Scientists are using DNA from poop to save the world's rarest marsupial, the Gilbert's potoroo. This critically endangered species, found only in Western Australia, has fewer than 150 animals left in the wild. Researchers from Edith Cowan University (ECU) and the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) are working together to better understand the potoroo's diet so that conservation teams can identify suitable new habitats and help secure the species' future.
The challenge lies in determining what the potoroo eats and where those resources can be found. Traditionally, researchers would study animal diets by examining undigested material in scats, but identifying fungal spores remained a challenge. However, a new molecular technique called eDNA metabarcoding is being used to decipher what animals are eating. This non-invasive method only requires fresh scats from the environment.
The team also examined whether the diets of more common fungi-eating mammals overlapped with the Gilbert's potoroo. They found some overlap in the diet of the four mammals and similar habitat use between the quokka and potoroo. Based on these results, they recommend focusing on areas where all three species persist together as an indicator of suitable food or habitat for future potoroo translocation sites.
Gilbert's potoroo was once believed to have disappeared entirely before being rediscovered in 1994. Since then, conservation efforts have included breeding them in captivity, but this didn't work due to their picky eating habits. Wild-to-wild translocations are now seen as crucial. In 2015, a bushfire destroyed 90% of the core potoroo habitat in Two Peoples Bay, but insurance populations had been established on Bald Island and in a fenced enclosure at Waychinicup National Park.
Researchers are now searching for another suitable mainland site to establish an additional population. The species is currently spread across four locations, including two islands off the coast of Western Australia. The search for new translocation sites is an important next step in the recovery of Gilbert's potoroo from near extinction.
Fungi-eating mammals play a crucial role in maintaining healthy ecosystems. They dig for fungi, aiding in soil turnover, and act as vectors for fungal spore dispersal. Fungi have mutually beneficial relationships with plants, so mycophagous mammals are essential in maintaining these ecosystems. Unfortunately, many Australian mammals are threatened by predation from introduced cats and foxes, making it vital to protect native wildlife through translocations.
