz Geiser
Keyword(s):  
Steady State ◽  
Body Temperature ◽  
Metabolic Rate ◽  
Temperature Effects ◽  
Thermal Conductance ◽  
Rate Reduction ◽  
Thermoneutral Zone ◽  
Cercartetus Nanus ◽  
Metabolic Rate Reduction ◽  
Thermal Relations

We tested whether the reduction of metabolic rate (MR) in hibernating Cercartetus nanus (Marsupialia, 36 g) is better explained by the reduction of body temperature (Tb), the differential (ΔT) between Tb and air temperature (Ta), or thermal conductance (C). Above the critical Ta during torpor (Ttc) of 4.8 ± 0.7°C, where the Tb was not regulated, the steady-state MR was an exponential function of Tb( r 2 = 0.92), and the overall Q10 was 3.3. However, larger Q10 values were observed at high Tb values during torpor, particularly within the thermoneutral zone (Q10 = 9.5), whereas low Q10 values were observed below Tb 20°C (Q10 = 1.9). The ΔT did not change over Ta 5–20°C, although MR fell, and therefore the two variables were not correlated. Below the Ttc, Tb was regulated at 6.1 ± 1.0°C and MR increased proportionally to ΔT. Our study suggests that MR in torpid C. nanus is largely determined by temperature effects and metabolic inhibition. In contrast, ΔT explains MR only below the Ttc and C appears to affect MR only indirectly via changes of Tb, suggesting that ΔT and C play only a secondary role in MR reduction during hibernation.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document