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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 32(8)

A comparison of survey methods for arboreal possums in jarrah forest, Western Australia

A. F. Wayne A C D , A. Cowling B , C. G. Ward C , J. F. Rooney C , C. V. Vellios C , D. B. Lindenmayer A and C. F. Donnelly B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Centre for Resource and Environmental Studies, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia.

B Statistical Consulting Unit, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia.

C Science Division, Department of Conservation and Land Management, Locked Bag 2, Manjimup, WA 6258, Australia.

D Corresponding author: Email: adrianw@calm.wa.gov.au

Wildlife Research 32(8) 701-714 https://doi.org/10.1071/WR04094
Submitted: 15 October 2004  Accepted: 8 September 2005   Published: 20 December 2005

Abstract

Comparative trials of different survey methods were conducted in the southern jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) forest to determine the most efficient means of detecting koomal (common brushtail possum, Trichosurus vulpecula hypoleucus) and ngwayir (western ringtail possum, Pseudocheirus occidentalis). In particular, we examined different trapping and spotlighting methods and compared these with scat surveys. Six different trapping methods (derived by combining three bait types and two trap positions) were compared at six sites. Significantly fewer koomal were caught on ‘universal’ bait (i.e. peanut butter, rolled oats and sardines) than on flour-based baits using rose oil or Eucalyptus oil as lures. Significantly more individuals of both possum species were caught in arboreal traps than in ground traps (P < 0.001 in both cases). Recapture rates of koomal were high, whereas ngwayir were rarely retrapped. There were no detection differences between six different spotlighting methods (derived by combining three spotlight intensities with two filter colours) for koomal. Significantly more ngwayir were detected using 50-W or 100-W lights than 20-W lights (P = 0.01). There were no significant differences in the detection rates for ngwayir using red or white light. There were, however, significant observer differences in the number of possums of both species detected (koomal, P = 0.025; ngwayir, P = 0.004). Spotlighting detected, on average, only 4.9% of the koomal ‘known to be alive’ by trapping. However, spotlighting with a 50-W or 100-W spotlight detected more ngwayir than did trapping. Koomal abundance measures derived from scat surveys were not related to trapping or spotlight abundance estimates. For ngwayir, however, scat counts were strongly related to spotlight counts and there were no significant observer differences for the former. We conclude that koomal are more effectively surveyed using arboreal trapping with rose or Eucalyptus lures. Ngwayir are best surveyed using scat surveys or 50-W spotlights.


Acknowledgments

We are especially grateful to the large number of volunteers who assisted with the fieldwork and associated data entry. Ross Cunningham provided advice on the study design. Dave Roberts assisted with the development of the databases. Barbarra Jones kindly introduced A. Wayne to the use of scat surveys as a potential means of measuring the relative abundance of possums. Joern Fischer, Mathew Williams, Nicki Munro, Julia Northin and two referees (including Ross Goldingay) kindly provided comments on an earlier draft of this manuscript. This research was conducted with the approval of the Australian National University Animal Experimentation Ethics Committee (C.RE.23.01) and the Department of Conservation and Land Management Animal Ethics Committee (CAEC/14/2002). The Western Australian Government Department of Conservation and Land Management funded this research.


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