Survey guidelines for Australia’s threatened non-flying mammals

Northern quoll

Dasyurus hallucatus

States and territories: Western Australia, Northern Territory and Queensland.

Regions: Northern Australia, extending from southern Queensland (Maleny area on the Sunshine Coast hinterland) to the Pilbara, Western Australia.

Habitat: Wide range of eucalypt forest and woodland habitats associated with steep dissected rocky terrain; also found in rainforest patches, vegetation along creek lines, adjacent to mangroves, around human settlement and on beaches (Pollock 1999; Oakwood 2002, 2008). Important factors in the landscape include shallow soils, large cover of rocks including outcropping rock, proximity to permanent water and time since last fire (Woinarski et al. 2008). Dens occur in a wide range of situations including rock overhangs, tree hollows, hollow logs, termite mounds, goanna burrows and human dwellings (Woinarski et al. 2008).

Habit: Ground, tree and rocky escarpment dwelling.

Avg. body weight: Body weight varies in different parts of its distribution: range between 340 g and 1120 g (adult males) and 240 g and 690 g (adult females) (Oakwood 2008).

Activity pattern: Predominantly nocturnal; sometimes diurnal mostly in overcast weather or during the mating season (late May to early June) (Oakwood 2008).

Diet: Opportunistic omnivore heavily focused on invertebrates, particularly insects. Additionally, takes a variety of mammals, various birds (including bird eggs), frogs, nectar of eucalypt and grevillea flowers, and the fruits of a variety of plants. Scavenges on road-kills and from garbage bins and elsewhere around human settlements (Pollock 1999; Oakwood 2008; Woinarski et al. 2008).

Breeding: Reproduction is annual and highly synchronised within a population, but timing may vary between populations (Schmitt et al. 1989; Oakwood 2000). Give birth to between five and nine young (average seven) with only two or three young weaned after six months (Oakwood 2000).

Description

Although the northern quoll is the smallest of the quolls, being around the size of a small cat, it is the largest mammal species known to undergo male die-off after mating (Oakwood 2004). Formerly widely distributed, its range has now contracted to a number of disjunct populations (Braithwaite & Griffiths 1994), many of which are now threatened due to the continuing spread of the cane toad Chaunus marinus across northern Australia. The northern quoll is highly susceptible to the poison of this introduced species and rapid contractions to local extinction of populations have been reported following the invasion of this toad into the Cape York Peninsula (Burnett 1997) and in parts of Kakadu National Park (van Dam et al. 2002; Watson & Woinarski 2003). In response to the collapse of mainland populations in the Top End the species has been successfully translocated to two islands (Rankmore et al. 2008).

Survey methods

On the basis of previous surveys, the survey techniques recommended to detect the presence of the northern quoll in areas up to 5 hectares in size are cage trapping (description of technique and recommended effort provided in Section 3.3.10) and Elliott trapping surveys conducted according to the technique description and recommended effort provided in Section 3.3.9. Trapping is best conducted between May and August to minimise possible disturbance during the reproductive period. Cage trapping is the generally accepted technique for targeting this species. However, in remote locations or where it is difficult to deploy large numbers of cage traps, Elliott traps are a suitable alternative, particularly large Elliott traps. Note that at Pine Creek in the Top End of the Northern Territory some Elliott traps were rolled down vertical mineshafts as northern quolls were attempting to extract the bait (Schulz & Menkhorst 1984). Trapping should be concentrated in rocky denning habitat, with some consideration of non-rocky foraging and dispersal habitats.

In Western Australia traps should be set for seven consecutive nights, unless two or more individuals are caught twice, in which case the traps should be closed after four nights of trapping. In the Northern Territory and Queensland traps should be set for a minimum of three nights. Where large Elliott traps are the primary trapping technique, a minimum of four cage traps should be used per trap configuration.
Traps should be baited with oats, sardines and peanut butter. Chicken wings and diced bacon are optional.A purified solution of low fat red meat and water can be sprayed on to shrubs and the ground within a 150 centimetres radius of each trap and reapplied on a daily basis (Wayne et al. 2008). Traps should be rebaited at least every second day (baits should be fresh).
Since population numbers may be very low or at some locations it may be difficult logistically to deploy cage traps, additional or complementary techniques to locate northern quolls that are not commonly reported in the literature include:

• 
  daytime searches for potentially suitable habitat resources such as rock overhangs, crevices and boulders in areas of extensive outcropping rock in association with permanent water and no evidence of recent fires (description of the survey technique and recommended effort is provided in Section 3.1)
  
• 
  daytime searches (description of technique and recommended effort provided in Section 3.3.1) for latrines (also used as a technique to locate the spotted-tailed quoll) with numbers of distinctive twisted cylindrical scats deposited often on rock piles or boulders, usually on the highest point available, such as ridge tops or hill crests (Triggs 1996; Pollock 1999). Scats may also be deposited in other situations such as under boulders, in rock overhangs, road culverts and sheds (Pollock 1999). This technique has been recommended in remote areas as a simple detection technique (for example, Pollock 1999). However, such signs should be treated with caution where the spotted-tailed quoll occurs in sympatry and either confirmation of the internal grooming hairs deposited or direct detection survey techniques may be required. Additionally, care must be taken not to confuse scats with those of the cane toad, green tree frog Litoria caerulea, and water rat Hydromys chrysogaster (Pollock 1999). Scat searches are best in winter, when the scats remain in situ and are not deformed as a result of rain (S. Burnett pers. comm.)
  
• 
  daytime searches or use of sand traps to identify the characteristic tracks of this species (refer to Section 3.3.2), where not in sympatry with the spotted-tailed quoll. Such sand traps are best done using a lure such as chicken bait and could include smoothing out sand on the floor of rock overhangs or smoothing sand around permanent water or the base of cliff faces
  
• 
  remote cameras: a technique that is becoming widely used for the spotted-tailed quoll and commonly replacing hair sampling devices (refer to Section 3.3.6) in potentially suitable habitat. This technique could be used throughout the year and would be enhanced by using chicken as bait. This technique would be similarly suited to the northern quoll, with the advantage over traditional traps that cameras can be left in situ for several weeks before the need for visitation to replace batteries and the memory card. Such extended sampling with low labour intensity is highly suited to a species that may be in very low abundance or in remote locations where conventional trapping is logistically difficult. This technique can be used throughout the year as no handling of individuals is required
  
• 
  hair tubes conducted according to the technique description and recommended effort provided in Section 3.3.7
  
• 
  possibly spotlight surveys conducted according to the technique description and recommended effort provided in Section 3.3.3
  
• 
  community liaison to provide additional records, particularly on private land.
  

Similar species in range

The northern quoll overlaps in parts of its range with the spotted-tailed quoll, Dasyurus maculatus; particularly in north-eastern Queensland with D. m. gracilis. Northern quolls are readily separated by their smaller size and lack of white spotted markings on their tails. Previously, parts of its range may have overlapped with the western quoll, Dasyurus geoffroii. However, the western quoll is now extinct in areas of overlap with northern quoll, being confined to south-western Western Australia. Northern quolls are separated from western quolls by their smaller size and the striated pads on their feet.

References

Begg, R.J. 1981. The small mammals of Little Nourlangie Rock, NT. IV. Ecology of Dasyurus hallucatus, the Northern Quoll (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae). Australian Wildlife Research 8: 73-85.

Bradley, A.J., Kemper, C.M., Kitchener, D.J., Humphreys, W.F. and How, R.A. 1987. Small mammals of the Mitchell Plateau Region, Kimberley, Western Australia. Australian Wildlife Research 14: 397-414.
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.
Burnett, S. 1997. Colonising Cane Toads cause population declines in native predators reliable anecdotal information and management implications. Pacific Conservation Biology 3: 65-72.
Burnett, S. (N.D.). University of the Sunshine Coast. Personal communication regarding the Northern Quoll.
Friend, G.R. and Taylor, J.A. 1985. Habitat preferences of small mammals in tropical open-forest of the Northern Territory. Australian Journal of Ecology 10: 173-185.
Kerle, J.A. and Burgman, M.A. 1984. Some aspects of the ecology of the mammal fauna of the Jabiluka area, Northern Territory. Australian Wildlife Research 11: 207-222.
Kitchener, D.J. 1978. Mammals of the Ord River area, Kimberley, Western Australia. Records of the Western Australia Museum 6: 189-220.
Kutt, A.S., Kemp, J.E., McDonald, K.R., Williams, Y., Williams, S.E., Hines, H.B., Hero, J-M., and Torr, G. 2005. Vertebrate fauna survey of White Mountains National Park in the Desert Uplands Bioregion, Central-North Queensland. Australian Zoologist 33: 17-28.
Oakwood, M. 2000. Reproduction and demography of the Northern Quoll, Dasyurus hallucatus, in the lowland savannah of northern Australia. Australian Journal of Zoology 48: 519-539.
Oakwood, M. 2002. Spatial and social organisation of a carnivorous marsupial Dasyurus hallucatus (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae). Journal of Zoology, London 257: 237-248.
Oakwood, M. 2004. Death after sex. Biologist 51: 5-8.
Oakwood, M. 2008. Northern Quoll Dasyurus hallucatus Pp. 37-39. In Van Dyck, S. and Strahan, R. (Eds.) The Mammals of Australia. Third Edition. Reed New Holland, Sydney.
Pollock, A.B. 1999. Notes on status, distribution and diet of Northern Quoll Dasyurus hallucatus in the Mackay-Bowen area, mid eastern Queensland. Australian Zoologist 31: 388-395.
Rankmore, B.R., Griffiths, A.D., Woinarski, J.C.Z., Ganambarr, B.L., Taylor, R., Brennan, K., Firestone, K. And Cardoso, M. 2008. Island translocation of the Northern Quoll Dasyurus hallucatus as a conservation response to the spread of the Cane Toad Chaunus (Bufo) marinus in the Northern Territory, Australia. Report to Australian Government’s National Heritage Trust. Tropical Savannas Cooperative Research Centre, Darwin.
Schmitt, L.H., Bradley, A.J., Kemper, C.M., Kitchener, D.J., Humphreys, D.F. and How, R.A. 1989. Ecology and physiology of the Northern Quoll, Dasyurus hallucatus (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae) at Mitchell Plateau, Kimberley, Western Australia. Journal of Zoology (London) 217: 539-558.
Schulz, M. and Menkhorst, K.A. 1984. Fauna. In: Pine Creek Gold Mine Draft Environmental Impact Statement. Kinhill Stearns for Renison Goldfield Consolidated Ltd, Darwin.
Triggs, B. 1996. Tracks, scats and other traces: a field guide to Australian mammals. Oxford University Press, Melbourne.
Van Dam, R.A., Walden, D.J. and Begg, G.W. 2002. A preliminary risk assessment of Cane Toads in Kakadu National Park. Supervising Scientist Report 164. Supervising Scientist, Darwin.
Watson, M. and Woinarski, J. 2003. Vertebrate monitoring and re-sampling in Kakadu National Park. Report to Parks Australia. Tropical Savannas Cooperative Research Centre, Darwin.
Wayne, A.F., Rooney, J., Morris, K.D. and Johnson, B. 2008. Improved bait and trapping techniques for Chuditch (Dasyurus geoffroii): overcoming reduced trap availability due to increased densities of other native fauna. Conservation Science Western Australia 7: 49-56.
Woinarski, J.C.Z., Oakwood, M., Winter, J., Burnett, S., Milne, D., Foster, P., Myles, H. And Holmes, B. 2008. Surviving the toads: patterns of persistence of the Northern Quoll Dasyurus hallucatus in Queensland. Report to Australian Government’s National Heritage Trust. Tropical Savannas Cooperative Research Centre, Darwin.