Banksia Pollen as a Source of Protein in the Diet of Two Australian Marsupials Cercartetus nanus and Tarsipes rostratus

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Abstract
It has been assumed that most nonflying mammals visit flowers for nectar and that consumption of pollen by these animals is accidental and of little or no nutritional importance. This study presents evidence for the utilization of pollen by several Australian marsupials. In nature, the eastern pygmy-possum, C. nanus, and the honey possum, T. rostratus regularly ingest large quantities of Banksia pollen from which they extract the nitrogenous cell contents. Instant or natural pollen tubes may be formed within the gut of the honey possum, and when disrupted may lead to almost total evacuation of the cell contents. The eastern pygmy-possum and other pollen feeding Australian marsupials may obtain pollen protoplasts by microbial digestion in a cecum, which the honey possum lacks. The mechanisms behind protoplast extraction in other pollen feeding animals are discussed. Banksia pollen is high in protein (36-42%) and both these marsupials need to digest the pollen from very few inflorescences to satisfy their minimum daily protein requirements. Because all pollen produced by an inflorescence is rarely present at any one time, the eastern pygmy-possum and honey possum would need to visit many inflorescences and may serve as important pollinators of Banksia.