Recovery of the Southern Greater Glider <i>Petauroides volans</i> following the extreme drought, heatwaves and mega-fires of 2019-20 in the southern Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, Australia

Peter Smith; Judy Smith

Just Accepted

This article has been peer reviewed and accepted for publication. It is in production and has not been edited, so may differ from the final published form.

Recovery of the Southern Greater Glider Petauroides volans following the extreme drought, heatwaves and mega-fires of 2019-20 in the southern Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, Australia

Peter Smith , Judy Smith

Abstract

Context. Extreme drought, heatwaves and mega-fires in south-eastern Australia in 2019-20 had a major impact on the Southern Greater Glider Petauroides volans. Aims. To assess how rapidly the species is recovering and whether recovery is dependent on fire severity. Methods. Gliders were surveyed annually on seven 500 m transects between 2020 (11 months post-fire) and 2024 (4.4 years post-fire). All transects supported gliders pre-2019 but abundances varied. Key results. In two transects burnt at high to extreme severity, all the gliders’ food source, eucalypt foliage, was burnt in the fires and the gliders were eliminated. No recolonisation occurred in 2020-24, despite foliage regrowth. In one transect burnt at low and three at moderate severity, some live eucalypt foliage survived the fires and gliders were present in 2020 in reduced numbers (31% decrease). In the three moderately burnt transects, numbers recovered and by 2024 were similar to pre-2019 counts. In the low severity transect and an unburnt transect, numbers increased rapidly and by 2024 were 45% higher than pre-2019. These two transects contained the best habitat (tallest forests) supporting the most gliders pre-2019. Conclusions. Recovery was more rapid than expected in lightly and moderately burnt transects, probably facilitated by very high post-fire rainfall, but there was no recovery in severely burnt transects. Implications. To conserve Southern Greater Gliders, it is essential to: reduce the incidence and extent of severe wildfires; identify and protect the best quality glider habitat; identify, protect, enhance and extend wildlife corridors linking core areas of important habitat.

PC24061 Accepted 06 February 2025