Interview with Wildlife Scientist Skye on The Northern Quoll Research Conducted on Groote Eylandt
I find Skye's passion for wildlife conservation and dedication towards scientific research inspiring and fascinating. When I manage to pin her down in between her laborious trapping schedule, I find myself asking her 21 questions in a childlike manner. She is so knowledgeable about a variety of animal species and patiently answers all my questions in layman's terms. For this reason, I thought I'd formally ask her some questions that I could share with you.
Skye was kind (and silly) enough to invite me out to check the traps one morning. A trip that usually takes her an hour or two solo, took roughly 4 hours with me in tow. I trailed behind her as she effortlessly bounced from rock to rock like a billy goat while I shakily crawled on all fours and scooted down-hill on my bum. Although Skye was too polite to say anything when I got in the car that morning, I think my jeans and leather boot attire gave her a good indication of what she was in for.
After a tiresome, semi-dangerous experience (in my opinion, not Skye's) I said to myself, "thankfully there are all types of people in the world" because unlike Skye, I could never do such a physically strenuous job.
Please take your time to read the below Q & A session I had with Skye only weeks before departing Groote Eylandt. I sure learnt some new things and I'm sure you will too!
What did you study at university?
Zoology and wildlife biology as an undergraduate. Then I did my PhD in ecophysiology [where you look at how the environment effects the behaviour, appearance & physiological traits of animals] and evolution biology. My post-doc is in on ecology [how animals interact in and with their environment].
Zoology and wildlife biology as an undergraduate. Then I did my PhD in ecophysiology [where you look at how the environment effects the behaviour, appearance & physiological traits of animals] and evolution biology. My post-doc is in on ecology [how animals interact in and with their environment].
What are you doing here on Groote
Eylandt?
I am the
manager of a northern quoll research program that is taking place on Groote
Eylandt (GTE). My team and I are looking at the general population, breeding, how
they move and where they move within their habitats. One of the main reasons
for conducting the research on GTE was to look into the life history traits of
the northern quoll as they are semelparious (animals that die after a reproductive
bout), for these males that is a year. This only happens to the male quolls and
they are one of the largest marsupials that do this. Even more intriguingly, northern
quolls living on mainland Australia are known to show reduced signs of
semelparity (surviving for two years).
As a vast
manganese mine has been operating on GTE for over 50 years, the location also
lends itself to look into how the mining operation may be effecting the northern
quolls’ health.
While northern
quolls are an endangered species, they have a healthy population on GTE. We
study quolls for science sake; to understand how and why things have evolved
the way they have over time, as well as how this thriving population interact
with their environment to guide conservation management decisions for this
species.
Another
important aspect of our job is to work with the Anindilyakwa Land Council (ALC).
We show the rangers how to trap animals for record keeping. By involving the
local community, we hope that they will be able to continue monitoring the
quolls’ health and population long after we’ve gone. It’s important to give
them the skills they will need to be able to manage the animals on their
island.
Why quolls?
Very good question…because
they are an endangered species. There are numerous on island, they are cool,
they are a key stone predator (meaning they are at the top of the food chain
here on GTE). They are semi-arboreal which means they can live on the ground
and in trees. They quickly manoeuvre around their environment and they are cute.
What significant discoveries have you
made?
That the
quoll population here is greatly impacted by weather patterns. Because of it
being really dry this season, the number of quolls have significantly reduced.
Generally,
male quolls only live for one year and females three. However, we recently
learnt that males have more potential to live onto a second year if they lose
their testicles.
Perhaps one of the strangest discoveries is that females can have babies from multiple fathers growing in their pouch. This can occur because breeding happens over two weeks and the females usually have multiple encounters with different males. As it takes a few days for the egg to be fertilised, the female can be breed with up to five fathers. Twenty-one days later, she can give birth to her babies from different fathers.
Perhaps one of the strangest discoveries is that females can have babies from multiple fathers growing in their pouch. This can occur because breeding happens over two weeks and the females usually have multiple encounters with different males. As it takes a few days for the egg to be fertilised, the female can be breed with up to five fathers. Twenty-one days later, she can give birth to her babies from different fathers.
Due to the low quoll population on the mainland (in comparison to GTE), males are living for two years. On GTE they ‘root themselves to death’ but on the mainland they can’t do that because of the low numbers.
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| Skye checking the name and data of each quoll. We trapped a new male quoll which got named 'Slippery Boots' after my unforgivable footwear selection that day |
Who funds your research and what will they do with the results?
Our research
is partially funded through the ALC to help manage quoll health and population.
We also get financial assistance from the University of Queensland and the
Australian Research Council which is a federal organisation.
Our results are
gathered for both practical and theoretical purposes. They are used to gain a
greater insight into ecology and evolution. What we learn can be passed onto
others to help build the bigger picture. The project we are currently working
on will inform others on how to develop management plans to help dilute mining
impacts on wild life.
Best and worst part of your job.
Best: I get to be outdoors working within conversation which I am extremely passionate about.
Worst: All the admin work that needs to be kept. There’s a lot of if!! For example, the OH&S involved and budgeting for such lengthy projects.
What animal do you find most fascinating?
Elephants and lizards.
Elephants because of their memory capacity, their social system because they have a matriarch and their family is so important to them, they are so massive and they have a trunk. It’s freakin’ weird and cool. They are the evolutionary link back to pre-historic times which makes them even more fascinating.
Lizards because there is such a large variety of species. They have cool behaviours. For example, they can’t produce their own body heat and therefore rely completely on their environment. They are so ancient in appearance. I think they probably look similar to what they were like back in the dinosaur days. I find lizards fun to work with.
What do you find most appealing about
Groote Eylandt?
The
landscape- the colour of the water is amazing. The wildlife is amazing because
it is so pristine. I love the GTE community. I have enjoyed learning about the
indigenous community. It’s pretty unique and special. Social events in
Alyangula are spectacular as the whole community gets involved-it’s awesome!
Quirky quoll fact.
A male quoll can produce the equivalent of 15kg of force with their bite.
The male quoll has as two-headed penis called the biphid penis.
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| Biphid penis |
