| Autor: |
Hamer, Rowena P., Robinson, Natasha, Brewster, Rob, Barlow, Molly, Guinane, Morrigan, Humphrey, Morgan, Mifsud, Adrian, Hamilton, David G., Kutt, Alex S. |
| Předmět: |
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| Zdroj: |
Australian Mammalogy; 2023, Vol. 45 Issue 2, p171-180, 10p |
| Abstrakt: |
Tasmanian populations of the eastern quoll (Dasyurus viverrinus) represent the last wild stronghold of this species after its extirpation from the Australian mainland, but they have experienced declines of more than 50% over the past three decades. We investigated the feasibility of supplementing wild populations with captive-bred individuals in attempts to halt and reverse observed declines in Tasmanian populations. We released 20 captive-bred eastern quolls into an extant wild population in the Tasmanian central plateau, and monitored their short-term survival, dispersal and body condition. We recorded high initial survival and low initial dispersal of captive-bred individuals relative to previous release attempts in unfenced areas of mainland Australia. Further work to determine long-term survival of released individuals, and the genetic and population-level impacts on local populations is ongoing. Our preliminary results support the use of population supplementation as an effective conservation action, which allows for early intervention to address species declines while testing hypotheses about their underlying causes. Tasmanian populations of the eastern quoll Dasyurus viverrinus , which represent the last wild stronghold of this species after its extirpation from the Australian mainland, have experienced declines of more than 50% over the past three decades. We investigate the feasibility of releasing captive-bred individuals to supplement wild populations, and show that released animals survive longer and disperse less relative to reintroduction attempts on the Australian mainland. Our preliminary results support the use of population supplementation early in the trajectory of species decline. Photograph by Rowena Hamer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Databáze: |
Complementary Index |
| Externí odkaz: |
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