Is the spatial distribution of tuberculous possums influenced by den quality?
This study aimed to test whether den sites in a single small area containing a cluster of tuberculous brushtail possums were more exposed to adverse environmental conditions than those in a nearby area where no tuberculous possums had been found. No significant differences were found in the visually assessed quality of dens between the two areas. This suggests either that den quality is relatively unimportant in the epidemiology of bovine tuberculosis in possums, or that the differences in den quality are not large enough or are too spatially localised to be detected with the methods used.
Caley
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Landcare Research, Private Bag 11052, Palmerston North, New Zealand.