Many marsupials are listed as either endangered or critically endangered in
Australia, and captive breeding has been identified as a major strategy in the
conservation and management of some of these species [e.g. Wilson et al., 2003].
It is thus very important to determine the effects of captive breeding on the
marsupial brain.
Here, we investigate the impacts of short-term captive breeding (up to seven
generations) on brain size in a small dasyurid marsupial, the stripe-faced dunnart
(Sminthopsis macroura), to determine the suitability of captive breeding as a source
of animals for marsupial reintroductions.