Denning behaviour of female spotted-tailed quolls during the breeding season
Gerhard Körtner
A F , Andrew Claridge B C D and Guy Ballard A E
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A School of Environmental and Rural Sciences, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.
B Office of Environment and Heritage, National Parks and Wildlife Service, Nature Conservation Section, 11 Farrer Place, Queanbeyan, NSW 2620, Australia.
C School of Science, University of New South Wales, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
D Vertebrate Pest Research Unit, NSW Department of Primary Industries, 11 Farrer Place, Queanbeyan, NSW 2620, Australia.
E Vertebrate Pest Research Unit, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Armidale, NSW 2350, Australia.
F Corresponding author. Email: gkoertne@une.edu.au
Australian Journal of Zoology 67(3) 145-152 https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO20012
Submitted: 27 February 2020 Accepted: 22 June 2020 Published: 17 July 2020
Abstract
We monitored some aspects of maternal care in Australia’s second largest extant marsupial predator, the spotted-tailed quoll. We radio-collared six females carrying young at an early pouch stage in the Byadbo Wilderness in southern New South Wales in August–September 2016. When these young were deposited at a maternity den at a still altricial state we monitored den activity of the female and her young with motion-triggered camera traps. Lactating females remained in the same den for up to 39 days before moving to a new den, usually only a few hundred metres away. Females furnished dens with nesting material, but were never observed to carry prey nor were the young seen consuming solid food. They were also surprisingly tolerant towards visits and den use by wombats, rabbits, possums and male quolls. Females showed predominantly nocturnal activity, but usually returned at least once per night. Short daytime activity was also common. In contrast, juveniles were initially exclusively diurnal, probably to facilitate behavioural thermoregulation, and only later extended their playing and exploring towards dawn and dusk. Hence interactions between mother and young were rarely observed. Apparently, the young received little training from their mother and simply ventured further and for longer periods away from the den until independence.
References
Andrew, D. (2005). Ecology of the tiger quoll Dasyurus maculatus maculatus in coastal New South Wales. M.Sc. Thesis, University of Wollongong.Belcher, C. A. (2003). Demographics of tiger quoll (Dasyurus maculatus maculatus) populations in south-eastern Australia. Australian Journal of Zoology 51, 611–626.
| Demographics of tiger quoll (Dasyurus maculatus maculatus) populations in south-eastern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Belcher, C. A., and Darrant, J. P. (2004). Home range and spatial organization of the marsupial carnivore, Dasyurus maculatus maculatus (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae) in south-eastern Australia. Journal of Zoology 262, 271–280.
| Home range and spatial organization of the marsupial carnivore, Dasyurus maculatus maculatus (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae) in south-eastern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bradley, A. J., McDonald, I. R., and Lee, A. K. (1980). Stress and mortality in a small marsupial (Antechinus stuartii, Macleay). General and Comparative Endocrinology 40, 188–200.
| Stress and mortality in a small marsupial (Antechinus stuartii, Macleay).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 6245013PubMed |
Burnett, S. (2001). The ecology and conservation status of the spot-tailed quoll Dasyurus maculatus gracilis. Ph.D. Thesis, James Cook University, Townsville.
Burnett, S., and Marsh, H. (2004). Conservation of the spotted-tailed quoll Dasyurus maculatus: a conceptual and applied model with particular reference to populations of the endangered D. m. gracilis. In ‘Conservation of Australia’s Forest Fauna’. (Ed. D. Lunney.) pp. 624–638. (Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales: Sydney.)
Caro, T. M., and Hauser, M. D. (1992). Is there teaching in nonhuman animals? The Quarterly Review of Biology 67, 151–174.
| Is there teaching in nonhuman animals?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1635977PubMed |
Claridge, A. W., Mifsud, G., Dawson, J., and Saxon, M. J. (2004). Use of infrared digital cameras to investigate the behaviour of cryptic species. Wildlife Research 31, 645–650.
| Use of infrared digital cameras to investigate the behaviour of cryptic species.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Courtney Jones, S. K., and Mikac, K. M. (2019). Quantifying daily activity patterns of the spotted-tailed quoll (Dasyurus maculatus) using camera trap data from a stronghold population in south-eastern New South Wales. Australian Mammalogy 41, 283–286.
| Quantifying daily activity patterns of the spotted-tailed quoll (Dasyurus maculatus) using camera trap data from a stronghold population in south-eastern New South Wales.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Dawson, J. P., Claridge, A. W., Triggs, B., and Paull, D. J. (2007). Diet of a native carnivore, the spotted-tailed quoll (Dasyurus maculatus), before and after an intense wildfire. Wildlife Research 34, 342–351.
| Diet of a native carnivore, the spotted-tailed quoll (Dasyurus maculatus), before and after an intense wildfire.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (2016). National recovery plan for the spotted-tailed quoll Dasyurus maculatus. Australian Government, Canberra.
Firestone, K. B., Elphinstone, M. S., Sherwin, W. B., and Houlden, B. A. (1999). Phylogeographical population structure of tiger quolls Dasyurus maculatus (Dasyuridae: Marsupialia), an endangered carnivorous marsupial. Molecular Ecology 8, 1613–1625.
| Phylogeographical population structure of tiger quolls Dasyurus maculatus (Dasyuridae: Marsupialia), an endangered carnivorous marsupial.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 10583825PubMed |
Fleay, D. H. (1935). Breeding of Dasyurus viverrinus and general observations on the species. Journal of Mammalogy 16, 10–16.
| Breeding of Dasyurus viverrinus and general observations on the species.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 |
Glen, A. S., Cardoso, M. J., Dickman, C. R., and Firestone, K. B. (2009). Who’s your daddy? Paternity testing reveals promiscuity and multiple paternity in the carnivorous marsupial Dasyurus maculatus (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae). Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 96, 1–7.
| Who’s your daddy? Paternity testing reveals promiscuity and multiple paternity in the carnivorous marsupial Dasyurus maculatus (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hoppitt, W. J. E., Brown, G. R., Kendal, R., Rendell, L., Thornton, A., Webster, M. M., and Laland, K. N. (2008). Lessons from animal teaching. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 23, 486–493.
| Lessons from animal teaching.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Jones, M. E. (2003). Convergence in ecomorphology and guild structure among marsupial and placental carnivores. In ‘Predators with Pouches. The Biology of Carnivorous Marsupials’. (Eds M. Jones, C. Dickman, and M. Archer.) pp. 285–296. (CSIRO Publishing: melbourne.)
Jones, M. E., Rose, R. K., and Burnett, S. (2001). Dasyurus maculatus. Mammalian Species 676, 1–9.
| Dasyurus maculatus.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Körtner, G., Gresser, S., Mott, B., Tamayo, B., Pisanu, P., Bayne, P., and Harden, B. (2004). Population structure, turnover and movement of spotted-tailed quolls on the New England Tablelands. Wildlife Research 31, 475–484.
| Population structure, turnover and movement of spotted-tailed quolls on the New England Tablelands.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Körtner, G., Holznagel, N., Fleming, P. J. S., and Ballard, G. (2015). 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 |
Kronfeld-Schor, N., and Dayan, T. (2003). Partitioning of time as an ecological resource. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics 34, 153–181.
| Partitioning of time as an ecological resource.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Oakwood, M. (2000). Reproduction and demography of the northern quoll, Dasyurus hallucatus, in the lowland savanna of northern Australia. Australian Journal of Zoology 48, 519–539.
| Reproduction and demography of the northern quoll, Dasyurus hallucatus, in the lowland savanna of northern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Oakwood, M., Bradley, A. J., and Cockburn, A. (2001). Semelparity in a large marsupial. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 268, 407–411.
| Semelparity in a large marsupial.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 11270438PubMed |
Pellis, S. M., and Nelson, J. E. (1984). Some aspects of predatory behaviour of the quoll, Dasyurus viverrinus (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae). Australian Mammalogy 7, 5–15.
Ruibal, M., Peakall, R., and Claridge, A. (2010). Socio-seasonal changes in scent-marking habits in the carnivorous marsupial (Dasyurus maculatus) at communal latrines. Australian Journal of Zoology 58, 317–322.
| Socio-seasonal changes in scent-marking habits in the carnivorous marsupial (Dasyurus maculatus) at communal latrines.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Serena, M., and Soderquist, T. R. (1988). Growth and developement of pouch young of wild and captive Dasyurus geoffroii (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae). Australian Journal of Zoology 36, 533–543.
| Growth and developement of pouch young of wild and captive Dasyurus geoffroii (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Settle, G. A. (1978). The quiddity of tiger quolls. Australian Natural History 19, 164–169.
Tyndale-Biscoe, H. (2005). ‘Life of Marsupials.’ (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne.)
van Dyck, S., and Strahan, R. (2008). ‘The Mammals of Australia.’ 3rd edn. (New Holland Publishers: Sydney.)
Vilcins, I. M., Old, J. M., Kortner, G., and Deane, E. M. (2008). Ectoparasites and skin lesions in wild-caught spotted-tailed quoll (Dasyurus maculatus) (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae). Comparative Parasitology 75, 271–277.
| Ectoparasites and skin lesions in wild-caught spotted-tailed quoll (Dasyurus maculatus) (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wacker, C. B., McAllan, B. M., Körtner, G., and Geiser, F. (2017). The role of basking in the development of endothermy and torpor in a marsupial. Journal of Comparative Physiology B: Biochemical, Systemic, and Environmental Physiology 187, 1029–1038.
| The role of basking in the development of endothermy and torpor in a marsupial.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 28283794PubMed |
Warnecke, L., Turner, J. M., and Geiser, F. (2008). Torpor and basking in a small arid zone marsupial. Naturwissenschaften 95, 73–78.
| Torpor and basking in a small arid zone marsupial.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 17684718PubMed |
Zar, J. H. (1996). ‘Biostatistical Analysis.’ 4th edn. (Prentice Hall International: New Jersey.)
