Rainfall and topography predict gene flow among populations of the declining northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus)

Hohnen, Rosemary; Tuft, Katherine; Legge, Sarah; Hillyer, Mia J.; Spencer, Peter B. S.; Radford, Ian J.; Johnson, Christopher N.; Burridge, Christopher P.

doi:10.1007/s10592-016-0856-z

Cited by 27 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 76 publications

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“…Hohnen et al (2016) suggested one reason northern quoll populations may be more stable in high rainfall areas is because genetic connectivity is greater. They supported this hypothesis by showing quolls in wetter habitats were more closely related than quolls in drier habitats (Hohnen et al, 2016). Here, it is important to note that our analysis did not account for changes in rainfall patterns over time, a factor which has the potential to drive shifts in species range (Davis & Shaw, 2001) and niche (Broennimann et al, 2007).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Increased productivity as a result of high annual precipitation may boost the capacity of northern quolls to tolerate threats (Burnett, 1997;Hohnen et al, 2016;McKenzie et al, 2007) WorldClim (2019) Precipitation seasonality Average monthly variation in rainfall expressed as a percentage ratio of the mean monthly precipitation total and the standard deviation of the monthly precipitation…”

Section: Elevationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The primary mechanism by which northern quolls are impacted by cane toads is through lethal ingestion (Shine, ). While there have been a number of reports documenting local northern quoll extinctions in Queensland (Burnett, ; Burnett & Zwar, ; Woinarski et al, ) and the Northern Territory (Braithwaite & Griffiths, ; Oakwood, ; Woinarski et al, ; Ziembicki, Woinarski, & Mackey, ), fewer extirpations have been recorded in the Kimberley (Hohnen et al, ; Start, Burbidge, McKenzie, & Palmer, ), and none have been documented in the Pilbara (Cramer et al, ), a pattern of loss consistent with the sequential spread of toads.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Topographic ruggedness and rainfall mediate geographic range contraction of a threatened marsupial predator

Moore

Dunlop²,

Valentine

et al. 2019

Diversity and Distributions

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Aim Species range contractions are increasingly common globally. The niche reduction hypothesis posits that geographic range contractions are often patterned across space owing to heterogeneity in threat impacts and tolerance. We applied the niche reduction hypothesis to the decline of a threatened marsupial predator across northern Australia, the northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus). Location Northern Australia. Methods We assembled a database containing 3,178 historic and contemporary records for northern quolls across the extent of their distribution dating between 1778 and 2019. Based on these records, we estimated changes in the geographic range of the northern quoll using α‐hulls across four main populations. We then examined how range contractions related to factors likely to mediate the exposure, susceptibility, or tolerance of northern quolls to threats. Result The extent of range contractions showed an east–west gradient, most likely reflecting the timing of spread of introduced cane toads (Rhinella marina). There were clear changes in environmental characteristics within the contemporary compared to the historic geographic range, with the most substantial occurring in populations that have suffered the greatest range contractions. The contemporary range is comprised of higher quality habitats (measured using environmental niche models), characterized by higher topographical ruggedness and annual rainfall, and reduced distance to water, compared to the historic range. Main conclusions Changes to range and niche likely reflect the capacity of complex habitats to ameliorate threats (namely predation and altered fire regimes), and access to resources that increase threat tolerance. This study highlights the multivariate nature of ecological refuges and the importance of high‐quality habitats for the persistence of species exposed to multiple threats. Our methods provide a useful framework which can be applied across taxa in providing valuable insight to management.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Elevationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Topographic ruggedness and rainfall mediate geographic range contraction of a threatened marsupial predator

Moore

Dunlop²,

Valentine

et al. 2019

Diversity and Distributions

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“…Simulation studies have demonstrated that the value of nonhabitat relative to habitat is key for detecting an effect on gene flow, in which a higher contrast in the costs ratios will make this relationship more detectable (Cushman, Shirk, & Landguth, 2013;Jaquiéry, Broquet, Hirzel, Yearsley, & Perrin, 2011). More recently, LG studies using this parameterization approach have also implemented mirror-like cost ratios, by assigning high cost values not only to nonhabitat but also to habitat patches (i.e., 10:1, 2:1, 1:2, 1:10), which eliminates the potential bias of only assigning increasing cost values to variables considered to restrict gene flow (see Hohnen et al, 2016). Notwithstanding, expert opinion RS development is based on arbitrary costs with no consensus about the values assigned for the cost ratios, frequently assuming a linear relationship between continuous variables and genetic distances, which may not always be the case .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Functional connectivity and home range inferred at a microgeographic landscape genetics scale in a desert‐dwelling rodent

Flores‐Manzanero

Luna‐Bárcenas

Dyer

et al. 2018

Ecology and Evolution

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Gene flow in animals is limited or facilitated by different features within the landscape matrix they inhabit. The landscape representation in landscape genetics (LG) is traditionally modeled as resistance surfaces (RS), where novel optimization approaches are needed for assigning resistance values that adequately avoid subjectivity. Also, desert ecosystems and mammals are scarcely represented in LG studies. We addressed these issues by evaluating, at a microgeographic scale, the effect of landscape features on functional connectivity of the desert-dwelling Dipodomys merriami.We characterized genetic diversity and structure with microsatellites loci, estimated home ranges and movement of individuals using telemetry-one of the first with rodents, generated a set of individual and composite environmental surfaces based on hypotheses of variables influencing movement, and assessed how these variables relate to individual-based gene flow. Genetic diversity and structure results evidenced a family-induced pattern driven by first-order-related individuals, notably determining landscape genetic inferences. The vegetation cover and soil resistance optimized surface (NDVI) were the best-supported model and a significant predictor of individual genetic distance, followed by humidity and NDVI+humidity. Based on an accurate definition of thematic resolution, we also showed that vegetation is better represented as continuously (vs. categorically) distributed. Hence, with a nonsubjective optimization framework for RS and telemetry, we were able to describe that vegetation cover, soil texture, and climatic variables influence D. merriami's functional connectivity at a microgeographic scale, patterns we could further explain based on the home range, habitat use, and activity observed between sexes. We describe the relationship between environmental features and some aspects of D. merriami's behavior and physiology. K E Y W O R D Sdesert ecosystems, Dipodomys merriami, functional connectivity, landscape genetics, Merriam's kangaroo rat, resistance surfaces

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“…The Kimberly and Pilbara regions of Western Australia were considered the last remaining strongholds for northern quolls (How et al 2009). However, cane toads have now invaded the Kimberly where they are expected to cause a collapse of quoll populations in the region (Hohnen et al 2016a to previous predictions, the cane toad invasion front is now expected to reach the Pilbara as well (Cramer et al 2016). Thus, within a relatively short time frame, the Pilbara offers one of the last chances to study the northern quoll and its relationships with other species and its habitat without cane toads.…”

Section: List Of Abbreviationsmentioning

confidence: 89%

Ecology and predator associations of the northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus) in the Pilbara

Hernández-Santín¹

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The northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus) is an endangered carnivorous marsupial in the family Dasyuridae that occurs in the northern third of Australia. It has declined throughout its range, especially in open, lowland habitats. This led to the hypothesis that rocky outcrops where it persists provide a safe haven from introduced predators and provide greater microhabitat heterogeneity associated with higher prey availability.Proposed causes of decline include introduced cane toads (Rhinella marina, which are toxic), predation by feral cats (Felis catus), foxes (Vulpes vulpes), and the dingo (Canis lupus), and habitat alteration by changes in fire regimes. The National Recovery Plan highlighted knowledge gaps relevant to the conservation of the northern quoll. These include assembling data on ecology and population status, determining factors in survival, especially introduced predators, selecting areas that can be used as refuges, and identifying and securing key populations. The Pilbara region in Western Australia is a key population currently free of invasive cane toads (a major threat).The Pilbara is a semi-arid to arid area subject to cyclones between December and ). These are dominated by spinifex (hummock) grasslands, with rugged rock outcrops, shrublands, riparian areas, and some soft (tussock) grasslands. They are subject to frequent seasonal fires, creating a mosaic of recently burnt and longer unburnt areas. The overall aim of this study was to assess the ecology of the northern quoll in the Pilbara to understand drivers of density and distribution of this endangered species, to enhance species-specific conservation efforts. I collected field data on six one-month trips over three years, predominantly using live-trapping, camera-trapping, sampling invertebrates, vegetation surveys, habitat structure, and den availability surveys.In the Pilbara, the largest mammalian predators are the introduced dingo and feral cat. The largest native mammalian carnivore is the northern quoll, which is smaller than the introduced predators but larger than the other dasyurids in the guild. In Chapter 2, I explored spatial and temporal associations among introduced predators and quolls and their associations with habitat to assess the impact of introduced predators on quolls. I found evidence that dingo control programs prevent dingoes from fulfilling their role as top predators, leading to mesopredator release of feral cats. Feral cats were associated with 3 open habitats (spinifex grasslands and recently burnt areas), and showed inverse associations to those of quolls, suggesting that quolls avoid cats in space. Quolls were positively associated with rocky habitats. In Chapter 3, I assessed spatial and temporal associations among dasyurids to understand the current role of northern quolls within their guild. I found that range contraction of northern quolls into rocky habitats prevent them from fulfilling their role as top predators across the landscape, potentially leading to mesopredator release of kalutas (Da...

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Rainfall and topography predict gene flow among populations of the declining northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus)

Cited by 27 publications

References 76 publications

Topographic ruggedness and rainfall mediate geographic range contraction of a threatened marsupial predator

Topographic ruggedness and rainfall mediate geographic range contraction of a threatened marsupial predator

Functional connectivity and home range inferred at a microgeographic landscape genetics scale in a desert‐dwelling rodent

Ecology and predator associations of the northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus) in the Pilbara

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