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The ecology of endangered spotted-tailed quolls is poorly understood in fragmented landscapes. Using camera-traps, I determined quoll density, assessed habitat use and investigated their interactions with sympatric foxes. Additionally, I used quoll DNA to explore genetic structure and connectivity. I found that quoll densities in a fragmented site were similar to a nearby intact site. I also determined that quoll habitat use in a fragmented landscape was flexible, and that quolls did not separate their spatial or temporal activity from foxes. Furthermore, quolls in the fragmented site were genetically similar to the intact site, and likely exist within a metapopulation. This research reveals important information about quolls that can benefit their conservation in fragmented landscapes. |
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