The endangered northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus) is a predatory marsupial with wide and disjointed distribution across Australia. disjunct Pilbara population occurs in uniquely arid area, faces different threatening processes to populations elsewhere. To better understand the ecology of this small carnivore, we undertook dietary analysis 498 scats collected ~100,000 km2. We calculated composition niche breadth modeled these against biogeophysical factors (latitude, longitude, rainfall,...

Abstract Aim Species range contractions are increasingly common globally. The niche reduction hypothesis posits that geographic often patterned across space owing to heterogeneity in threat impacts and tolerance. We applied the decline of a threatened marsupial predator northern Australia, quoll ( Dasyurus hallucatus ). Location Northern Australia. Methods assembled database containing 3,178 historic contemporary records for quolls extent their distribution dating between 1778 2019. Based on...

Abstract Background Efficient movement and energy expenditure are vital for animal survival. Human disturbance can alter due to changes in resource availability threats. Some animals exploit anthropogenic disturbances more efficient movement, while others face restricted or inefficient fragmentation of high-resource habitats, risks associated with disturbed habitats. Mining, a major disturbance, removes natural introduces new landscape features, alters distribution the landscape. This study...

Anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs) have been detected in non-target wildlife species worldwide but information on exposure Australian mammals is extremely limited. To address this, we analysed liver tissue from the five largest sized of native carnivorous and scavenging for all SGARs currently used Australia. A total 52 individual animals dasyurid were tested to ARs with 26 individuals (50 %) testing positive. Eleven (21 positive more than one AR compound, two three types AR. This study first...

The Pilbara population of the northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus) has been seldom studied, and impacts threats such as altered fire regimes, total grazing pressure, predation mining infrastructure development are not well understood. While was once thought likely to provide refuge for quolls from poisonous cane toad (Rhinella marina), recent modelling suggests that toads will invade region. environmental approvals process in generated considerable offset funds be directed towards research...

Abstract Context The amount and configuration of habitat are independent but tightly linked landscape characteristics which often confounded in ecological studies. Differentiating the effects each characteristic is critical for conservation, because mechanisms by they influence populations distinct. While studies that have measured separately found former to be more important, a subset these suggest can vital species when low (10–30%). Objectives We aimed test on occupancy abundance an...

Landscape-scale conservation that considers metapopulation dynamics will be essential for preventing declines of species facing multiple threats to their survival. Toward this end, we developed a novel approach combines occurrence records, spatial-environmental data, and genetic information model habitat, connectivity, patterns structure link spatial attributes underlying ecological mechanisms. Using the threatened northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus) as case study, applied address need...

The management of populations threatened species requires the capacity to identify areas high habitat value. We developed a resolution distribution model (SDM) for endangered Pilbara northern quoll Dasyurus hallucatus, population using MaxEnt software and combined suite bioclimatic landscape variables. Once common throughout much Australia, this marsupial carnivore has recently declined its former range is listed as by IUCN. Other than potential threats presented climate change, invasive...

The use of multiple source populations provides a way to maximise genetic variation and reduce the impacts inbreeding depression in newly established translocated populations. However, there is risk that individuals from different will not interbreed, leading population structure smaller effective sizes than expected. Here, we investigate consequences mixing two isolated, morphologically distinct island boodies (

In response to Australia’s current extinction crisis, substantial research efforts have been targeted towards some of the most imperilled species. One such species is northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus), a marsupial predator that has recently suffered declines in range and now listed as Endangered. We conducted systematic review all literature relevant conservation ecology quolls. reviewed 143 studies, including articles, government industry reports, theses, books, quantified effort terms...

Abstract Ecological monitoring is crucial for tracking changes in the status of species over time. However, ensuring that programs possess adequate statistical power—capacity to detect populations with a high level confidence—remains challenge many wildlife managers globally. While new technologies potentially offer cost effective solutions this problem, transitioning these methods requires careful calibration existing techniques, such differences power and can be measured assessed...

Abstract One technique used to combat the growing global species extinction crisis has been create artificial refuges—human‐made replacements for natural refuges destroyed during habitat modification. However, there is limited knowledge of how closely replicate they seek replace. Mining threatens many worldwide through large‐scale modification, and have proposed as a method offset resulting loss. Here, we examined microclimatic, physical, biotic characteristics dens occupied by northern...

Context Projecting the population trajectory of endangered species using models requires conservation practitioners to evaluate how variations in life history parameters may change a population’s viability. This is particularly important for that occur as fragmented populations and whose densities are naturally low. Simulations be used identify actions have higher likelihood reducing species’ extinction risk. Aims The aim was apply viability northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus) under...

Abstract Camera traps are increasingly used to survey and monitor rare or cryptic species, yet few studies consider how camera orientation influences species detectability, among other metrics such as total independent detections likelihood of missing detections. We these measures compare the performance vertically horizontally orientated at 46 sites spread over 10 000 km 2 in north‐west Australia. Data were collected for four taxa, including northern quolls ( Dasyurus hallucatus ),...

Abstract ContextEstimating animal abundance often relies on being able to identify individuals; however, this can be challenging, especially when applied large animals that are difficult trap and handle. Camera traps have provided a non-invasive alternative by using natural markings individually within image data. Although camera been used mammals, they yet widely other taxa, such as reptiles. AimsWe assessed the capacity of provide images allow for individual identification world’s...

Abstract Translocation is a widely used conservation tool for reintroducing, introducing or restocking wildlife purposes. Disease and parasites are often unintended hitchhikers during translocations. Conservation managers have begun considering the health, disease risk parasite loads of their species post‐translocation, but not translocation itself. When diseases considered translocation, they dealt with via medical interventions resulting in complete eradication leaving host vulnerable to...

Abstract The northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus) is a carnivorous marsupial that has suffered severe population declines over the last 50 years and now listed as Endangered. Pilbara region of Western Australia semi-arid area represents an extreme quoll’s range. overall objective this study was to assess characteristics quolls at two rocky sites in Pilbara, focusing on body condition, reproductive timing, size, sex-specific survival. We interpret these context variation habitat quality harsh...

Abstract Using genetic information to develop and implement conservation programs is vital for maintaining biodiversity ecosystem resilience. Evaluation of the variability within among remnant populations can inform management both natural translocated maximise species’ adaptive potential, mitigate negative impacts inbreeding, subsequently minimise risk extinction. Here we use reduced representation sequencing undertake a assessment golden bandicoot ( I s oodon auratus ), threatened...

In 2010, vulnerable golden bandicoots (Isoodon auratus) were translocated from Barrow Island, Western Australia, to a mainland predator-free enclosure on the Matuwa Indigenous Protected Area. Golden once widespread throughout variety of arid and semiarid habitats central northern Australia. Like many small-to-medium-sized marsupials, species has severely declined since colonization been reduced only four remnant natural populations. Between 2010 2020, reintroduced population was monitored...

Abstract There are several cases of insular animal species exhibiting dramatic differences in body size when compared with mainland counterparts. Such pronounced morphological changes can arise from divergent selection via differing resource availability, competition or predation pressure. Past studies have not been able to demonstrate a reversal these populations removed their island situation. This study examines the response Barrow Island ‘dwarf’ subspecies golden bandicoot ( Isoodon...

The greater bilby (Macrotis lagotis) once occupied much of Australia's mainland. Bilbies are now listed as vulnerable and only occur in 20% their former range. Operation Rangeland Restoration aims to restore an ex−pastoral lease; reintroduce several species locally extirpated fauna, including the bilby; maintain area perpetuity for conservation Australian arid zone species. were reintroduced Matuwa Indigenous Protected Area between 2007 2010 and, with ongoing landscape-scale control feral...