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Can evolutionary theories of dispersal and senescence predict postrelease survival, dispersal, and body condition of a reintroduced threatened mammal?

Robinson, Natasha; Blanchard, Wade; MacGregor, Chris; Brewster, Robert; Dexter, Nick; Lindenmayer, David B

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1. Theories of dispersal and senescence (or aging) predict that dispersal, and ongoing survival and body condition, are influenced by evolutionary drivers, along with intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Such theories are relevant to translocations of animals where high mortality, loss of body condition, and dispersal beyond the area of release are commonly reported. However, these theories have rarely been tested using data from translocations. 2. We explore whether theories of dispersal and...[Show more]

dc.contributor.authorRobinson, Natasha
dc.contributor.authorBlanchard, Wade
dc.contributor.authorMacGregor, Chris
dc.contributor.authorBrewster, Robert
dc.contributor.authorDexter, Nick
dc.contributor.authorLindenmayer, David B
dc.date.accessioned2022-06-21T01:44:45Z
dc.date.available2022-06-21T01:44:45Z
dc.identifier.issn2045-7758
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1885/267410
dc.description.abstract1. Theories of dispersal and senescence (or aging) predict that dispersal, and ongoing survival and body condition, are influenced by evolutionary drivers, along with intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Such theories are relevant to translocations of animals where high mortality, loss of body condition, and dispersal beyond the area of release are commonly reported. However, these theories have rarely been tested using data from translocations. 2. We explore whether theories of dispersal and senescence, together with biological knowledge and management interventions, can predict rates of postrelease dispersal, survival and change in body condition of a translocated endangered meso-predator, the eastern quoll Dasyurus viverrinus. 3. Captive-bred quolls (n = 60) from three sanctuaries were translocated to an unfenced, predator-managed reserve (Booderee National Park) over 2 years (2018, 2019). Survival, dispersal and body mass were monitored via GPS/VHF tracking and targeted trapping for 45 days postrelease. 4. We found support for the "social subordinate" hypothesis, with smaller quolls dispersing further. Consistent with theories of senescence and the biology of our species, survival was marginally greater for females, and females regained losses in body mass in both years following release. In contrast, males recovered body condition in the first but not the second release as this coincided with breeding. Quolls that originated from the mainland sanctuary were on average heavier at release and, after accounting for weight, dispersed further. 5. Synthesis and applications. Using theory to test outcomes of wildlife translocations can provide insights into patterns across taxa and under different conditions, enabling useful improvements to future fauna translocations. This allows for better predictions to be made about the likelihood of success from proposed translocations, changes to planning to improve outcomes (e.g., modifying sex ratios, individual selection and release cohort), and improved animal welfare as fewer animals are subjected to trials.
dc.description.sponsorshipThe reintroduction program is a partnership between Parks Australia, Rewilding Australia, The Australian National University, Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community Council, WWF-Australia, the National Environmental Science Program Threatened Species Recovery Hub, Taronga Conservation Society, and conservation sanctuaries (Trowunna Wildlife Sanctuary, Devils@Cradle, Aussie Ark). This research is supported by the Australian Government's National Environmental Science Program through the Threatened Species Recovery Hub.
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.language.isoen_AU
dc.publisherJohn Wiley & Sons Inc
dc.rights© 2020 The Authors. Ecology and Evolution published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd
dc.rights.urihttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.sourceEcology and Evolution
dc.subjectaging
dc.subjectbody mass or weight
dc.subjectconservation translocation
dc.subjectDasyuridae
dc.subjectdispersal theory
dc.subjectendangered or threatened species
dc.subjectreintroduction
dc.subjectsurvival
dc.subjecttheory of senescence
dc.titleCan evolutionary theories of dispersal and senescence predict postrelease survival, dispersal, and body condition of a reintroduced threatened mammal?
dc.typeJournal article
local.description.notesImported from ARIES
local.identifier.citationvolume11
dc.date.issued2020
local.identifier.absfor050202 - Conservation and Biodiversity
local.identifier.absfor050211 - Wildlife and Habitat Management
local.identifier.ariespublicationa383154xPUB16630
local.publisher.urlhttps://www.wiley.com/en-gb
local.type.statusPublished Version
local.contributor.affiliationRobinson, Natasha, College of Science, ANU
local.contributor.affiliationBlanchard, Wade, College of Science, ANU
local.contributor.affiliationMacGregor, Chris, College of Science, ANU
local.contributor.affiliationBrewster, Robert, Rewilding Australia
local.contributor.affiliationDexter, Nick, Booderee National Park
local.contributor.affiliationLindenmayer, David, College of Science, ANU
local.bibliographicCitation.issue2
local.bibliographicCitation.startpage1
local.bibliographicCitation.lastpage11
local.identifier.doi10.1002/ece3.7115
local.identifier.absseo960805 - Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity at Regional or Larger Scales
dc.date.updated2021-03-07T07:16:35Z
local.identifier.scopusID2-s2.0-85098253569
dcterms.accessRightsOpen Access
dc.provenanceThis is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
dc.rights.licenseCreative Commons Attribution License
CollectionsANU Research Publications

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