Fungal Succession on Dung of the Brush-tailed Opossum in New Zealand

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Abstract
The fungal succession on dung of the brush-tailed opossum (Trichosurus vulpecula Kerr) is described. The pattern of succession of fruiting bodies of the various fungal species colonising this dung substrate is shown to be broadly similar to that described elsewhere for other dung substrates of ground-feeding herbivores. The seasonal cycles of the regular fungal flora on the dung are discussed. Some fungi, such as Ascozonus woolhopensis (Berk. & Br.) Boud., were markedly seasonal in their occurrence, others did not show such a marked seasonal pattern. However, the fungus flora as a whole followed a predictable seasonal cycle with maximum fruiting of the species in winter and minimum in summer. Many coprophilous fungi are common on dung of other herbivores in the study area but the majority of fungi of regular occurrence on opossum dung are characterised by having small, hyaline spores. Spores with these characteristics may have some selective advantage in reaching the canopy vegetation on which the opossum feeds.

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