Captive-raised western ringtail possums (Pseudocheirus occidentalis) with a bold personality have higher survival rates when released into the wild
Abstract We tested if the personality of captive-raised western ringtail possums (Pseudocheirus occidentalis), and the impact of other variables would influence their survival after release using radiotelemetry. We hypothesised a greater survival for individuals: (i) bold; (ii) habituated in advance...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2024-08-01
|
| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-67726-y |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1846158592955121664 |
|---|---|
| author | Sara Corsetti Brian Chambers Dominique Blache Roberta Bencini |
| author_facet | Sara Corsetti Brian Chambers Dominique Blache Roberta Bencini |
| author_sort | Sara Corsetti |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract We tested if the personality of captive-raised western ringtail possums (Pseudocheirus occidentalis), and the impact of other variables would influence their survival after release using radiotelemetry. We hypothesised a greater survival for individuals: (i) bold; (ii) habituated in advance to food collected from the release area; (iii) juveniles instead of adults, because more easily tolerated by wild individuals, and (iv) released in new dreys (nests) as they would not have the strong odour of old dreys and would be less attractive to foxes. After 3 months of radio tracking, out of 143 possums released, 79 died: 51 (64.6%) were preyed upon by European red foxes (Vulpes vulpes). Bold or female individuals had higher survival rates than shy or male individuals (survival rate bold: 53%, shy: 41%, p = 0.046, hazard ratio = 0.352, 95% CI HR [0.126, 0.979]; survival rate females: 44%, males: 35%, p = 0.007, hazard ratio = 2.811, 95% CI HR [1.322, 5.976]). Shooting was a more effective fox control strategy to improve survival compared to baiting (p = 0.019, hazard ratio = 0.167, 95% CI HR [0.038, 0.742]). Our results demonstrate that the control of introduced predators is critical for the success of reintroductions of this critically endangered species. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5d44f18bbca648fb9432d4eae2dc4d2e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-08-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-5d44f18bbca648fb9432d4eae2dc4d2e2024-11-24T12:22:11ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-08-0114111110.1038/s41598-024-67726-yCaptive-raised western ringtail possums (Pseudocheirus occidentalis) with a bold personality have higher survival rates when released into the wildSara Corsetti0Brian Chambers1Dominique Blache2Roberta Bencini3School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western AustraliaSouth West NRMSchool of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western AustraliaSchool of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western AustraliaAbstract We tested if the personality of captive-raised western ringtail possums (Pseudocheirus occidentalis), and the impact of other variables would influence their survival after release using radiotelemetry. We hypothesised a greater survival for individuals: (i) bold; (ii) habituated in advance to food collected from the release area; (iii) juveniles instead of adults, because more easily tolerated by wild individuals, and (iv) released in new dreys (nests) as they would not have the strong odour of old dreys and would be less attractive to foxes. After 3 months of radio tracking, out of 143 possums released, 79 died: 51 (64.6%) were preyed upon by European red foxes (Vulpes vulpes). Bold or female individuals had higher survival rates than shy or male individuals (survival rate bold: 53%, shy: 41%, p = 0.046, hazard ratio = 0.352, 95% CI HR [0.126, 0.979]; survival rate females: 44%, males: 35%, p = 0.007, hazard ratio = 2.811, 95% CI HR [1.322, 5.976]). Shooting was a more effective fox control strategy to improve survival compared to baiting (p = 0.019, hazard ratio = 0.167, 95% CI HR [0.038, 0.742]). Our results demonstrate that the control of introduced predators is critical for the success of reintroductions of this critically endangered species.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-67726-yWestern ringtail possumWildlifeAnimal personalityFox controlRadiotelemetryReintroduction |
| spellingShingle | Sara Corsetti Brian Chambers Dominique Blache Roberta Bencini Captive-raised western ringtail possums (Pseudocheirus occidentalis) with a bold personality have higher survival rates when released into the wild Scientific Reports Western ringtail possum Wildlife Animal personality Fox control Radiotelemetry Reintroduction |
| title | Captive-raised western ringtail possums (Pseudocheirus occidentalis) with a bold personality have higher survival rates when released into the wild |
| title_full | Captive-raised western ringtail possums (Pseudocheirus occidentalis) with a bold personality have higher survival rates when released into the wild |
| title_fullStr | Captive-raised western ringtail possums (Pseudocheirus occidentalis) with a bold personality have higher survival rates when released into the wild |
| title_full_unstemmed | Captive-raised western ringtail possums (Pseudocheirus occidentalis) with a bold personality have higher survival rates when released into the wild |
| title_short | Captive-raised western ringtail possums (Pseudocheirus occidentalis) with a bold personality have higher survival rates when released into the wild |
| title_sort | captive raised western ringtail possums pseudocheirus occidentalis with a bold personality have higher survival rates when released into the wild |
| topic | Western ringtail possum Wildlife Animal personality Fox control Radiotelemetry Reintroduction |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-67726-y |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT saracorsetti captiveraisedwesternringtailpossumspseudocheirusoccidentaliswithaboldpersonalityhavehighersurvivalrateswhenreleasedintothewild AT brianchambers captiveraisedwesternringtailpossumspseudocheirusoccidentaliswithaboldpersonalityhavehighersurvivalrateswhenreleasedintothewild AT dominiqueblache captiveraisedwesternringtailpossumspseudocheirusoccidentaliswithaboldpersonalityhavehighersurvivalrateswhenreleasedintothewild AT robertabencini captiveraisedwesternringtailpossumspseudocheirusoccidentaliswithaboldpersonalityhavehighersurvivalrateswhenreleasedintothewild |