Habitat use by tiger quoll (Dasyurus maculatus) (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae) in south‐eastern Australia

Abstract

Habitat use by tiger quolls was investigated at three sites in south-eastern Australia through trapping and radio-tracking. Habitat complexity was measured in each of the habitat types present. Prey densities were determined from spotlighting transects in each habitat type. Habitat utilization differed between sites, but gullies and drainage lines were used significantly more than availability at each site. Escarpment was used more than availability at Suggan Buggan and ridges were used in proportion to availability at Tallaganda. Mid-slopes were used significantly less than availability at all sites. Habitat use was significantly related with prey densities at most sites. Rock dens appeared to be preferred over log dens, resulting in the use of ridges when complex rocky outcrops, suitable for den sites, were present. Habitat complexity was high in gullies/lower slopes/riparian flats, moderate on mid-slopes and low to moderate on upper slopes/ridges. High prey densities and the presence of preferred den substrates were the two factors that influenced habitat use by quolls in this study.

Further investigation of the blood characteristics of Australian quoll (Dasyurus spp.) species

“…It inhabits forests, rainforests, and heathland along the eastern coast of Australia, including Tasmania . The Spotted‐Tailed Quoll has also undergone a significant geographic range reduction, with much of its current distribution relying heavily on the abundance of prey . Both the Eastern and Spotted‐Tailed Quolls are listed as “near threatened” on the 2008 International Union for the Conservation of Nature red list of threatened species…”

Distribution of the long-footed potoroo (Potorous longipes) and the spot-tailed quoll (Dasyurus maculatus) in the Goolengook Forest, East Gippsland, Victoria

“…At that time, the Goolengook Forest comprised part of the Errinundra National Park (24.9%), the Goolengook Flora and Fauna Reserve (14.5%) and state forest (60.6%). Survey sites within likely preferred habitat (Scotts and Seebeck 1989;Green et al 1998;Backhouse 2003;Belcher and Darrant 2006) were selected using 1 : 25 000 Ecological Vegetation Class maps with a focus on Wet Forest, Damp Forest and Lowland Forest, rather than Shrubby Dry Forest (Davies et al 2002;White et al 2006). Consideration of potential national park values influenced the site-selection process; largely unmodified habitat was targeted in preference to regrowth areas resulting from previous timber harvesting.…”

“…Similar bait has been successfully used to attract quolls in other studies (Körtner and Watson 2005;Claridge et al 2006;Nelson 2007a). Choice of camera locations was influenced by favoured habitat, such as gullies, saddles and rocky outcrops (Belcher and Darrant 2006), and by air movement in gullies to carry the scent of the bait.…”

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

“…The species can be difficult to detect and study, because as a predator, it naturally occurs in low densities and is mostly nocturnal (Körtner et al 2015). This is also due to the species having a relatively large home range size (Claridge et al 2005;Belcher and Darrant 2006b).…”

“…Field studies on quoll ecology and behaviour have primarily focussed on their spatial and movement patterns, with the information generated being crucial to their conservation management (Catling and Burt 1994;Catling and Burt 1997;Claridge et al 2005;Glen and Dickman 2005;Belcher and Darrant 2006b;Körtner et al 2015). However, knowledge gaps remain in aspects of spotted-tailed quoll ecology and conservation biology including behaviour, particularly in 'stronghold' locations (Long and Nelson 2016).…”