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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 32(1)

Gap-crossing in fragmented habitats by mahogany gliders (Petaurus gracilis). Do they cross roads and powerline corridors?

Yumiko Asari A D E , Christopher N. Johnson A , Mark Parsons B and Johan Larson C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld 4811, Australia.

B Department of Environment and Resource Management, QPWD Wet Tropics, Ingham, Qld 4850, Australia.

C School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Cairns, Qld 4878, Australia.

D Current address: Iriomote Wildlife Conservation Center, Komi Taketomi-cho Yaeyama-gun Okinawa-ken, 907-1432, Japan.

E Corresponding author. Email: Yumiko_Asari@env.go.jp

Australian Mammalogy 32(1) 10-15 https://doi.org/10.1071/AM08017
Submitted: 28 November 2008  Accepted: 25 November 2009   Published: 17 March 2010

Abstract

The mahogany glider (Petaurus gracilis) is one of the most threatened arboreal mammals in Australia. Although its habitat is affected by fragmentation, gap-crossing behaviour of the species has not been studied. A radio-tracking survey was undertaken on six individuals (three males, three females) in a woodland patch bisected by a 35.8-m-wide highway and a 31.5-m-wide powerline corridor, in north-east Queensland. The mean home ranges of males were 20.1 ± 3.3 ha, 21.3 ± 7.9 ha and 20.9 ± 8.2 ha, as measured by the Minimum Convex Polygon, Kernel and Harmonic Mean methods respectively. The mean home ranges of females were 8.9 ± 0.5 ha, 9.0 ± 4.2 ha and 8.8 ± 2.3 ha, as measured by the Minimum Convex Polygon, Kernel and Harmonic Mean methods respectively. Two males and one female were observed crossing linear gaps. However, there was less crossing than expected, and females were less likely to cross than males. One male used a narrow strip of woodland at the opposite side of the highway as supplemental habitat for foraging. This individual also used scattered trees in a grassland matrix for foraging or denning. Another male used a wooden power pole as a launching site to cross the highway. This study emphasises the importance of protecting large trees along linear barriers in open habitat, and suggests that gliding poles may be used to facilitate gap-crossing by mahogany gliders.


Acknowledgements

This project was funded by the Thorsborne Trust. This research was undertaken under Animal Ethics approvals issued by Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and also the Animal Ethics Committee of James Cook University. The authors especially thank Dr Jon Luly, Dr Ivan Lawler and Dr Miriam Goosem (all of James Cook University), who provided advice on methods, and also Dr James Moloney (James Cook University) who gave great support with GIS software and maps. We acknowledge all landowners and neighbours who allowed us to conduct research on or near their properties. We give special thanks to all the volunteers who supported the fieldwork. Lastly, we acknowledge all the mahogany gliders that were tracked in this research. We hope this study will assist the recovery of the species.


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