Tasmanian bandicoots as fungal dispersers: A comparison in mycophagy between the southern brown bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus) and the eastern barred bandicoot (Perameles gunnii)
Todd F. Elliott
A * , Judy Rainbird B and Karl Vernes A
A Ecosystem Management, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.
B Natural Sciences, Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, Launceston, Tas. 7250, Australia.
Abstract
Mycophagous mammals perform important ecosystem services through their dispersal of mycorrhizal fungi (particularly truffles). In order to better understand the role of Tasmanian bandicoots in these associations, we examined the stomach and scat contents of specimens of southern brown bandicoots (Isoodon obesulus) and eastern barred bandicoots (Perameles gunnii) preserved in the mammal collections of the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery. Our study shows that fungi are consumed by both species and that these mammals likely play a key role in ecosystem function through their dispersal of mycorrhizal fungal spores.
Keywords: eastern barred bandicoot, fungal dispersers, fungal ecology, mammal ecology, Marsupialia, mycophagy, southern brown bandicoot, spore dispersal.
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