Spatial ecology of an endangered carnivore, the Pilbara northern quoll
Lorna Hernandez-Santin
A D , Melinda Henderson B , Shaun W. Molloy B , Judy A. Dunlop C and Robert A. Davis B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Centre for Mined Land Rehabilitation, Sustainable Minerals Institute, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld 4067, Australia.
B School of Science, Edith Cowan University, 100 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, WA 6027, Australia.
C Science and Conservation Division, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Kensington 6151, Western Australia, Australia.
D Corresponding author. Email: lorna.hernandezsantin@uqconnect.edu.au
Australian Mammalogy 43(2) 235-242 https://doi.org/10.1071/AM19052
Submitted: 21 August 2019 Accepted: 20 June 2020 Published: 29 July 2020
Abstract
Understanding the spatial requirements of a species allows one to tailor actions that can help protect species and their habitats. We investigated the spatial needs of the endangered northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus) in the Pilbara. We analysed field data based on GPS-telemetry or a combination of GPS and VHF telemetry for 11 northern quolls with data collected over two week periods. Using MCP and Kernel methods, we found average short-term ranges of 193 ha and 115 ha for males, and for the only female with reliable data the estimates were 34 ha and 23 ha, respectively, with Kernel-based core areas that were between five and three times smaller for males and the female, respectively. We found support for our hypothesis that ranges differ between seasons, but with a seasonal trend that was different from that expected. The ranges of males during the premating/mating season were smaller than during the pouch-young season. Our study provides the first detailed attempt to define and understand short-term movement behaviour of the Pilbara northern quoll. The information derived from our study can help to increase the accuracy of predictive outputs and better inform habitat prioritisation and conservation management of the Pilbara northern quoll population.
Additional keywords: Dasyuridae, Dasyurus hallucatus, home range, Kernel, marsupial, MCP.
References
Braithwaite, R. W., and Griffiths, A. D. (1994). Demographic variation and range contraction in the northern quoll, Dasyurus hallucatus (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae). Wildlife Research 21, 203–217.| Demographic variation and range contraction in the northern quoll, Dasyurus hallucatus (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Burbidge, A. A., McKenzie, N. L., Brennan, K. E. C., Woinarski, J. C. Z., Dickman, C. R., Baynes, A., Gordon, G., Menkhorst, P. W., and Robinson, A. C. (2008). Conservation status and biogeography of Australia’s terrestrial mammals. Australian Journal of Zoology 56, 411–422.
| Conservation status and biogeography of Australia’s terrestrial mammals.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Burgman, M. A., and Fox, J. C. (2003). Bias in species range estimates from minimum convex polygons: implications for conservation and options for improved planning. Animal Conservation 6, 19–28.
| Bias in species range estimates from minimum convex polygons: implications for conservation and options for improved planning.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Calenge, C., and Dufour, A. B. (2006). Eigenanalysis of selection ratios from animal radio-tracking data. Ecology 87, 2349–2355.
| Eigenanalysis of selection ratios from animal radio-tracking data.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Cardoso, M. J., Eldridge, M. D. B., Oakwood, M., Rankmore, B., Sherwin, W. B., and Firestone, K. B. (2009). Effects of founder events on the genetic variation of translocated island populations: implications for conservation management of the northern quoll. Conservation Genetics 10, 1719–1733.
| Effects of founder events on the genetic variation of translocated island populations: implications for conservation management of the northern quoll.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Carwardine, J., Nicol, S., Van Leeuwen, S., Walters, B., Frin, J., Reeson, A., Martin, T. G., and Chades, I. (2010). Priority threat managment for Pilbara species of conservation signifcance. CSIRO, Ecosystem Services, Brisbane.
Chamberlain, M. J., Leopold, B. D., and Conner, L. M. (2003). Space use, movements and habitat selection of adult bobcats (Lynx rufus) in central Mississippi. American Midland Naturalist 149, 395–405.
| Space use, movements and habitat selection of adult bobcats (Lynx rufus) in central Mississippi.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Chetkiewicz, C. B., St. Clair, C. C., and Boyce, M. S. (2006). Corridors for conservation: integrating pattern and process. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics 37, 317–342.
| Corridors for conservation: integrating pattern and process.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Claridge, A. W., Paull, D., Dawson, J., Mifsud, G., Murray, A. J., Poore, R., and Saxon, M. J. (2005). Home range of the spotted-tailed quoll (Dasyurus maculatus), a marsupial carnivore, in a rainshadow woodland. Wildlife Research 32, 7–14.
| Home range of the spotted-tailed quoll (Dasyurus maculatus), a marsupial carnivore, in a rainshadow woodland.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Cook, A. (2010). Habitat use and home-range of the northern quoll, Dasyurus hallucatus: effects of fire. MSc Thesis. University of Western Australia.
Cramer, V. A., Dunlop, J., Davis, R., Ellis, R., Barnett, B., Cook, A., Morris, K., and van Leeuwen, S. (2016). Research priorities for the northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus) in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Australian Mammalogy 38, 135–148.
| Research priorities for the northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus) in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Dennis, R. H., Dapporto, L., Dover, J., and Shreeve, T. (2013). Corridors and barriers in biodiversity conservation: a novel resource-based habitat perspective for butterflies. Biodiversity and Conservation 22, 2709–2734.
| Corridors and barriers in biodiversity conservation: a novel resource-based habitat perspective for butterflies.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Dunlop, J., Cook, A., and Morris, K. (2014). Pilbara northern quoll regional project: surveying and monitoring Dasyurus hallucatus in the Pilbara, Western Australia. Western Australian Wildlife Research Centre, Woodvale, Western Australia.
Dunlop, J. A., Rayner, K., and Doherty, T. S. (2017). Dietary flexibility in small carnivores: a case study on the endangered northern quoll Dasyurus hallucatus. Journal of Mammalogy 98, 858–866.
| Dietary flexibility in small carnivores: a case study on the endangered northern quoll Dasyurus hallucatus.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
ESRI (2016). ‘ArcGIS. Version 10.5.’ (Environmental Systems Research Institute: Redlands, CA.)
ESRI, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, Earthstar Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, AeroGRID, IGN, and GIS-User-Community (2017). World Imagery. Environmental Systems Research Institute, Redlands, CA. Available at: http://goto.arcgisonline.com/maps/World_Imagery
Fieberg, J., and Börger, L. (2012). Could you please phrase “home range” as a question? Journal of Mammalogy 93, 890–902.
| Could you please phrase “home range” as a question?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Fisher, D. O., Dickman, C. R., Jones, M. E., and Blomberg, S. P. (2013). Sperm competition drives the evolution of suicidal reproduction in mammals. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 110, 17910–17914.
| Sperm competition drives the evolution of suicidal reproduction in mammals.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 24101455PubMed |
Geyle, H. M., Woinarski, J. C., Baker, G. B., Dickman, C. R., Dutson, G., Fisher, D. O., Ford, H., Holdsworth, M., Jones, M. E., and Kutt, A. (2018). Quantifying extinction risk and forecasting the number of impending Australian bird and mammal extinctions. Pacific Conservation Biology 24, 157–167.
| Quantifying extinction risk and forecasting the number of impending Australian bird and mammal extinctions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Glen, A. S., and Dickman, C. R. (2006). Home range, denning behaviour and microhabitat use of the carnivorous marsupial Dasyurus maculatus in eastern Australia. Journal of Zoology 268, 347–354.
| Home range, denning behaviour and microhabitat use of the carnivorous marsupial Dasyurus maculatus in eastern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Graves, T. A., and Waller, J. S. (2006). Understanding the causes of missed global positioning system telemetry fixes. Journal of Wildlife Management 70, 844–851.
| Understanding the causes of missed global positioning system telemetry fixes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Haby, N. A., Conran, J. G., and Carthew, S. M. (2013). Microhabitat and vegetation structure preference: an example using southern brown bandicoots (Isoodon obesulus obesulus). Journal of Mammalogy 94, 801–812.
| Microhabitat and vegetation structure preference: an example using southern brown bandicoots (Isoodon obesulus obesulus).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hebblewhite, M., and Haydon, D. T. (2010). Distinguishing technology from biology: a critical review of the use of GPS telemetry data in ecology. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences 365, 2303–2312.
| Distinguishing technology from biology: a critical review of the use of GPS telemetry data in ecology.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 20566506PubMed |
Henderson, M. (2015). The effects of mining infrastructure on northern quoll movement and habitat. BSc(Hons) Thesis. Edith Cowan University.
Hernandez-Santin, L. (2007). Movements and range sizes of jaguars in Paraguay based on GPS-telemetry. MSc Thesis in Range and Wildlife Management. Sul Ross State University.
Hernandez-Santin, L. (2017). Ecology and predator associations of the northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus) in the Pilbara. PhD Thesis. University of Queensland.
Hernandez-Santin, L., Dunlop, J. A., Goldizen, A. W., and Fisher, D. O. (2019). Demography of the northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus) in the most arid part of its range. Journal of Mammalogy 100, 1191–1198.
| Demography of the northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus) in the most arid part of its range.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hill, B., and Ward, S. (2010). National recovery plan for the northern quoll. Department of Natural Resources, Environment, The Arts and Sport, Northern Territory.
Johnson, B., and Anderson, H. (2014). Northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus) baseline remote camera and trapping survey throughout the central and eastern Chichester Ranges, Pilbara region of Western Australia. Department of Parks and Wildlife, Perth.
Kie, J. G., Matthiopoulos, J., Fieberg, J., Powell, R. A., Cagnacci, F., Mitchell, M. S., Gaillard, J.-M., and Moorcroft, P. R. (2010). The home-range concept: are traditional estimators still relevant with modern telemetry technology? Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society: B 365, 2221–2231.
| The home-range concept: are traditional estimators still relevant with modern telemetry technology?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
King, D. R. (1989). An assessment of the hazard posed to northern quolls (Dasyurus hallucatus) by aerial baiting with 1080 to control dingoes. Australian Wildlife Research 16, 569–574.
| An assessment of the hazard posed to northern quolls (Dasyurus hallucatus) by aerial baiting with 1080 to control dingoes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Koehler, G. M., and Pierce, D. J. (2003). Black bear home-range sizes in Washington: climatic, vegetative, and social influences. Journal of Mammalogy 84, 81–91.
| Black bear home-range sizes in Washington: climatic, vegetative, and social influences.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Körtner, G., Holznagel, N., Fleming, P. J. S., and Ballard, G. (2016). Home range and activity patterns measured with GPS collars in spotted-tailed quolls. Australian Journal of Zoology 63, 424–431.
| Home range and activity patterns measured with GPS collars in spotted-tailed quolls.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Maslin, B. R., and van Leeuwen, S. (2008). New taxa of Acacia (Leguminosae: Mimosoideae) and notes on other species from the Pilbara and adjacent desert regions of Western Australia. Nuytsia 18, 139–188.
Matthews, A., Ruykys, L., Ellis, B., FitzGibbon, S., Lunney, D., Crowther, M. S., Glen, A. S., Purcell, B., Moseby, K., Stott, J., Fletcher, D., Wimpenny, C., Allen, B. L., Van Bommel, L., Roberts, M., Davies, N., Green, K., Newsome, T., Ballard, G., Fleming, P., Dickman, C. R., Eberhart, A., Troy, S., McMahon, C., and Wiggins, N. (2013). The success of GPS collar deployments on mammals in Australia. Australian Mammalogy 35, 65–83.
| The success of GPS collar deployments on mammals in Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
McKenzie, N. L., van Leeuwen, S., and Pinder, A. M. (2009). Introduction to the Pilbara biodiversity survey, 2002–2007. Records of the Western Australian Museum Supplement 78, 3–89.
| Introduction to the Pilbara biodiversity survey, 2002–2007.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Molloy, S. W., Davis, R. A., Dunlop, J. A., and van Etten, E. J. B. (2017). Applying surrogate species presences to correct sample bias in species distribution models: a case study using the Pilbara population of the northern quoll. Nature Conservation 18, 27–46.
| Applying surrogate species presences to correct sample bias in species distribution models: a case study using the Pilbara population of the northern quoll.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Oakwood, M. (2002). Spatial and social organization of a carnivorous marsupial Dasyurus hallucatus (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae). Journal of Zoology 257, 237–248.
| Spatial and social organization of a carnivorous marsupial Dasyurus hallucatus (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Rodgers, A. R., and Kie, J. G. (2011). RT: Home Range Tools for ArcGIS. User’s Manual. (CfNFER Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources: Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.)
Rodgers, A. R., Kie, J. G., Wright, D., Beyer, H. L., and Carr, A. P. (2015). ‘HRT: Home Range Tools for ArcGIS.’ 2nd edn. (Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Centre for Northern Forest Ecosystem Research: Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.)
Schradin, C., Schmohl, G., Rödel, H. G., Schoepf, I., Treffler, S. M., Brenner, J., Bleeker, M., Schubert, M., König, B., and Pillay, N. (2010). Female home range size is regulated by resource distribution and intraspecific competition: a long-term field study. Animal Behaviour 79, 195–203.
| Female home range size is regulated by resource distribution and intraspecific competition: a long-term field study.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Sikes, R. S., and Gannon, W. L. (2011). Guidelines of the American Society of Mammalogists for the use of wild mammals in research. Journal of Mammalogy 92, 235–253.
| Guidelines of the American Society of Mammalogists for the use of wild mammals in research.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
van Vreeswyk, A. M. E., Payne, A. L., Leighton, K. A., and Hennig, P. (2004). Inventory and condition survey of the Pilbara region, Western Australia. Department of Agriculture, Government of Western Australia, Perth.
Walter, W. D., Justin, W. F., Sharon, B.-M., and Kurt, C. V. (2011). What is the proper method to delineate home range of an animal using today’s advanced GPS telemetry systems: the initial step. In ‘Modern Telemetry’. (Ed. O. Krejcar.) pp. 249–268. (IntechOpen: Rijeka.)
