Run rabbit run: spotted-tailed quoll diet reveals invasive prey is top of the menu

Information about the ecological functional roles of native predators may help inform the conservation of wildlife and pest management. If predators show preferences for certain prey, such as invasive species, this could potentially be used as a conservation tool to help restore degraded (e.g. overgrazed) ecosystems via the reintroduction of native predators and suppression of exotic prey (e.g. introduced herbivores). The diet of spotted-tailed quolls was studied in a fenced reserve in south-eastern Australia where native mammals have been reintroduced, foxes and cats removed, but invasive European rabbits still persist. A total of 80 scats were collected over 12 months and analysis of macroscopic prey remains was conducted to determine diet. Rabbits were by far the most commonly consumed prey species by volume (similar to 76%) and frequency (similar to 60%), followed by brushtail possums (similar to 11% for both volume and frequency), and other small and medium-sized native mammals in much smaller amounts. Quoll scat analysis revealed 10 mammal species in total, eight of which were native. Bird, reptile and invertebrate remains were uncommon in quoll scats. This suggests that spotted-tailed quolls may show a preference for preying on invasive European rabbits in certain contexts, and this could potentially be used as part of quoll reintroductions to aid rabbit population suppression and ecosystem restoration.

Automated summary

The study found that spotted-tailed quolls in a fenced reserve have a preference for preying on invasive European rabbits, while also consuming other small native mammals, with rare instances of birds, reptiles, and invertebrates in their scats.