Non-preferred habitat increases the activity area of the endangered northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus) in a semi-arid landscape

Animal conservation requires a sound understanding of movement ecology and habitat selection. A key component this is identifying habitats that animals actively seek or avoid. We quantified selection investigated the drivers variability in short-term activity area small, endangered mesopredator, northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus), Pilbara region Western Australia. collated, standardised, analysed 14 GPS tracking events from four studies conducted between 2014 2018. Northern quolls selected areas locations were more topographically rugged than broader landscape, characterised by higher percentage cover rocky riverbed, lower spinifex sandplain. The size their also increased with non-preferred Therefore, destruction preferred – such as mining introduction structurally simple like sandplain, likely to negatively impact resource availability lead altered patterns could decrease survival. Future planning should place emphasis on protection for quolls, well efficient pathways patches critical habitat.