The population density and trap-revealed home range of short-eared possums (Trichosurus caninus) in the Northern Tablelands, New South Wales, Australia
Lachlan J. McRae
A * , Andrea S. Griffin A , Kersten Tuckey B and Matt W. Hayward A
A Conservation Science Research Group, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, NSW 2307, Australia.
B Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, 24 Moonee Street, Coffs Harbour, NSW 2450, Australia.
Australian Mammalogy 45(1) 71-76 https://doi.org/10.1071/AM21051
Submitted: 21 December 2021 Accepted: 4 June 2022 Published: 22 June 2022
© 2023 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of the Australian Mammal Society.
Abstract
Investigating how the population density of a species changes over time is an integral step in determining whether that species is stable or needs assistance from conservation managers. The short-eared possum (Trichosurus caninus) is a species that has been poorly studied with only one previous population density estimate. Short-eared possums were live-trapped between August 2020 and January 2021 in the Northern Tablelands, New South Wales, to estimate their current density using a spatially explicit capture–recapture (SECR) model. The average density of short-eared possums was 0.46 possums/ha (95% CI: 0.32–0.66) in temperate rainforest and 0.13 possums/ha (95% CI: 0.06–0.28) in wet sclerophyll forest. No individuals were caught in dry sclerophyll forest. Trap-based home ranges were estimated to be 12.5 ha (95% CI: 8–19) for males and 5.5 ha (95% CI: 3–11) for females. This study provides a reference for determining trends in short-eared possum population density within the Northern Tablelands in the future. Adequate conservation of temperate rainforest and wet sclerophyll forest habitat is important to the conservation of the species.
Keywords: abundance, arboreal, habitat, mammal, marsupial, Phalangeridae, population monitoring, SECR, spatially explicit capture–recapture, Thomas trap.
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