Foraging behaviour and habitat use of the feathertail glider (Acrobates pygmaeus) at Waratah Creek, New South Wales

Abstract

Observations were made of the foraging behaviour of the feathertail glider (Acrobates pygmaeus) at Waratah Creek in south-eastern New South Wales (NSW). Gliders were observed on 164 occasions, including 42 observations of feeding, 41 observations of moving along a substrate and 68 observations of gliding to a tree, an understorey plant or to the ground. On the remaining occasions, gliders were lost from view before any information was recorded. Most (91%) feeding observations occurred in live eucalypts. When feeding in eucalypts, 61% of observations were of gliders searching under loose shedding bark and 32% were of gliders engaged in foliage gleaning. Foraging amongst loose bark is suggested to represent feeding on honeydew and arthropods while foliage gleaning is indicative of gliders engaged in feeding on manna, honeydew, lerps and arthropods. Nectar feeding was uncommon and only 3% of trees in which gliders were observed were flowering. In contrast, 42% of these trees showed signs of recent bark shed. Two observations were of gliders foraging on the ground, suggesting that arthropods may also be captured there. Comparison of the frequency of use of different tree species with the abundance of those species showed a highly significant preference for E. fastigata, while other species were used in proportion to their abundance. Analysis also showed that gliders used trees in the smallest of three size classes (<40 cm diameter at breast height) less often than expected on the basis of the abundance of these trees. Overall, gliders used the six different habitat types in the study area in proportion to their abundance but showed significant seasonal differences in the use of these habitats. These results permit consideration of the management requirements of the feathertail glider in the timber production forests of NSW. It is concluded that the requirements of this species are catered for by existing management prescriptions.