The diet of the Red-legged Pademelon Thylogale stigmatica has previously been described as comprising a range of dicotyledonous and monocotyledonous plants, rainforest fruits, seeds, and some fungi. We collected T. stigmatica faecal samples from a rainforest-open forest ecotone in northeastern Australia and analysed them for the presence of fungal spores. Of the 20 samples collected, 12 contained spores of several types of hypogeous fungi, with the number of spore types per sample ranging from 1-7, with a mean of 5. Twenty fungal spore types were recognised in total; seven of these could be attributed to hypogeous (‘truffle-like’) ectomycorrhizal genera, and most others had spore morphologies suggestive of a hypogeous habit. This is the first report of consumption of ectomycorrhizal hypogeous fungi by the genus Thylogale, and as such, adds important new information on the role these forest-dwelling wallabies might play in dispersing hypogeous fungi across the dynamic interface between rainforest and open forest in eastern Australia.
Ash, J. 1988. The location and stability of rainforest boundaries in north-eastern Queensland, Australia. Journal of Biogeography 15: 619-630.
,
The location and stability of rainforest boundaries in north-eastern Queensland, Australia
, Journal of Biogeography
, vol. 15
(pg. 619
-630
) Baar, J., Horton, T.R., Kretzer, A. and Bruns, T.D. 1999. Mycorrhizal colonization of Pinus muricatus from resistant propagules after a stand-replacing wildfire. New Phytologist 143: 409-418.
,
Mycorrhizal colonization of Pinus muricatus from resistant propagules after a stand-replacing wildfire
, New Phytologist
, vol. 143
(pg. 409
-418
) Bougher, N.L. and Lebel, T. 2001. Sequestrate (truffle-like) fungi of Australia and New Zealand. Australian Systematic Botany 14:1-47.
,
Sequestrate (truffle-like) fungi of Australia and New Zealand
, Australian Systematic Botany
, vol. 14
(pg. 1
-47
) Brundrett, M.C. 1991. Mycorrhizas in natural ecosystems. Advances in Ecological Research 21: 171-313.
,
Mycorrhizas in natural ecosystems
, Advances in Ecological Research
, vol. 21
(pg. 171
-313
) Christensen, P.E.S. 1980. The biology of Bettongia penicillata (Gray, 1837), and Macropus eugenii (Desmarest, 1817) in relation to fire. Report No 91, Forests Department of Western Australia.
Caldwell, I.R., Vernes, K. and Bärlocher, F. 2005. The northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus) as a vector for inoculation of red spruce (Picea rubens) seedlings with ectomycorrhizal fungi. Sydowia 57: 166-178.
,
The northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus) as a vector for inoculation of red spruce (Picea rubens) seedlings with ectomycorrhizal fungi
, Sydowia
, vol. 57
(pg. 166
-178
) Claridge, A.W. 2002. Ecological role of hypogeous ectomycorrhizal fungi in Australian forests and woodlands. Plant and Soil 244: 291-305.
,
Ecological role of hypogeous ectomycorrhizal fungi in Australian forests and woodlands
, Plant and Soil
, vol. 244
(pg. 291
-305
) Claridge, A.W. and May, T. W. 1994. Review article: Mycophagy among Australian mammals. Australian Journal of Ecology 19: 251-75.
,
Review article: Mycophagy among Australian mammals
, Australian Journal of Ecology
, vol. 19
(pg. 251
-75
) Claridge, A.W., Tanton, M.T., Seebeck, J.H., Cork, S.J. and Cunningham, R.B. 1992. Establishment of ectomycorrhizae on the roots of two species of Eucalyptus from fungal spores contained in the faeces of the long-nosed potoroo (Potorous tridactylus). Australian Journal of Ecology 17: 207-217.
,
Establishment of ectomycorrhizae on the roots of two species of Eucalyptus from fungal spores contained in the faeces of the long-nosed potoroo (Potorous tridactylus)
, Australian Journal of Ecology
, vol. 17
(pg. 207
-217
) Claridge, A.W., Castellano, M.A. and Trappe, J.M. (1996). Fungi as a food resource for mammals in Australia. Pp. 239-267 in The fungi of Australia, Volume 1B, edited by K. Mallett and C.A. Grgurinovic. Australian Biological Resource Study, Canberra.
,
The fungi of Australia
(pg. 239
-267
) Claridge, A.W., Trappe, J.M. and Claridge, D.L. 2001. Mycophagy by the swamp wallaby (Wallabia bicolor). Wildlife Research 28: 643-645.
,
Mycophagy by the swamp wallaby (Wallabia bicolor)
, Wildlife Research
, vol. 28
(pg. 643
-645
) Claridge, A.W. and Trappe, J.M. 2005. Sporocarp mycophagy: nutritional, behavioral, evolutionary and physiological aspects. Pp. 599-611 in The Fungal Community: Its Organization and Role in the Ecosystem, edited by J. Dighton, J.F. White and P. Oudemans. Taylor and Francis, Boca Raton, Florida.
,
The Fungal Community: Its Organization and Role in the Ecosystem
(pg. 599
-611
) Donaldson, R. and Stoddart, M. 1994. Detection of hypogeous fungi by the Tasmanian bettong (Bettongia gaimardi: Marsupialia; Macropodoidea). Journal of Chemical Ecology 20: 1201-1207.
,
Detection of hypogeous fungi by the Tasmanian bettong (Bettongia gaimardi: Marsupialia; Macropodoidea)
, Journal of Chemical Ecology
, vol. 20
(pg. 1201
-1207
) Harrington, G.N. and Sanderson, K.D. 1994. Recent contraction of wet sclerophyll forest in the wet tropics of Queensland due to invasion by rainforest. Pacific Conservation Biology 1: 319-327.
,
Recent contraction of wet sclerophyll forest in the wet tropics of Queensland due to invasion by rainforest
, Pacific Conservation Biology
, vol. 1
(pg. 319
-327
) Johnson, P.M. and Vernes, K. 1995. Red-legged pademelon, Thylogale stigmatica. Pp. 397-398 in The Mammals of Australia, edited by R. Strahan. Reed Books, Sydney.
,
The Mammals of Australia
(pg. 397
-398
) Kjφller, R. and Bruns, T.D. 2003. Rhizopogon spore bank communities within and among California pine forests. Mycologia 95: 603-614.
,
Rhizopogon spore bank communities within and among California pine forests
, Mycologia
, vol. 95
(pg. 603
-614
) Reddell, P., Spain, A.V. and Hopkins, M. 1997. Dispersal of spores of mycorrhizal fungi in scats of native mammals in tropical forests of north eastern Australia. Biotropica 29: 184-192.
,
Dispersal of spores of mycorrhizal fungi in scats of native mammals in tropical forests of north eastern Australia
, Biotropica
, vol. 29
(pg. 184
-192
) Redenbach, C.J. 1982. A dietary comparison of three sympatric forest-dwelling macropodids. Bachelor of Natural Resources Thesis, University of New England.
Smith, S.E. and Read, D.J. 1997. Mycorrhizal symbiosis. Academic Press, London, UK.
,
Mycorrhizal symbiosis
Sprent, J.A. and McArthur, C. 2002. Diet and diet selection of two species in the macropodid browser-grazer continuum: do they eat what they ‘should’? Australian Journal of Zoology 20: 183-192.
,
Diet and diet selection of two species in the macropodid browser-grazer continuum: do they eat what they ‘should’?
, Australian Journal of Zoology
, vol. 20
(pg. 183
-192
) Tory, M.K., May, T.W., Keane, P.J. and Bennett, A.F. 1997. Mycophagy in small mammals: a comparison of the occurrence and diversity of hypogeal fungi in the diet of the long-nosed potoroo Potorous tridactylus and the bush rat Rattus fuscipes from south-western Victoria, Australia. Australian Journal of Ecology 22: 460-470.
,
Mycophagy in small mammals: a comparison of the occurrence and diversity of hypogeal fungi in the diet of the long-nosed potoroo Potorous tridactylus and the bush rat Rattus fuscipes from south-western Victoria, Australia
, Australian Journal of Ecology
, vol. 22
(pg. 460
-470
) Trappe, J.M. and Claridge, A.W. 2005. Hypogeous fungi: evolution of reproductive and dispersal strategies through interactions with animals and mycorrhizal plants. Pp 613-623 in The Fungal Community: Its Organization and Role in the Ecosystem, edited by J. Dighton, J.F. White, and P. Oudemans. Taylor and Francis, Boca Raton, Florida.
,
The Fungal Community: Its Organization and Role in the Ecosystem
(pg. 613
-623
) Unwin, G.L. 1989. Structure and composition of the abrupt rainforest boundary in the Herberton Highland, north Queensland. Australian Journal of Botany 37: 413-428.
,
Structure and composition of the abrupt rainforest boundary in the Herberton Highland, north Queensland
, Australian Journal of Botany
, vol. 37
(pg. 413
-428
) Vernes, K. 1995. The diet of the red-legged pademelon Thylogale stigmatica (Gould) (Marsupialia: Macropodidae) in fragmented tropical rainforest, north Queensland, Australia. Mammalia 59: 517-525.
,
The diet of the red-legged pademelon Thylogale stigmatica (Gould) (Marsupialia: Macropodidae) in fragmented tropical rainforest, north Queensland, Australia
, Mammalia
, vol. 59
(pg. 517
-525
) Vernes, K., Marsh, H. and Winter, J. 1995. Home range characteristics and movement patterns of the red-legged pademelon (Thylogale stigmatica) in fragmented tropical rainforest. Wildlife Research 22: 699-708.
,
Home range characteristics and movement patterns of the red-legged pademelon (Thylogale stigmatica) in fragmented tropical rainforest
, Wildlife Research
, vol. 22
(pg. 699
-708
) Vernes, K., Castellano, M. and Johnson, C.N. 2001. Effects of season and fire on the diversity of hypogeous fungi consumed by a tropical mycophagous marsupial. Journal of Animal Ecology 70: 945-54.
,
Effects of season and fire on the diversity of hypogeous fungi consumed by a tropical mycophagous marsupial
, Journal of Animal Ecology
, vol. 70
(pg. 945
-54
) Webb, L.J. and Tracey, J.G. 1981. The rainforests of northern Australia. Pp. 67-101 in Australian Vegetation, edited by R.H. Groves. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
,
Australian Vegetation
(pg. 67
-101
)
This content is only available as a PDF.
