University of Tasmania, Australia

Conservation genetics of Tasmanian mammals

This project will focus on species of marsupials, such as the Tasmanian bettong and eastern quoll, which are now restricted to Tasmania, having become extinct on mainland Australia, and which may be threatened by the recent invasion of the red fox. The project will assess current genetic structure and gene flow in these species across Tasmania. These data will be linked to dynamic species distribution models to identify high-priority populations that should be targeted for long-term protection against fox impact. The project would also use genetic methods to reconstruct the demographic history of the Tasmanian populations of these species, and this could include comparisons with lost genetic diversity from mainland populations based on DNA extracted from museum specimens. This project has the potential to make a major contribution to the conservation of Australia’s biodiversity.