October 24, 2017
Native marsupials reintroduced in
south-western Australia are a threat to ground-dwelling birds, a University of
Queensland study has found.
Researcher Graham Fulton said ground-nesting
and ground-dwelling birds had generally declined at a greater rate than other
Australian bird groups, with the loss of eggs believed to be an important factor.
"We don't know a lot about the identity
of ground-nest predators," he said.
Mr Fulton, a PhD student in the UQ School of
Biological Sciences, said his research at Dryandra, south-east of Perth,
highlighted the need for a greater understanding of the impacts of
reintroducing native marsupials.
"Marsupials are not generally regarded
as potential nest-predators of these birds, partly because the biology of rare Australian marsupials is not
fully understood due to their rarity," he said.
The study found that three marsupials –
boodie and woylie bettongs (Australian rat kangaroos) and brushtail possums
(pictured right and left) – took eggs from artificial nests similar to those of
the threatened painted button quail (pictured below right).
"Approximately one-third of the eggs
were taken by the two bettongs and another third by brushtail possums," Mr
Fulton said.
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