Camera trap detection of mycophagy among co-occurring vertebrates

Thirty camera traps were deployed for a total of 4179 trap-nights between January and June 2020 as part of a project assessing post-fire recovery of pademelons (Thylogale spp.) in northern New South Wales. By chance, one camera documented a site that was highly productive for the ectomycorrhizal fungal genus Amanita. This camera provided a rare opportunity to document a diversity of co-habitating vertebrates that utilise these ectomycorrhizal fungi for food and in turn perform an important ecosystem function through the dispersal of their spores. Our camera recorded eleven vertebrate species; of these, we captured photographic evidence of Australian brush-turkeys (Alectura lathami), a parma wallaby (Notamacropus parma), long-nosed bandicoots (Perameles nasuta), red-legged pademelons (Thylogale stigmatica) and red-necked pademelons (T. thetis) feeding on fungal fruiting bodies.

Automated summary

This study deployed thirty camera traps to assess post-fire recovery of pademelons in northern New South Wales, with one camera accidentally documenting a highly productive site for the ectomycorrhizal fungal genus Amanita. The camera provided a rare opportunity to observe a diversity of co-habitating vertebrates utilizing these fungi as food sources and contributing to important ecosystem functions through the dispersal of spores.