Bettongia and Fluoroacetate: a Role for 1080 in Fauna Management

Abstract

The tolerance of the three species of Bettongia to fluoroacetate has been determined. B. gaimardi is comparable with most species of herbivorous mammals, B. lesueur is highly tolerant and B. penicillata has an exceptionally high tolerance. These differences reflect the past distribution of these species in relation to plants containing fluoroacetate. The relevance of these tolerance levels in the management of Bettongia populations (by the control of introduced predators) is discussed. A more general role for 1080 in the conservation of threatened fauna in Western Australia is suggested.