Phylogeographical population structure of tiger quolls Dasyurus maculatus (Dasyuridae : Marsupialia), an endangered carnivorous marsupial

Tiger quells, Dasyurus maculatus, are the largest carnivorous marsupials st ill extant on the mainland of Australia and occupy an important ecological niche as top predators and scavengers. Two allopatric subspecies are recogn ized, D.m. gracilis in north Queensland, and D.m. maculatus in the southeas t of the mainland and Tasmania. D.m. gracilis is considered endangered whil e D.m. maculatus is listed as vulnerable to extinction; both subspecies are still in decline. Phylogeographical subdivision was examined to determine evolutionarily significant units (ESUs) and management units (MUs) among po pulations of tiger quells to assist in the conservation of these taxa. Nine ty-three tiger quells from nine representative populations were sampled fro m throughout the species range. Six nuclear microsatellite loci and the mit ochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region (471 bp) were used to examine ESUs an d MUs in this species. We demonstrated that Tasmanian tiger quells are reci procally monophyletic to those from the mainland using mtDNA analysis, but D.m. gracilis was not monophyletic with respect to mainland D.m. maculatus. Analysis of microsatellite loci also revealed significant differences betw een the Tasmanian and mainland tiger quells, and between D.m. gracilis and mainland D.m. maculatus. These results indicate that Tasmanian and mainland tiger quells form two distinct evolutionary units but that D.m. gracilis a nd mainland D.m. maculatus are different MUs within the same ESU. The two m arker types used in this study revealed different male and female dispersal patterns and indicate that the most appropriate units for short-term manag ement are local populations. A revised classification and management plan a re needed for tiger quells, particularly in relation to conservation of the Tasmanian and Queensland populations.