
TY  - JOUR
A1  - How, R. A. 
A1  - Hillcox, S. J. 
T1  - Brushtail possum, <emph type="2">Trichosurus vulpecula</emph>, populations in south-western Australia: demography, diet and conservation status
JF  - Wildlife Research
JO  - Wildl. Res.
Y1  - 2000
VL  - 27
IS  - 1
SP  - 81
EP  - 89
KW  - 
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1071/WR98064 
N2  - The common brushtail possum, Trichosurus vulpecula, has suffered a marked reduction in its geographic range from the arid areas of Western Australia and now is abundant only in the more mesic forests and woodlands of the south-west. A mark&#8211;recapture and dietary study of a population in the tuart/peppermint forests near Busselton found that the species occurred at a density of 2&#8211;3 individuals per hectare, fed principally on peppermint, Agonis flexuosa, but occurred in all treed habitats in the area, including Pinus radiata plantations. Females matured in their third year and produced a single young annually between April and September that was weaned about seven months later. Comparisons between the demographic parameters of this population and that of a study from semiarid south-western Australia showed marked differences, which were comparable to variation shown by population studies of T. vulpecula in eastern Australia and New Zealand. Predation and habitat alteration have probably had a marked effect on determining the present distribution and abundance of the species in south-western Australia. 
ER  -

