Gliding performance in the yellow-bellied glider in low-canopy forest
Ross L. Goldingay
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
School of Environment, Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, PO Box 157, Lismore, NSW 2480, Australia. Email: ross.goldingay@scu.edu.au
Australian Mammalogy 36(2) 254-258 https://doi.org/10.1071/AM14006
Submitted: 11 April 2014 Accepted: 9 June 2014 Published: 25 June 2014
Abstract
Knowledge of the gliding performance of gliding mammals is fundamental to understanding how these species have adapted to their environment and is of increasing relevance to their conservation. I describe aspects of the glide performance of the yellow-bellied glider (Petaurus australis) based on 22 glides of 17 individuals within 20–30-m-high open forest in western Victoria. Gliders launched into a glide from a horizontal branch that was, on average, 2.8 m below the top of a tree, 5.2 m out from the main trunk and 18.5 m above the ground. Gliders landed on the trunks of trees 5.8 m above the ground. The mean horizontal glide distance was 25.2 ± 1.5 m (s.e.) (range = 19–45 m), producing a glide ratio (horizontal distance/height dropped) of 2.0 and a glide angle of 27.3°. These values are similar to those reported for other gliding petaurids in low-canopy forest. This knowledge should be used to guide the management of habitat connectivity for yellow-bellied gliders.
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