Bobuck |
Few marsupials are sociable and fewer form pairs. One species that is thought to form pair-bonds is the Bobuck, Trichosurus caninus, but there are few data to support this. Jenny is collecting both behavioural and genetic data to investigate the mating and social systems of this species in north-eastern Victoria. Preliminary data suggest that Bobucks are indeed socially paired and about two-thirds of pairs also mate exclusively. She plans to investigate which selective pressures may have led to pairing in this species, focusing on the importance of territory defence and resource availability. The work is done through the University of Melbourne's Zoology Department, under the supervision of Drs Kath Handasyde and Graeme Coulson, but Jenny carries out her molecular genetics work under the guidance of Dr Andrea Taylor at Monash University. |
