The role of photoperiod on the initiation of the breeding season of the brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)

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Authors:
R. T. Gemmell
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C. Sernia
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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1530/jrf.0.0950701
Volume/Issue:
Volume 95: Issue 3
Page Range:
701–708
Article Type:
Research Article
Online Publication Date:
Aug 1992
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Summary. The role of photoperiod on the initiation of the breeding season of brushtail possums was investigated in possums housed in three light regimens: a short-day, a natural and a long-day photoperiod. Seven possums were housed in a natural photoperiod. Four possums were transferred to a short-day photoperiod (10 h light, 14 h dark) and eight possums to a long-day photoperiod (14 h light, 10 h dark) on 22 November, when the daylength was 13·34 h. The first rises in plasma progesterone concentrations were observed on 9 January ± 9 days (n = 4), 11 March ± 6 days (n = 7) and 6 May ± 6 days (n = 8), for possums held in short-day, natural or long-day photoperiods respectively. Similarly, births were observed on 12 January and 14 February in the short-day group, from 3 March to 8 May for the natural photoperiod group, and from 5 May to 8 August for the long-day group. These results suggest that photoperiod is important in the timing of the breeding season. However, annual breeding will commence in a nonstimulatory long-day photoperiod. Thus a long-day photoperiod does not prevent breeding activity.

Keywords: seasonal breeding; daylength; marsupial; brushtail possum; captivity

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Print ISSN:
1470-1626
Online ISSN:
1741-7899