Introduction of northern quolls
In May 2017, 54 adult northern quolls were introduced to the
north-eastern tip of Indian Island, Bynoe Harbor, Northern Territory,
Australia (12°37’24.60”S, 130°30’0.72”E) to field test the
conservation strategy of targeted gene flow (Kelly & Phillips 2016).
Quolls are a voracious, opportunistic generalist predator (<
1.5k g; Oakwood 1997), and their introduction presented an opportunity
to monitor the behavioural and demographic impacts on grassland melomys
(Melomys burtoni ), a native mammalian granivorous prey species
(mean body mass 56 g, 5.6–103.7 g). Logistical challenges prevented us
from implementing a Before-After Impact-Control study design (see
Supporting Information). Here, we present data from before the
introduction of quolls from one invaded site only. Most of our data
compare quoll-invaded (impact) versus quoll-free (control) sites over
time, commencing within a few months of quoll arrival.