Data for: Social learning in a nocturnal marsupial: Is it a possum-ability?

Social learning can reduce the costs associated with trial-and-error
learning. There is speculation that social learning could contribute to
trap and bait avoidance in invasive species like the Common Brushtail
Possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) – a marsupial for which social learning has
not previously been investigated. In large outdoor pens, we presented
wild-caught ‘demonstrator’ possums with puzzle devices containing an
attractive food reward; 2 of 8 demonstrators accessed the reward the first
night the puzzle was presented and another 3 succeeded on later nights.
Meanwhile, ‘observer’ possums in adjacent pens watched the demonstrators
for five nights and then were given the opportunity to solve the puzzle
themselves; 15 of 15 succeeded on their first night (a highly significant
improvement). This experiment thus provides strong evidence of social
learning by common brushtail possums. Future research should investigate
whether information about aversive stimuli (such as traps and toxic baits)
can similarly be transmitted between possums by social learning; if so,
this could have important implications for possum pest control.