An alert Bennett's wallaby. Credit: Matthew Newton.
A photo of the last known Tasmanian tiger (Thylacinus cynocephalus), which died in Hobart's Beamauris zoo 1936. Credit: Public domain.
By conducting the experiment in grass alleys, The Quoin's wallabys will have to choose whether to pass the models or turn around. Credit: The Quoin team.
A potential location for the experiment, this site has signs of high wallaby traffic. Credit: The Quoin team.
Investigators
Nathaniel Nguyen, Masters candidate
Emily Scicluna
Andrew Pask
Partners
The Thylacine Integrated Genetic Restoration Research Lab
University of Melbourne
Dates
Summer and winter 2024
Aim
To determine whether modern Bennett's wallabies (payathanima) (Notamacropus rufogriseus) will still be able to recognise and respond appropriately to the Tasmanian tiger (Thylacinus cynocephalus) after nearly 100 years of isolation from the predator.
Background
Some scientists believe innate predator recognition is the differentiating factor between invasive and naturalised predators. The argument is that if a predator can be innately recognised and avoided by its prey, they are likely to be less destructive to prey populations. Testing this hypothesis with the Tasmanian tiger is significant for two reasons.
Firstly, because while innate predator recognition has been shown to persist in prey populations after a predator is removed, this is usually studied over short timescales (fewer than 10 years). The case of the Tasmanian tiger provides a unique opportunity to study an older extinction, to explore how long predator recognition is able to persist. This could help inform future restorations of older disrupted predator-prey dynamics (such as the reintroductions of predators to areas where they went locally extinct between 10-100 years ago).
Secondly, the Tasmanian tiger is currently a candidate for de-extinction through cloning, and there is talk of an eventual reintroduction of the cloned animals to native ecosystems. This research project aims to contribute to this discussion by investigating whether the Tasmanian tiger is still 'naturalised' in the Tasmanian ecosystem, by determining whether their prey could respond appropriately to a potential reintroduction.
Approach
Camera traps will be utilised to monitor the behaviour of grazing wallabies in the evenings. 3D models and artificial scents of the Tasmanian tiger, red fox, and domestic goat will be used to determine whether the wallabies selectively avoid their historical predator.
How The Quoin is helping
The Quoin has been selected as one of two survey sites for this experiment, as the property has many clearings where Bennett's wallabies graze in the evenings.
Significance
The results of this experiment could help to inform whether a Tasmanian tiger de-extinction would be helpful to the modern Tasmanian ecosystem.