Dasyurus Viverrinus (Eastern Quoll)

Consultation Document on Listing Eligibility and Conservation Actions

Dasyurus viverrinus (eastern quoll)

You are invited to provide your views, and reasons supporting them, related to:

1) the eligibility of Dasyurus viverrinus (eastern quoll) for inclusion on the EPBC Act threatened species list in the Endangered category; and

2) the necessary conservation actions for the above species.

Note: The information contained in this conservation advice was primarily sourced from ‘The Action Plan for Australian Mammals 2012’ (Woinarski et al., 2014). Any substantive additions obtained during the consultation on the draft will be cited within the advice. Readers may note that conservation advices resulting from the Action Plan for Australian Mammals show minor differences in formatting relative to other conservation advices. These are reflective of the desire to achieve efficiency over preparation of a large number of advices by adopting the approach of the Action Plan for Australian Mammals in presentation of information and do not reflect any difference in the evidence used to develop the recommendation.

Evidence provided by experts, stakeholders and the general public are welcome. Responses can be provided by any interested person.

Anyone may nominate a native species, ecological community or threatening process for listing under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) or for a transfer of an item already on the list to a new listing category. The Threatened Species Scientific Committee (the Committee) undertakes the assessment of species to determine eligibility for inclusion in the list of threatened species and provides its recommendation to the Australian Government Minister for the Environment.

Responses are to be provided in writing either by email to: [email protected] or by mail to:

The Director Marine and Freshwater Species Conservation Section Wildlife, Heritage and Marine Division Department of the Environment PO Box 787 Canberra ACT 2601

Responses are required to be submitted by 8 May 2015.

Contents of this information package Page General background information about listing threatened species 2 Information about this consultation process 2 Draft information about the eastern quoll and its eligibility for listing 3 Conservation actions for the species 8 References cited 10 Consultation questions 12

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General background information about listing threatened species

The Australian Government helps protect species at risk of extinction by listing them as threatened under Part 13 of the EPBC Act. Once listed under the EPBC Act, the species becomes a Matter of National Environmental Significance (MNES) and must be protected from significant impacts through the assessment and approval provisions of the EPBC Act. More information about threatened species is available on the department’s website at: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/index.html.

Public nominations to list threatened species under the EPBC Act are received annually by the department. In order to determine if a species is eligible for listing as threatened under the EPBC Act, the Threatened Species Scientific Committee (the Committee) undertakes a rigorous scientific assessment of its status to determine if the species is eligible for listing against a set of criteria. These criteria are available on the Department’s website at: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/pubs/guidelines-species.pdf.

As part of the assessment process, the Committee consults with the public and stakeholders to obtain specific details about the species, as well as advice on what conservation actions might be appropriate. Information provided through the consultation process is considered by the Committee in its assessment. The Committee provides its advice on the assessment (together with comments received) to the Minister regarding the eligibility of the species for listing under a particular category and what conservation actions might be appropriate. The Minister decides to add, or not to add, the species to the list of threatened species under the EPBC Act. More detailed information about the listing process is at: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/nominations.html.

To promote the recovery of listed threatened species and ecological communities, conservation advices and where required, recovery plans are made or adopted in accordance with Part 13 of the EPBC Act. Conservation advices provide guidance at the time of listing on known threats and priority recovery actions that can be undertaken at a local and regional level. Recovery plans describe key threats and identify specific recovery actions that can be undertaken to enable recovery activities to occur within a planned and logical national framework. Information about recovery plans is available on the department’s website at: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/recovery.html.

Information about this consultation process

Responses to this consultation can be provided electronically or in hard copy to the contact addresses provided on Page 1. All responses received will be provided in full to the Committee and then to the Australian Government Minister for the Environment.

In providing comments, please provide references to published data where possible. Should the Committee use the information you provide in formulating its advice, the information will be attributed to you and referenced as a ‘personal communication’ unless you provide references or otherwise attribute this information (please specify if your organisation requires that this information is attributed to your organisation instead of yourself). The final advice by the Committee will be published on the department’s website following the listing decision by the Minister.

Information provided through consultation may be subject to freedom of information legislation and court processes. It is also important to note that under the EPBC Act, the deliberations and recommendations of the Committee are confidential until the Minister has made a final decision on the nomination, unless otherwise determined by the Minister.

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Dasyurus viverrinus

Eastern quoll

Taxonomy Conventionally accepted as Dasyurus viverrinus (Shaw, 1800). No subspecies are recognised.

Species Information

Description

The eastern quoll has fawn or black fur, which is covered with small white spots of varying sizes except on the tail. The tail is bushy and may have a white tip. The ears are large. Males have a head and body length of 32-45 cm and a tail length of 20-28 cm; females are slightly smaller. Compared to the related spotted-tail quoll (Dasyurus maculatus) the eastern quoll is slightly built with a pointed muzzle, and has only four toes on the hindfoot (Jones, 2008; Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, 2012).

Distribution The eastern quoll was previously widespread in mainland south-eastern Australia including New South Wales (NSW NPWS, 1999), Victoria (Menkhorst, 1995) and eastern South Australia (Jones, 2008). It became extinct on the mainland around the mid-1960s (Menkhorst, 1995; Jones, 2008; DPIPWE, 2012), with sightings at Kew and Ivanhoe, Melbourne, until the early 1960s and maybe later (P. Menkhorst pers. comm., cited in Woinarski et al., 2014). The last confirmed mainland sighting was at Vaucluse, NSW, in 1963 (Dickman et al., 2001).

It is now restricted to Tasmania and Bruny Island (Tasmania). Rounsevell et al. (1991) recorded it in 30% of 10 km x 10 km grids in Tasmania and reported that it was not present in large tracts of rainforest. Jones et al. (2014) reported a high probability of occurrence over much of the eastern half and central-north coast of Tasmania, with areas of intermediate probability extending to about the eastern two-thirds of the island and to the north-west of Tasmania, with isolated populations in the south-west. Similar results were found using MAXENT climate modelling (Johnson et al., 2012). The eastern quoll distribution is associated with low to moderate mean annual rainfall and includes a range of more open habitats, including open grassland (including farmland), tussock grassland, grassy woodland, dry eucalypt forest, coastal scrub and alpine heathland (Jones & Rose, 1996; Jones & Barmuta, 2000). It tends to be absent from large tracts of wet eucalypt forest and rainforest, unless these are adjacent to open and tussock grassland and heath.

Relevant Biology/Ecology The eastern quoll is largely solitary. It is nocturnal and only occasionally forages or basks during daylight. It is found in a variety of habitats including rainforest, heathland, alpine areas and scrub. However, it prefers dry grassland and forest mosaics which are bounded by agricultural land, particularly where pasture grubs are common (DPIPWE, 2012; Jones et al., 2014). During the day, animals sleep in nests made under rocks, in underground burrows or fallen logs. The eastern quoll is an opportunistic carnivore that takes live prey and scavenges. It is an impressive hunter, taking mammals such as rabbits, mice and rats, and small elapid snakes and skinks. It sometimes scavenges morsels of food from around feeding Tasmanian Devils (Sarcophilus harrisii). However, the main component of its diet at lower altitudes is invertebrates, especially agricultural pests such as the cockchafer beetle and corbie grub. In alpine areas, invertebrates form a small component of the diet; carrion and some fruits are also eaten (Blackhall, 1980; Godsell, 1983; Jones & Barmuta, 1998; DPIPWE, 2012).

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Feral cats are well suited to taking quolls, as well as the prey that quolls eat. Predation and direct competition potentially force the eastern quoll from its natural habitat. Feral cat numbers may have increased in Tasmania coinciding with the rapid decline of the Tasmanian Devil, which is hypothesised to have depressed feral cat numbers (Fancourt, 2011; Hollings, 2012; Hollings et al., 2013). However, feral cats have been present in Tasmania for many decades and quolls have survived.

Dogs, road kills (Jones, 1993), and, mostly in the past, illegal poisoning or trapping are additional causes of mortality (DPIPWE, 2013), but population level effects are unknown. Foxes are a future threat. Jones et al. (2004) reported that eastern quolls lacked an appropriate anti- predator response to foxes, suggesting that they would be vulnerable to predation by foxes. The red fox is now present in Tasmania (Berry et al., 2007; Sarre et al., 2013; DPIPWE, 2013) and experience on mainland Australia shows that, if foxes establish, fox predation will have a severe, possibly catastrophic impact on this species in the medium- to long-term.

Breeding occurs in early winter, May-June (Bryant, 1988). After a gestation period of 21 days, a female can have up to six young that develop in her pouch. After about 10 weeks the young are left in grass-lined dens located in burrows or hollow logs leaving the female free to hunt and forage. Towards the end of November, when the young are 18 to 20 weeks old, they are weaned and gradually become independent. Within the first year, at c. 10-11 months of age, they have reached sexual maturity and begin breeding (DPIPWE, 2012). Maximum longevity recorded in captivity is 6.8 years (AnAge, 2012), but in the wild longevity is estimated to be 3-4 (B. Fancourt pers. comm., cited in Woinarski et al., 2014). Generation length is estimated to be 2 years.

Threats Threats to the eastern quoll are outlined in the table below (Woinarski et al., 2014).

Threat factor Consequen Extent over which Evidence base ce rating threat may operate Predation by feral moderate entire (feral cats occur juveniles vulnerable to cat cats on Bruny Island) predation (Jones et al., 2004); cat abundance possibly increasing (Fancourt, 2011); however, feral cats have been present in Tasmania for a long time and quolls have survived Disease moderate entire previous episode of severe rates of mortality associated with disease (Wood Jones, 1923; Guiler, 1961; Green, 2007) that may have made a significant contribution to local extinction on the mainland; some ongoing incidence and (mostly uncertain) impacts of diseases (e.g. toxoplasmosis; however, Fancourt et al. (2012) found toxoplasmosis does not appear to be contributing to recent population declines)

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Predation by red potentially currently minor; entire if red fox strongly implicated foxes severe to foxes establish on Bruny in extinction of eastern catastrophic Island as well as quoll on mainland Australia Tasmania main island Poisoning minor moderate possible low levels of associated with mortality associated with control of non- 1080 baiting native predators Targeted minor minor some ongoing localised poisoning and impacts trapping Predation by dogs minor localised dogs kill eastern quolls (DPIPWE, 2012) Road mortality minor localised can cause significant local decline (Jones, 2008)

Assessment of available information in relation to the EPBC Act Criteria and Regulations

Criterion 1. Population size reduction (reduction in total numbers) Population reduction (measured over the longer of 10 years or 3 generations) based on any of A1 to A4 Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable Very severe reduction Severe reduction Substantial reduction A1 ≥ 90% ≥ 70% ≥ 50% A2, A3, A4 ≥ 80% ≥ 50% ≥ 30% A1 Population reduction observed, estimated, inferred or suspected in the past and the causes of the reduction (a) direct observation [except A3] are clearly reversible AND understood AND ceased. A2 Population reduction observed, estimated, inferred (b) an index of abundance appropriate to or suspected in the past where the causes of the the taxon reduction may not have ceased OR may not be based understood OR may not be reversible. (c) a decline in area of occupancy, on any extent of occurrence and/or quality of A3 Population reduction, projected or suspected to be of the habitat met in the future (up to a maximum of 100 years) [(a) following cannot be used for A3] : (d) actual or potential levels of A4 An observed, estimated, inferred, projected or exploitation suspected population reduction where the time period must include both the past and the future (up to a (e) the effects of introduced taxa, max. of 100 years in future), and where the causes of hybridization, pathogens, pollutants, reduction may not have ceased OR may not be competitors or parasites understood OR may not be reversible.

Evidence:

The eastern quoll is still widespread in Tasmania, but spotlighting data demonstrate that its population size has declined by an estimated >50% over the past 10 years. Monitoring of subpopulations by trapping confirms a continuing decline. However, abundance remains relatively high on Bruny Island (Woinarski et al., 2014).

Annual spotlight surveys, originally designed to monitor trends in the abundance of wallabies and possums, have been conducted in Tasmania between 1985 and 2011 by the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment (Dreissen & Hocking, 1992; DPIPWE, 2012; M. Dreissen and G.Hocking pers. comm., cited in Woinarski et al, 2014), with the number of transects increased to 132 following a review by Southwell & Fletcher (1985). Further transects were added between 1985 and 1990, with 150 transects being surveyed annually since 1990. A

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core group of 42 transects were surveyed every year from 1975 to 2011. Spotlighting methodology was standardised in 1985.

Analysis by Fancourt, et al. (2013) of spotlight surveys from 147 sites across Tasmania revealed a 52% reduction in the number of eastern quoll sightings over the 10 years to 2009. Declines of 61-100% were observed in trapping surveys at three study sites compared with trapping conducted 18-31 years earlier. A reduction in trap success was recorded in five of six non-target surveys, with declines of 51-100% over 1-12 years. Recent spotlight surveys do not reveal any recovery (B. Fancourt pers. comm., cited in Woinarski et al., 2014). While trapping surveys tend to confirm the decline on the main island, numbers captured on Bruny Island increased between 2010 and 2012 (B. Fancourt pers. comm., cited in Woinarski et al., 2014).

Fig. 1. Total number of eastern quoll sightings recorded in annual spotlight surveys across all transects (n = 147) surveyed every year from 1990 to 2009 inclusive. (Source: G. Hocking (DPIPWE), unpublished data; Fancourt et al. 2013).

The causes of decline in the eastern quoll population size are not well understood, but may include feral cats, dogs, road kills and illegal poisoning or trapping. The red fox was strongly implicated in the extinction of the eastern quoll on mainland Australia (Woinarski et al., 2014).

The data presented above appear to demonstrate that the species is eligible for listing as Endangered under criterion A2b. However, the purpose of this consultation document is to elicit additional information to better understand the species’ status. This conclusion should therefore be considered to be tentative at this stage, as it may be changed as a result of responses to this consultation process.

Criterion 2. Geographic distribution is precarious for either extent of occurrence AND/OR area of occupancy Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable Very restricted Restricted Limited B1. Extent of occurrence (EOO) < 100 km2 < 5,000 km2 < 20,000 km2 B2. Area of occupancy (AOO) < 10 km2 < 500 km2 < 2,000 km2 AND at least 2 of the following 3 conditions: (a) Severely fragmented OR Number of = 1 ≤ 5 ≤ 10 locations (b) Continuing decline observed, estimated, inferred or projected in any of: (i) extent of occurrence; (ii) area of occupancy; (iii) area, extent and/or quality of habitat; (iv) number of locations or subpopulations; (v) number of

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mature individuals (c) Extreme fluctuations in any of: (i) extent of occurrence; (ii) area of occupancy; (iii) number of locations or subpopulations; (iv) number of mature individuals

Evidence:

Woinarski et al. (2014) estimate the extent of occurrence to be 47 000 km2 and the area of occupancy to be 2300 km2.

The data presented above appear to demonstrate the species is not eligible for listing under this criterion. However, the purpose of this consultation document is to elicit additional information to better understand the species’ status. This conclusion should therefore be considered to be tentative at this stage, as it may be changed as a result of responses to this consultation process.

Criterion 3. Small population size and decline

Critically Endangered Vulnerable Endangered Low Limited Very low Estimated number of mature individuals < 250 < 2,500 < 10,000 AND either (C1) or (C2) is true C1 An observed, estimated or projected Very high rate High rate Substantial rate continuing decline of at least (up to a 25% in 3 years or 1 20% in 5 years or 2 10% in 10 years or 3 max. of 100 years in future generation generations generations (whichever is longer) (whichever is (whichever is longer) longer) C2 An observed, estimated, projected or inferred continuing decline AND its geographic distribution is precarious for its survival based on at least 1 of the following 3 conditions: (i) Number of mature individuals in ≤ 50 ≤ 250 ≤ 1,000 each subpopulation (a) (ii) % of mature individuals in one 90 – 100% 95 – 100% 100% subpopulation = (b) Extreme fluctuations in the number of mature individuals

Evidence:

There is no robust assessment of population size, or that of individual subpopulations. Woinarki et al. (2014) suggest that the number of mature individuals is likely to be more than 10 000, based on survey data.

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understand the species’ status. This conclusion should therefore be considered to be tentative at this stage, as it may be changed as a result of responses to this consultation process.

Criterion 4. Very small population

Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable Extremely low Very Low Low

Number of mature individuals < 50 < 250 < 1,000

Evidence:

There is no robust assessment of population size, or that of individual subpopulations. Woinarski et al. (2014) suggest that the number of mature individuals is likely to be more than 10 000, based on survey data (see Criterion 4).

Criterion 5. Quantitative Analysis

Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable Immediate future Near future Medium-term future ≥ 50% in 10 years or 3 ≥ 20% in 20 years or Indicating the probability of extinction in generations, 5 generations, ≥ 10% in 100 years the wild to be: whichever is longer whichever is longer (100 years max.) (100 years max.)

Evidence:

No population viability analysis has been undertaken.

There are insufficient data to demonstrate if the species is eligible for listing under this criterion. However, the purpose of this consultation document is to elicit additional information to better understand the species’ status. This conclusion should therefore be considered to be tentative at this stage, as it may be changed as a result of responses to this consultation process.

Conservation Actions

Recovery Plan A decision about whether there should be a recovery plan for this species has not yet been determined. The purpose of this consultation document is to elicit additional information to help inform this decision.

Primary Conservation Objectives

1. Maintain distribution and abundance 2. Reduce feral cat predation 3. Eradicate or effectively control red foxes at low densities in Tasmania.

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Conservation and Management Actions

Recommended management actions are outlined in the table below (Woinarski et al., 2014).

Theme Specific actions Priority Active mitigation of threats eradicate or, if not possible, high control red fox at low densities in Tasmania control feral cat numbers in medium limited areas (e.g. Bruny Island) to assess impact and effectiveness of control measures Captive breeding consider captive breeding as a medium precursor to translocation to an island Quarantining isolated populations develop and implement high biosecurity plan to prevent establishment of red fox on Bruny Island Translocation identify islands and mainland medium islands that could be used for quoll translocation should foxes become widely established Monitoring continue spotlight monitoring of high eastern quolls and establish selected sites for intensive monitoring to understand processes influencing changes in abundance of eastern quolls. Community engagement involve the community in medium monitoring eastern quoll by encouraging reporting of sightings with data to be stored in the Natural Values Atlas

Information and research priorities Information and research priorities are outlined in the table below (Woinarski et al., 2014).

Theme Specific actions Priority Survey to better define distribution continue spotlight survey high monitoring and investigate options to enhance or complement existing spotlight surveying monitoring Assess impacts of threats on species assess impacts of feral cat, and high model viability under a range of cat densities assess (or model) impacts of red high fox assess susceptibility to medium Toxoplasma gondii infection Establish or enhance monitoring establish additional long-term high program monitoring sites

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develop cost-effective monitoring high protocols to measure impacts of feral cats and red foxes Assess effectiveness of threat mitigation assess efficacy of a range of high options feral cat control mechanisms Resolve taxonomic uncertainties n/a Assess habitat requirements n/a Assess diet, life history n/a Undertake research to develop new or develop broad-scale, targeted high enhance existing management feral cat eradication technology mechanisms

References cited in the advice

AnAge (2012). The animal aging and longevity database. Available on the internet at: http://genomics.senescence.info/species/

Berry, O., Sarre, S. D., Farrington, L., & Aitken, N. (2007). Faecal DNA detection of invasive species: the case of feral foxes in Tasmania. Wildlife Research 34, 1–7.

Blackhall, S. (1980). Diet of the Eastern Native-Cat, Dasyurus viverrinus (Shaw), in southern Tasmania. Australian Wildlife Research 7, 191-197.

Bryant, S. (1988). Seasonal breeding in the Eastern Quoll, Dasyurus viverrinus (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae). Ph.D. Thesis, University of Tasmania.

Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment (DPIPWE) (2012). Eastern quoll. Available on the internet at: http://dpipwe.tas.gov.au/wildlife-management/animals-of- tasmania/mammals/carnivorous-marsupials-and-bandicoots/eastern-quoll

Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment (DPIPWE) (2013). Physical evidence of foxes in Tasmania. Available on the internet at: http://dpipwe.tas.gov.au/invasive-species/current-programs/fox-eradication-program/fox- evidence-update

Dickman, C. R., Lunney, D. & Matthews, A. (2001). Ecological attributes and conservation of dasyurid marsupials in New South Wales, Australia. Pacific Conservation Biology 7, 124- 133.

Driessen, M. M. & Hocking, G. J. (1992). Review and analysis of spotlight surveys in Tasmania: 1975–1990. Scientific report, 92/1. Tasmania: Department of Parks, Wildlife and Heritage.

Fancourt, B. (2011). Drought, disease or destiny? Identifying the cause of decline of the eastern quoll. Australian Wildlife 4, 26-27.

Fancourt, B., Nicol, S., & Hawkins, C. (2013). Evidence of rapid population decline of the eastern quoll (Dasyurus viverrinus) in Tasmania. Australian Mammalogy 35(2), 195-205. Available on the internet at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/AM13004

Fancourt, B., Nicol, S., Hawkins, C., Jones, M., & Johnson, C. (2012). Agent of decline or mere distraction? Toxoplasmosis and the case of the declining Eastern Quoll. In Proceedings of the 58th Scientific Meeting of the Australian Mammal Society Port Augusta, South Australia. p.76.

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Godsell, J. (1983). Ecology of the eastern quoll Dasyurus viverrinus (Dasyuridae: Marsupialia). Ph. D. Thesis, Australian National University, Canberra.

Green, R. H. (2007). The fauna of Tasmania: mammals. Launceston: Potoroo Publishing.

Guiler. E. R. (1961). The former distribution and decline of the thylacine. Australian Journal of Science 23, 207-210.

Hollings, T. A. (2012). Ecological effects of disease induced apex predator decline. PhD thesis, University of Tasmania.

Hollings, T., Jones, M. E., Hocking, G., Mooney, N. & McCallum, H. (2013). Trophic cascades following the disease-induced decline of an apex predator, the Tasmanian devil. Conservation Biology 28, 63-75.

Johnson, C., Jones, M., & Bateman, B. (2012). Distribution of large marsupial carnivores - locations of core habitat and population strongholds for the Tasmanian devil, spotted- tailed quoll and eastern quoll in Tasmania. Independent Verification Group Forest Conservation Report 7A. Available on the internet at: http://www.environment.gov.au/resource/independent-verification-group-report

Jones, M. (1993). Road mortality of eastern quolls and devils on the Cradle Mountain tourist road. Report to Department of Transport and Works and Department of Environment and Land Management Parks and Wildlife Service.

Jones, M. (2008). Eastern quoll Dasyurus viverrinus. In ‘The mammals of Australia’. Third edition. (Eds S. Van Dyck and R. Strahan.) pp. 62-64. Reed New Holland: Sydney.

Jones, M., Burnett, S., Claridge A., Fancourt B., Körtner G., Morris K., Peacock D., Troy S. & Woinarski J. (2014). Australia’s surviving marsupial carnivores: threats and conservation. In A. Glen & C. Dickman, Carnivores of Australia: past, present and future. Melbourn, Australia: CSIRO Publishing.

Jones, M. E. & Barmuta, L. A. (1998). Diet overlap and relative abundance of sympatric dasyurid carnivores: a hypothesis of competition. Journal of Animal Ecology 67, 410-421.

Jones, M. E. & Barmuta, L. A. (2000). Niche Differentiation among Sympatric Australian Dasyurid Carnivores. Journal of Mammalogy 81, 434-447.

Jones, M. E. & Rose, R. K. (1996). Preliminary assessment of distribution and habitat associations of the spotted-tailed quoll (Dasyurus maculatus maculatus) and eastern quoll (D. viverrinus) in Tasmania to determine conservation and reservation status. Report to the Tasmanian Regional Forest Agreement Environment and Heritage Technical Committee. Hobart, Australia: Tasmanian Public Land Use Commission.

Jones, M. E., Smith, G. C. & Jones, S. M. (2004). Is anti-predator behaviour in Tasmanian eastern quolls (Dasyurus viverrinus) effective against introduced predators? Animal Conservation 7, 155-160.

Menkhorst, P. W. (1995). Eastern Quoll. In P. W. Menkhorst, Mammals of Victoria (pp. 53-54). Melbourne, Australia: Oxford University Press.

New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service (1999). Eastern quoll Dasyurus viverrinus (Shaw, 1800). Threatened species information. Available on the internet at: http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/threatenedspecies/.

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Rounsevell, D. E., Taylor, R. J. & Hocking, G. J. (1991). Distribution records of native terrestrial mammals in Tasmania. Wildlife Research 18, 699-717.

Sarre, S. D., MacDonald, A. J., Barclay, C., Saunders, G. R. & Ramsey, D. S. L. (2013). Foxes are now widespread in Tasmania: DNA detection defines the distribution of this rare but invasive carnivore. Journal of Applied Ecology 50, 459-468.

Southwell, C. & Fletcher, M. (1985). Investigations into methods of improving the precision of spotlight surveys used for monitoring wallaby populations in Tasmania. Report prepared for the Tasmanian National Parks and Wildlife Service.

Woinarski, J. C. Z., Burbidge, A. A., & Harrison, P. L. (2014). The Action Plan for Australian Mammals 2012. Collingwood, Australia: CSIRO Publishing.

Wood Jones, F. (1923). The Mammals of South Australia - Part I. Adelaide, Australia: Government Printer.

Consultation questions

1. Do you agree with the current taxonomic position of the Australian Faunal Directory for this taxon (as identified in the draft conservation advice)

2. Can you provide any additional references, information or estimates on longevity, age of maturity, average life span and generation length?

3. Has the survey effort for this taxon been adequate to determine its national distribution and adult population size?

4. Do you accept the estimate provided in the nomination for the current population size of the taxon?

5. For any population with which you are familiar, do you agree with the population estimate provided? If not, are you able to provide a plausible estimate based on your own knowledge? If so, please provide in the form: Lower bound (estimated minimum): Upper bound (estimated maximum): Best Estimate: Estimated level of Confidence: %

6. Can you provide any additional data, not contained in the current nomination, on declines in population numbers over the past or next 10 years or 3 generations, whichever is the longer?

7. Is the distribution as described in the nomination valid? Can you provide an estimate of the current geographic distribution (extent of occurrence or area of occupancy in km2) of this taxon?

8. Has this geographic distribution declined and if so by how much and over what period of time?

9. Do you agree that the taxon is eligible for inclusion on the threatened species list, in the category listed in the nomination?

10. Do you agree that the threats listed are correct and that their effects on the taxon are significant?

11. To what degree are the identified threats likely to impact on the taxon in the future?

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12. Can you provide additional or alternative information on threats, past, current or potential that may adversely affect this taxon at any stage of its life cycle?

13. In seeking to facilitate the recovery of this taxon, can you provide management advice for the following:  What individuals or organisations are currently, or need to be, involved in planning to abate threats and any other relevant planning issues?  What threats are impacting on different populations, how variable are the threats and what is the relative importance of the different populations?  What recovery actions are currently in place, and can you suggest other actions that would help recover the taxon? Please provide evidence and background information.

14. Can you provide additional data or information relevant to this assessment?

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