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Mark D Bennett - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma in a Northern Brown Bandicoot (Isoodon macrourus).
Veterinary sciences, 2017Co-Authors: Amanda P. Beck, Mark D Bennett, Amy L. Shima, Linda K. JohnsonAbstract:Aside from a handful of notable exceptions, neoplasia is not reported as a major cause of mortality in wild animal populations and often goes undetected. For northern brown Bandicoots specifically, there are few reported tumors in the literature and on file in the Australian Registry of Wildlife Health. This report describes a case of squamous cell carcinoma in a northern brown Bandicoot (Isoodon macrourus), with metastases to the draining lymph nodes and lung. This neoplasm consisted predominantly of well-differentiated squamous cells and multifocal keratin pearls, with areas possibly consistent with epithelial to mesenchymal transition, as identified by positive immunohistochemical staining by both pancytokeratin (AE1/AE3) and vimentin. Additional investigations were negative for Bandicoot papillomatosis carcinomatosis viruses.
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genomic characterization of a novel virus found in papillomatous lesions from a southern brown Bandicoot isoodon obesulus in western australia
Virology, 2008Co-Authors: Mark D Bennett, Lucy Woolford, Hans Stevens, Marc Van Ranst, Timothy Oldfield, Michael Slaven, A J Ohara, K Warren, P K NichollsAbstract:The genome of a novel virus, tentatively named Bandicoot papillomatosis carcinomatosis virus type 2 (BPCV2), obtained from multicentric papillomatous lesions from an adult male southern brown Bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus) was sequenced in its entirety. BPCV2 had a circular double-stranded DNA genome consisting of 7277 bp and open reading frames encoding putative L1 and L2 structural proteins and putative large T antigen and small t antigen transforming proteins. These genomic features, intermediate between Papillomaviridae and Polyomaviridae are most similar to BPCV1, recently described from papillomas and carcinomas in the endangered western barred Bandicoot (Perameles bougainville). This study also employed in situ hybridization to definitively demonstrate BPCV2 DNA within lesion biopsies. The discovery of BPCV2 provides evidence of virus-host co-speciation between BPCVs and marsupial Bandicoots and has important implications for the phylogeny and taxonomy of circular double-stranded DNA viruses infecting vertebrates.
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Hepatic intranuclear glycogen inclusions in western barred Bandicoots (Perameles bougainville)
Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation : official publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians Inc, 2008Co-Authors: Mark D Bennett, Philip K. Nicholls, Lucy Woolford, Kristin S. Warren, Amanda J. O'haraAbstract:The western barred Bandicoot, Perameles bougainville, is an endangered Australian marsupial species. Routine histology of liver samples collected at necropsy from 19 of 20 (95%) western barred Bandicoots revealed the sporadic to common occurrence of abnormal hepatocyte nuclei characterized by margination of chromatin and concomitant central pallor. Some abnormal hepatocyte nuclei were mildly to markedly enlarged and irregularly shaped. Periodic acid-Schiff reagent stained 131 of 142 (92%) of these abnormal hepatocyte nuclei. Positive staining was completely eliminated by diastase pretreatment. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that abnormal hepatocyte nuclei with marginated chromatin did not contain viral particles. Rather, glycogen beta-particles and alpha-rosettes were identified within some abnormal hepatocyte nuclei. Glycogen intranuclear inclusions were an incidental finding in western barred Bandicoot hepatocytes.
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cutaneous papillomatosis and carcinomatosis in the western barred Bandicoot perameles bougainville
Veterinary Pathology, 2008Co-Authors: Lucy Woolford, A. Ducki, R.a. Swan, Mark D Bennett, Michael Slaven, A J Ohara, J A Friend, Colleen Sims, S. HillAbstract:A progressive wart-like syndrome in both captive and wild populations of the Western barred Bandicoot (WBB) is hindering conservation efforts to prevent the extinction of this endangered marsupial. In this study, 42 WBBs exhibiting the papillomatosis and carcinomatosis syndrome were examined. The disease was characterized by multicentric proliferative lesions involving cutaneous and mucosal surfaces, which were seen clinically to increase in size with time. Grossly and histologically the smaller skin lesions resembled papillomas, whereas the larger lesions were most commonly observed to be squamous cell carcinomas. Large amphophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies were observed in hyperplastic conjunctival lesions of 8 WBBs under light microscopy. Conjunctival lesions from 2 WBBs examined using transmission electron microscopy contained a crystalline array of spherical electron- dense particles of 45-nm diameter, within the nucleus of conjunctival epithelial cells, consistent with a papillomavirus or polyomavirus. Conjunctival samples from 3 Bandicoots that contained intranuclear inclusion bodies also demonstrated a positive immunohistochemical reaction after indirect immunohis- tochemistry for papillomavirus structural antigens. Ultrastructural and/or immunohistochemical evidence of an etiologic agent was not identified in the nonconjunctival lesions examined. Here we describe the gross, histopathologic, ultrastructural, and immunohistochemical findings of a papilloma- tosis and carcinomatosis syndrome recently identified in the WBB.
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a novel virus detected in papillomas and carcinomas of the endangered western barred Bandicoot perameles bougainville exhibits genomic features of both the papillomaviridae and polyomaviridae
Journal of Virology, 2007Co-Authors: Lucy Woolford, Annabel Rector, A. Ducki, R.a. Swan, Mark D Bennett, Marc Van Ranst, K Warren, P K Nicholls, G E WilcoxAbstract:Conservation efforts to prevent the extinction of the endangered western barred Bandicoot (Perameles bougainville) are currently hindered by a progressively debilitating cutaneous and mucocutaneous papillomatosis and carcinomatosis syndrome observed in captive and wild populations. In this study, we detected a novel virus, designated the Bandicoot papillomatosis carcinomatosis virus type 1 (BPCV1), in lesional tissue from affected western barred Bandicoots using multiply primed rolling-circle amplification and PCR with the cutaneotropic papillomavirus primer pairs FAP59/FAP64 and AR-L1F8/AR-L1R9. Sequencing of the BPCV1 genome revealed a novel prototype virus exhibiting genomic properties of both the Papillomaviridae and the Polyomaviridae. Papillomaviral properties included a large genome size (~7.3 kb) and the presence of open reading frames (ORFs) encoding canonical L1 and L2 structural proteins. The genomic organization in which structural and nonstructural proteins were encoded on different strands of the double-stranded genome and the presence of ORFs encoding the nonstructural proteins large T and small t antigens were, on the other hand, typical polyomaviral features. BPCV1 may represent the first member of a novel virus family, descended from a common ancestor of the papillomaviruses and polyomaviruses recognized today. Alternatively, it may represent the product of ancient recombination between members of these two virus families. The discovery of this virus could have implications for the current taxonomic classification of Papillomaviridae and Polyomaviridae and can provide further insight into the evolution of these ancient virus families.
Kenny J. Travouillon - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Functional and morphometric analysis of a middle Miocene Bandicoot (Marsupialia, Peramelemorphia) skeleton from the Riversleigh World Heritage Area, Australia
2017Co-Authors: Karen H. Black, Kenny J. Travouillon, Troy J. Myers, Michael Archer, Suzanne J. Hand, Laura A. B. Wilson, Joseph J. BevittAbstract:Peramelemorphia comprises four families: the extant Peramelidae (Bandicoots), and Thylacomyidae (bilbies); the recently extinct Chaeropodidae (pig-footed Bandicoot); and the extinct Yaralidae; with at least ten fossil species of uncertain familial affinity designated as Perameloidea incertae sedis. Extant taxa (18 species) are characteristically omnivorous, small to medium sized (0.1-4.9 kg) semi-fossorial/fossorial marsupials with a quadrupedal bounding gait. They occupy varied habitats from desert to rainforest in Australia and New Guinea. Fourteen pre-Pliocene taxa are currently described on the basis of cranial and/or dental material, yet none is known from its postcranial skeleton. Here we use qualitative morphological and morphometric data to analyse a partial skeleton of a new species of Bandicoot from a middle Miocene cave deposit, AL90 Site, in the Riversleigh World Heritage Area. AL90 has been radiometrically dated at 14.7-15.1 Ma, however the species is abundant in numerous early to middle Miocene deposits at Riversleigh The AL90 specimen preserves the skull and dentaries, the fore-and hindlimbs, and elements of the manus, pes and axial skeleton. The species is estimated to have weighed approximately 300g (based on predictive marsupial craniodental regression equations) which is comparable among extant Bandicoots to Perameles bougainville (Western barred Bandicoot). Unlike modern species, the appendicular skeleton of the fossil taxon is less well-adapted for scratch-digging and fossorial behaviours. A striking contrast is the relatively elongate, gracile bones of the antebrachium of the fossil taxon compared with the generally short, robust forearm of modern Bandicoots. Collectively, our data indicate a more generalized niche for this species than crown group peramelemorphians and may support suggestions that archaic Bandicoots filled an ecological niche later dominated by small dasyurids during the late Cainozoic.
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oldest fossil remains of the enigmatic pig footed Bandicoot show rapid herbivorous evolution
Royal Society Open Science, 2016Co-Authors: Kenny J. TravouillonAbstract:The pig-footed Bandicoot, Chaeropus ecaudatus, is one of the most enigmatic Australian marsupials, which went extinct in the late 1950s probably as a result of European colonization. It is unusual in being the only marsupial to have evolved reduction of digits on both fore and hind feet, with the forefeet being pig-like (two toes) and the hind feet being horse-like (one toe). According to molecular phylogenetic analyses, Chaeropus diverged from other Bandicoots (Peramelidae), and the bilbies (Thylacomyidae) by the mid-Late Oligocene. This is considerably earlier than suggested by the fossil record, with the current oldest specimens being Late Pleistocene in age. Here, I report the oldest fossils of Chaeropus, representing a new species, Chaeropus baynesi from the Late Pliocene to Early Pleistocene (2.47–2.92 Ma) Fisherman's Cliff Local Fauna, Moorna Formation, New South Wales, Australia, and extending the fossil record of the genus and family by at least 2 million years. Chaeropus baynesi is less high crowned than C. ecaudatus and lacks lateral blade development on lower molars, suggesting that it was unlikely to be grazing. This suggests that Chaeropus must have adapted rapidly to the drying conditions and changes in environments, and would have become a grazer in a very short period of time.
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kutjamarcoot brevirostrum gen et sp nov a new short snouted early miocene Bandicoot marsupialia peramelemorphia from the kutjamarpu local fauna wipajiri formation in south australia
Alcheringa, 2016Co-Authors: P M Chamberlain, Kenny J. Travouillon, Michael Archer, Suzanne J. HandAbstract:Chamberlain, P.M., Travouillon, K.J., Archer, M. & Hand, S.J., November 2015. Kutjamarcoot brevirostrum gen. et sp. nov., a new short-snouted, early Miocene Bandicoot (Marsupialia: Peramelemorphia) from the Kutjamarpu Local Fauna (Wipajiri Formation) in South Australia. Alcheringa 40, XX–XX. ISSN 0311-5518.A new Bandicoot species, Kutjamarcoot brevirostrum gen. et sp. nov. (Peramelemorphia), is described here from the Leaf Locality, Kutjamarpu Local Fauna (LF), Wipajiri Formation (South Australia). The age of the fossil deposit is interpreted as early Miocene on the basis of biocorrelation between multiple species in the Kutjamarpu LF and local faunas from the Riversleigh World Heritage Area (WHA). Kutjamarcoot brevirostrum is represented by isolated teeth and three partial dentaries and appears to have been short-snouted with an estimated mass of 920 g. Phylogenetic analyses place K. brevirostrum in a clade with extant Australian Bandicoots and the extinct Madju, but potentially exclude the extant New Gu...
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earliest modern Bandicoot and bilby marsupialia peramelidae and thylacomyidae from the miocene of the riversleigh world heritage area northwestern queensland australia
Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 2014Co-Authors: Kenny J. Travouillon, Michael Archer, Suzanne J. Hand, Karen H. BlackAbstract:ABSTRACT Recent molecular phylogenies of peramelemorphians suggest that thylacomyids (bilbies) and peramelids (modern Bandicoots) diversified sometime in the late Oligocene or early Miocene. Until now, however, the earliest fossil evidence of thylacomyids and peramelids was from the Australian Pliocene. Here we describe the oldest peramelid and thylacomyid from the middle Miocene of the Riversleigh World Heritage Area, northwestern Queensland. The peramelid, Crash Bandicoot, gen. et sp. nov., is represented by a single maxilla containing M1–3 that exhibits peramelid synapomorphies, including development of a metaconular hypocone, an incomplete centrocrista, and well-developed anterior cingulum. The thylacomyid, Liyamayi dayi, gen. et sp. nov., is represented by M2 and m1, which show thylacomyid synapomorphies including a conical entoconid, a conical stylar cusp B (StB) and StD, and reduced distance between the metastyle and StD. The results of our phylogenetic analysis indicate that both species are part ...
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an exceptionally well preserved short snouted Bandicoot marsupialia peramelemorphia from riversleigh s oligo miocene deposits northwestern queensland australia
Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 2010Co-Authors: Kenny J. Travouillon, Yamila Gurovich, Robin M D Beck, Jeanette MuirheadAbstract:ABSTRACT We describe Galadi speciosus, gen. et sp nov., the second peramelemorphian (Yarala burchfieldi being the first) to be described from Oligo-Miocene deposits of Riversleigh World Heritage Property, northwestern Queensland. G. speciosus is represented by relatively complete craniodental material, including an exceptionally well-preserved skull. This taxon exhibits several apomorphies that clearly place it in the order Peramelemorphia, but it appears to be more plesiomorphic than any modern Bandicoot. We present the first morphological phylogenetic analyses of Peramelemorphia, using 51 craniodental characters. Our analyses recover Yarala and Galadi speciosus outside crown group Peramelemorphia, with G. speciosus weakly supported as the sister taxon of the crown group. The craniodental morphology of G. speciosus, particularly its robust skull and proportionately short and broad snout, suggests that it filled a different ecological niche to extant Bandicoots. We hypothesize that G. speciosus occupied a...
P K Nicholls - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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genomic characterization of a novel virus found in papillomatous lesions from a southern brown Bandicoot isoodon obesulus in western australia
Virology, 2008Co-Authors: Mark D Bennett, Lucy Woolford, Hans Stevens, Marc Van Ranst, Timothy Oldfield, Michael Slaven, A J Ohara, K Warren, P K NichollsAbstract:The genome of a novel virus, tentatively named Bandicoot papillomatosis carcinomatosis virus type 2 (BPCV2), obtained from multicentric papillomatous lesions from an adult male southern brown Bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus) was sequenced in its entirety. BPCV2 had a circular double-stranded DNA genome consisting of 7277 bp and open reading frames encoding putative L1 and L2 structural proteins and putative large T antigen and small t antigen transforming proteins. These genomic features, intermediate between Papillomaviridae and Polyomaviridae are most similar to BPCV1, recently described from papillomas and carcinomas in the endangered western barred Bandicoot (Perameles bougainville). This study also employed in situ hybridization to definitively demonstrate BPCV2 DNA within lesion biopsies. The discovery of BPCV2 provides evidence of virus-host co-speciation between BPCVs and marsupial Bandicoots and has important implications for the phylogeny and taxonomy of circular double-stranded DNA viruses infecting vertebrates.
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a novel virus detected in papillomas and carcinomas of the endangered western barred Bandicoot perameles bougainville exhibits genomic features of both the papillomaviridae and polyomaviridae
Journal of Virology, 2007Co-Authors: Lucy Woolford, Annabel Rector, A. Ducki, R.a. Swan, Mark D Bennett, Marc Van Ranst, K Warren, P K Nicholls, G E WilcoxAbstract:Conservation efforts to prevent the extinction of the endangered western barred Bandicoot (Perameles bougainville) are currently hindered by a progressively debilitating cutaneous and mucocutaneous papillomatosis and carcinomatosis syndrome observed in captive and wild populations. In this study, we detected a novel virus, designated the Bandicoot papillomatosis carcinomatosis virus type 1 (BPCV1), in lesional tissue from affected western barred Bandicoots using multiply primed rolling-circle amplification and PCR with the cutaneotropic papillomavirus primer pairs FAP59/FAP64 and AR-L1F8/AR-L1R9. Sequencing of the BPCV1 genome revealed a novel prototype virus exhibiting genomic properties of both the Papillomaviridae and the Polyomaviridae. Papillomaviral properties included a large genome size (~7.3 kb) and the presence of open reading frames (ORFs) encoding canonical L1 and L2 structural proteins. The genomic organization in which structural and nonstructural proteins were encoded on different strands of the double-stranded genome and the presence of ORFs encoding the nonstructural proteins large T and small t antigens were, on the other hand, typical polyomaviral features. BPCV1 may represent the first member of a novel virus family, descended from a common ancestor of the papillomaviruses and polyomaviruses recognized today. Alternatively, it may represent the product of ancient recombination between members of these two virus families. The discovery of this virus could have implications for the current taxonomic classification of Papillomaviridae and Polyomaviridae and can provide further insight into the evolution of these ancient virus families.
Lucy Woolford - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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genomic characterization of a novel virus found in papillomatous lesions from a southern brown Bandicoot isoodon obesulus in western australia
Virology, 2008Co-Authors: Mark D Bennett, Lucy Woolford, Hans Stevens, Marc Van Ranst, Timothy Oldfield, Michael Slaven, A J Ohara, K Warren, P K NichollsAbstract:The genome of a novel virus, tentatively named Bandicoot papillomatosis carcinomatosis virus type 2 (BPCV2), obtained from multicentric papillomatous lesions from an adult male southern brown Bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus) was sequenced in its entirety. BPCV2 had a circular double-stranded DNA genome consisting of 7277 bp and open reading frames encoding putative L1 and L2 structural proteins and putative large T antigen and small t antigen transforming proteins. These genomic features, intermediate between Papillomaviridae and Polyomaviridae are most similar to BPCV1, recently described from papillomas and carcinomas in the endangered western barred Bandicoot (Perameles bougainville). This study also employed in situ hybridization to definitively demonstrate BPCV2 DNA within lesion biopsies. The discovery of BPCV2 provides evidence of virus-host co-speciation between BPCVs and marsupial Bandicoots and has important implications for the phylogeny and taxonomy of circular double-stranded DNA viruses infecting vertebrates.
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Papillomatosis in marsupials Bandicoots: pathology, virology and treatment
2008Co-Authors: Amanda J. O'hara, Lucy Woolford, Bennett, Annabel Rector, M. Van Ranst, A. Ducki, Philip K. Nicholls, R.a. Swan, Graham E. Wilcox, Kristin S. WarrenAbstract:In 2002 a research group composed of scientists and veterinarians from the Department of Conservation and Land Management and Murdoch University started a collaborative research project to investigate a debilitating papillomatosis and carcinomatosis syndrome affecting the endangered western barred Bandicoot (WBB; Perameles bougainville). One of the achievements of this project was the detection and characterisation of a novel viral agent in association with this disease, -the Bandicoot papillomatosis and carcinomatosis vinus type 1 (BPCV1). This discovery was very exciting for our group because in addition to identifying a presumptive causal agent for this disease we had also discovered a novel virus with features intermediate between the Papillomaviridae and Polyomaviridae. As fate would have it, subsequent investigation of similar skin lesions in a southern brown Bandicoot (lsoodon obesulus) led to the equally exciting discovery of a related novel virus, Bandicoot papillomatosis carcinomatosis virus type 2 (BPCV2). This discovery confirmed , reinforced and complemented the research already undertaken with BPCV1, and supported the identification of 2 related viruses belonging to a unique group of double-stranded circular DNA viruses which may be the first 2 members of a new family of viruses. Having identified a probable cause of papillomatosis in western barred Bandicoots and southern brown Bandicoots, prophylactic and therapeutic modalities are now being investigated in an effort to find ways to prevent and/or treat these syndromes, thereby improving the welfare of these animals.
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Hepatic intranuclear glycogen inclusions in western barred Bandicoots (Perameles bougainville)
Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation : official publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians Inc, 2008Co-Authors: Mark D Bennett, Philip K. Nicholls, Lucy Woolford, Kristin S. Warren, Amanda J. O'haraAbstract:The western barred Bandicoot, Perameles bougainville, is an endangered Australian marsupial species. Routine histology of liver samples collected at necropsy from 19 of 20 (95%) western barred Bandicoots revealed the sporadic to common occurrence of abnormal hepatocyte nuclei characterized by margination of chromatin and concomitant central pallor. Some abnormal hepatocyte nuclei were mildly to markedly enlarged and irregularly shaped. Periodic acid-Schiff reagent stained 131 of 142 (92%) of these abnormal hepatocyte nuclei. Positive staining was completely eliminated by diastase pretreatment. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that abnormal hepatocyte nuclei with marginated chromatin did not contain viral particles. Rather, glycogen beta-particles and alpha-rosettes were identified within some abnormal hepatocyte nuclei. Glycogen intranuclear inclusions were an incidental finding in western barred Bandicoot hepatocytes.
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cutaneous papillomatosis and carcinomatosis in the western barred Bandicoot perameles bougainville
Veterinary Pathology, 2008Co-Authors: Lucy Woolford, A. Ducki, R.a. Swan, Mark D Bennett, Michael Slaven, A J Ohara, J A Friend, Colleen Sims, S. HillAbstract:A progressive wart-like syndrome in both captive and wild populations of the Western barred Bandicoot (WBB) is hindering conservation efforts to prevent the extinction of this endangered marsupial. In this study, 42 WBBs exhibiting the papillomatosis and carcinomatosis syndrome were examined. The disease was characterized by multicentric proliferative lesions involving cutaneous and mucosal surfaces, which were seen clinically to increase in size with time. Grossly and histologically the smaller skin lesions resembled papillomas, whereas the larger lesions were most commonly observed to be squamous cell carcinomas. Large amphophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies were observed in hyperplastic conjunctival lesions of 8 WBBs under light microscopy. Conjunctival lesions from 2 WBBs examined using transmission electron microscopy contained a crystalline array of spherical electron- dense particles of 45-nm diameter, within the nucleus of conjunctival epithelial cells, consistent with a papillomavirus or polyomavirus. Conjunctival samples from 3 Bandicoots that contained intranuclear inclusion bodies also demonstrated a positive immunohistochemical reaction after indirect immunohis- tochemistry for papillomavirus structural antigens. Ultrastructural and/or immunohistochemical evidence of an etiologic agent was not identified in the nonconjunctival lesions examined. Here we describe the gross, histopathologic, ultrastructural, and immunohistochemical findings of a papilloma- tosis and carcinomatosis syndrome recently identified in the WBB.
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a novel virus detected in papillomas and carcinomas of the endangered western barred Bandicoot perameles bougainville exhibits genomic features of both the papillomaviridae and polyomaviridae
Journal of Virology, 2007Co-Authors: Lucy Woolford, Annabel Rector, A. Ducki, R.a. Swan, Mark D Bennett, Marc Van Ranst, K Warren, P K Nicholls, G E WilcoxAbstract:Conservation efforts to prevent the extinction of the endangered western barred Bandicoot (Perameles bougainville) are currently hindered by a progressively debilitating cutaneous and mucocutaneous papillomatosis and carcinomatosis syndrome observed in captive and wild populations. In this study, we detected a novel virus, designated the Bandicoot papillomatosis carcinomatosis virus type 1 (BPCV1), in lesional tissue from affected western barred Bandicoots using multiply primed rolling-circle amplification and PCR with the cutaneotropic papillomavirus primer pairs FAP59/FAP64 and AR-L1F8/AR-L1R9. Sequencing of the BPCV1 genome revealed a novel prototype virus exhibiting genomic properties of both the Papillomaviridae and the Polyomaviridae. Papillomaviral properties included a large genome size (~7.3 kb) and the presence of open reading frames (ORFs) encoding canonical L1 and L2 structural proteins. The genomic organization in which structural and nonstructural proteins were encoded on different strands of the double-stranded genome and the presence of ORFs encoding the nonstructural proteins large T and small t antigens were, on the other hand, typical polyomaviral features. BPCV1 may represent the first member of a novel virus family, descended from a common ancestor of the papillomaviruses and polyomaviruses recognized today. Alternatively, it may represent the product of ancient recombination between members of these two virus families. The discovery of this virus could have implications for the current taxonomic classification of Papillomaviridae and Polyomaviridae and can provide further insight into the evolution of these ancient virus families.
Jeff Short - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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predation by feral cats key to the failure of a long term reintroduction of the western barred Bandicoot perameles bougainville
Wildlife Research, 2016Co-Authors: Jeff ShortAbstract:Context Reintroduction of endangered species potentially places them back in contact with putative factors of historical decline, inadvertently providing the opportunity to evaluate their impact. Aims To monitor the long-term progress of a population of western barred Bandicoot reintroduced to mainland Australia and to assess factors involved in its eventual local extinction. Methods Bandicoots were reintroduced from offshore Dorre Island to the nearby mainland peninsula of Heirisson Prong in 1995. The narrow neck of the peninsula was fenced to exclude foxes and feral cats from a 1200 ha area, but the area was subject to periodic incursions. There was parallel management of a confined but unsupported population in an in situ 17-ha predator refuge. Bandicoots were assessed for abundance, body condition and reproduction two to four times annually between 1995 and 2010. In addition, perceived threatening processes (drought, disease and the abundance of cats, foxes and rabbits) were monitored. Key results Bandicoots became well established at the site, spreading to all available habitat. Numbers fluctuated strongly, peaking at ~250 in 1999 and then declining to apparent local extinction (with subsequent re-establishment from the refuge), and at ~470 animals in 2006, followed again by extinction. Conclusions Predation by feral cats was implicated as the primary cause of both free-range extinctions and the eventual elimination of all Bandicoots from the predator refuge. Other contributing factors in one or more of the declines were a reduction in reproduction and recruitment in Bandicoots during a one-in-100-year drought, the impact of overabundant European rabbits on vegetation used by Bandicoots for nesting shelter and brief fox incursions at key times. Implications Existing methods of control of feral cats are rendered ineffective in the presence of abundant and diverse native fauna and abundant exotic species (particularly European rabbits). In addition, episodic drought in arid Australia intensifies the impact of predation by restricting reproduction of prey species. These factors hamper the attempts of conservation managers to re-establish vulnerable species at sites other than those with the infrastructure and/or management intensity to largely exclude exotic predators (and preferably European rabbits) over the long-term.
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Reintroduction and establishment of the western barred Bandicoot Perameles bougainville (Marsupialia: Peramelidae) at Shark Bay, Western Australia
Biological Conservation, 2003Co-Authors: J.d. Richards, Jeff ShortAbstract:The western barred Bandicoot was reintroduced to the Australian mainland in 1995 after an absence of at least 60 years. The new population was derived from 14 animals, reintroduced to Heirisson Prong from Dorre Island in Shark Bay, Western Australia. Introduced predators (the European red fox and the feral cat) were controlled at the reintroduction site, but European rabbits were not. A large fenced area of natural vegetation within the reintroduction site was used as a secure refuge from mammalian predators. Bandicoots were released from this predator refuge to the 12 km2 conservation site. Dispersal from the point of free release was minimal. The reintroduced population has persisted for 4 years and increased, with at least 175 Bandicoots recruited to the population in this time. The recapture rate of marked Bandicoots was low, suggesting that adult mortality was high. Reproductive output at Heirisson Prong appeared greater than that of the two surviving wild populations on Bernier and Dorre Islands. Litter size was similar, but there was an extended annual breeding season at the reintroduction site. Body condition of reintroduced and wild Bandicoots were similar, although there was some indication that reintroduced males may have been in poorer condition than their island counterparts. The litter size of Bandicoots increased with a decrease in rabbit abundance, however, Bandicoots were able to reproduce, maintain condition, and sustain recruitment to allow the population to increase despite the presence of rabbits. Two fox incursions occurred during the 4-year period of establishment, and feral cats were present on occasion in low numbers. Feral cats may be responsible for a lower rate of population increase than that observed on predator-free Dorre Island. Ongoing predator control is essential for any mainland reintroduction of Bandicoots.
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ECOLOGY OF THE WESTERN BARRED Bandicoot (PERAMELES BOUGAINVILLE) (MARSUPIALIA : PERAMELIDAE) ON DORRE AND BERNIER ISLANDS, WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Wildlife Research, 1998Co-Authors: Jeff Short, J.d. Richards, Bruce TurnerAbstract:Population structure, reproduction, condition, movements and habitat preference were assessed for western barred Bandicoots (Perameles bougainville) on Dorre and Bernier Islands over seven trapping sessions between 1988 and 1995. Data comes from 372 captures of Bandicoots in 2535 trap-nights (an average of 14·7 captures per 100 trap-nights). Trap success was 5.7–25.8% on Dorre and 5.7–7.6% on Bernier. Recaptures within a trip made up 29% of Bandicoot captures. The overall sex ratio (excluding recaptures) was skewed heavily towards males at 1.7: 1 for trapped animals, but varied between male and female dominance at any time according to reproductive status of females. Sex ratio of pouch young was 1.2: 1. Production of young was concentrated in the wetter winter months. The smallest western barred Bandicoot with pouch young weighed 175 g. Bandicoots showed a pattern of increasing litter size with size of mother. Females with young had an average litter size of 1.8, with young reaching independence at about 100 g body weight. Large testes size relative to body size in males suggested a promiscuous mating system. Body condition could be predicted by sex (females were typically in better condition than males) and by rainfall over the previous 2 months. Some sexual dimorphism was evident, with females having longer heads and typically being heavier than males. There was no detected dimorphism between island populations. Movements of Bandicoots appeared limited, with the median distance moved by animals captured more than once within a 9–11-day trapping session being 154 m. There was no significant difference in movements between the sexes, with males moving a median distance of 160 m and females 138 m within trapping sessions. The greatest movement by a male was 1020 m while the greatest distance moved by a female was 490 m. Only 13% of recorded movements were greater than 400 m. Home ranges overlapped, with 51% of traps catching more than one individual and as many as five males being caught at the same trap site. Bandicoots were widely dispersed through all habitats surveyed. Bandicoots appeared to suffer a substantial reduction in numbers on Dorre Island in a prolonged drought extending from October 1986 to April 1989, reducing overall trap success to less than 6% in the 1988 survey.
