Isolating DNA from scats (faeces) of threatened species is a valuable, non-invasive method for identifying individuals. To establish whether genotyping of greater bilby (Macrotis lagotis) individuals from faecal pellets collected in the field can be useful for population monitoring, an understanding of the DNA degradation rates is necessary. To determine the relationship between time and degradation of bilby faecal DNA, and assess whether a two-step elution process during extraction results in better-quality DNA, faecal pellets were collected from captive individuals, maintained under seminatural conditions, then harvested at known periods. DNA was amplified from faecal pellets with a 99% success rate and error rates of less than 5% up to 14 days after deposition. The amplification rate decreases, and the rate of allelic dropout increases with time, but DNA can still be amplified at rates above 60% and error rates below 15% at 90–180 days. We found that a second elution step was unnecessary, with more DNA amplified over a longer period using the first eluate. Viable DNA exists on bilby faecal pellets for a long period after deposition, which is useful for obtaining genetic samples for population monitoring programs and studies on population genetics.

Monitoring techniques that are non‐invasive and use evidence of target species presence are particularly useful, especially for rare or highly dispersed species. We developed and tested a technique using DNA extracted from scats in conjunction with spatially explicit capture‐recapture (SECR) analyses to monitor the abundance of greater bilbies (Macrotis lagotis) within wild and reintroduced populations in Western Australia, and verified its application against a recently reintroduced founding population. The greater bilby is an iconic threatened species and the focus of conservation management, but no efficient and reliable method to monitor their abundance has been implemented. Estimated abundance using our method (21 ± 5 [SE]), was close to the founding population at Mount Gibson (16). Wild populations monitored from 2013–2018 were relatively small, isolated, and particularly vulnerable to threats; 2 populations were extirpated during this study. A reintroduced population at Matuwa increased sevenfold over 9 years. We demonstrate that when threats are managed appropriately across a large area, and bilbies are reintroduced, they can rapidly increase in number without the need for predator exclusion fencing. © 2020 The Wildlife Society.

Little is known of the area of occupancy, extent of occurrence, abundance, density or habitat use of the greater bilby (Macrotis lagotis) in the north of Western Australia. To seek broad collaborative agreement on a research agenda, the Western Australian Department of Parks and Wildlife hosted a workshop where research priorities were identified through a facilitated process. Five key areas for future research effort were identified: (1) refine survey methods, (2) improve understanding of habitat use, (3) improve understanding of the genetic structure of (meta)populations, (4) improve understanding of the threat posed by introduced predators and herbivores, and (5) improve understanding of how fire regimes affect bilby conservation. A conceptual model describing the main landscape components thought to be influencing distribution is used to reconcile existing knowledge, link research priorities for the bilby in the north of Western Australia, and guide the development of an integrated program of research. The broad nature of the priorities reflects the limited knowledge of bilbies in the north of the state; however, this research program provides an opportunity to increase knowledge to enact both species- and ecosystem-focused approaches to conservation, and potentially contributes towards the implementation of more dynamic conservation approaches for mobile species.