New Zealand Journal of Zoology abstracts
Dominant and subordinate behaviour of captive brushtail possums (Trichosurus
vulpecula)
E. B. SPURR
S. E. JOLLY
Landcare Research
P. O. Box 69
Lincoln, New Zealand
Abstract Brushtail possums are generally solitary animals.
They use a range of olfactory, auditory, visual, and tactile behaviour to
achieve spacing between individuals and to establish dominance hierarchies.
Existing descriptions of possum behaviour are either not widely available or
incomplete, and the function of dominance hierarchies is unclear. Data
presented here were collected incidentally during observations of captive
possums to determine the effects on dominance status of suppression of
reproduction for biological control. Dominant and subordinate behaviour are
described and reviewed. The top-ranking possums in dominance hierarchies were
always females. Dominant possums displaced subordinates from food, water, and
dens. In our captive setting, only dominant males attempted to mate with
females, but dominant and subordinate females produced a similar number of
pouch young. In the wild, where resources are limited, we predict that
dominance behaviour should limit the frequency and success of breeding by both
subordinate males and females.
Keywords Trichosurus vulpecula; brushtail possum;
behaviour; dominance hierarchies
Z96026
Received 4 July 1996; accepted 4 June 1999
PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (976K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)
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