It may come as a surprise, but the common brushtail possum, often considered an herbivore, has been found to scavenge on animal carcasses in Australia. Recent research has shown that these ‘vegetarian’ possums turn to meat-eating when their typical food sources are scarce, particularly during the colder months. This behavior not only provides them with essential nutrients but also plays a crucial role in the nutrient cycling and ecosystem health of various Australian regions, from the alpine areas to the temperate forests.
The Possum: natures dustbin
Up until now, scavenger species in the Australian wilderness have mainly been seen as dingoes, foxes, and ravens — all predators. However, the new research finds that even herbivores like the common brushtail possum also play a part in helping to clean up animal carcasses.
The researchers did this by using remote cameras to watch the scavenging behavior of both fresh eastern grey kangaroo carcasses in sites in alpine and temperate regions of New South Wales. According to a study, the major scavengers of dead cats were possums which fed on the carrion even more than traditional scavengers. This flags the surprising level of adaptability a possum displays when it comes to what it eats as well as how vital they are in their context.
Variation over the Season in Possum Scavenging
Klare says the researchers found that possums’ scavenging behavior depended largely on habitat and season. Possums scavenged only in closed canopy habitats in all regions, presumably gaining protection from predators and other scavengers.
This study was restricted to temperate regions where possums only scavenge during winter when other food resources are seasonally restricted. Across all species, diet scavenging peaked in autumn and winter with an increase during spring in the trees and throughout the year by possums, especially in alpine areas where food has limited availability year-round. This indicates scavenging can supplement the nutrition provided when possums cannot forage their normal vegetation-based diet.
Unleashing the Mysteries Behind Ecosystem Dynamics
These results have broad implications for wildlife management and ecosystem dynamics, demonstrating the importance of understanding such unusual feeding behavior in the common brushtail possum.
So, for example in New Zealand where they have a huge problem with possums as invasive pests, if we can find out that during the winter months, they are scavenging, then maybe controlling would be more effective. The study provides a framework to analyze herbivore scavenging in other habitats and will help improve understanding of the processes involved in food web dynamics, nutrient recycling, and productivity within different ecosystems.
As previous studies have documented, herbivores are often way more flexible in what they can and cannot eat than believed; in a pinch, foragers must be able to scavenge meat and reuse nutritional waste when the regular edible flora is gone. By identifying ‘vegetarian’ possums as important scavengers in Australia, this discovery contributes to our knowledge of the intricate functioning of natural ecosystems.
