Free Standard AU & NZ Shipping For All Book Orders Over $80!
Register      Login
Wildlife Research Wildlife Research Society
Ecology, management and conservation in natural and modified habitats
Shopping Cart: ( empty )
You are here: Home > Journals > WR > WR09051
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 37(2)

Population ecology of the nectar-feeding squirrel glider (Petaurus norfolcensis) in remnant forest in subtropical Australia

David J. Sharpe A B and Ross L. Goldingay A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A School of Environmental Science and Management, Southern Cross University, PO Box 157, Lismore, NSW 2480, Australia.

B Corresponding author. Email: davidsharpe3@bigpond.com

Wildlife Research 37(2) 77-88 https://doi.org/10.1071/WR09051
Submitted: 27 April 2009  Accepted: 22 January 2010   Published: 16 April 2010

Abstract

Context. Nectar is a temporally variable food resource. However, because few studies describe the population dynamics of nectar-feeding non-flying mammals, it is unclear how such populations are influenced by resource availability.

Aims. We investigated the population ecology of the squirrel glider (Petaurus norfolcensis) in remnant forest in Brisbane, Australia, where nectar was a dominant food item.

Methods. We used 36 tree-mounted traps to census a squirrel glider population inhabiting a 47-ha urban remnant over a 4-year period.

Key results. A total of 201 gliders was captured 705 times in 3729 trap-nights (19% trap success). Population density peaked in the first year at ~1.6 individuals ha–1, and declined down to ~0.5 individuals ha–1 by the final year. This change in population density appeared to be mediated by annual variation in flowering intensity. Births occurred from March to November, peaking between April and July. All females >1 year old bred in each year of the study, with a mean litter size of 1.7 (n = 122). The overall natality rate was 1.9, indicating that females occasionally bred twice per year. The sex ratio was at parity in the pouch and in the trappable population. Gliders first entered the trappable population at 4 months of age, and persisted for a mean of 32 months. The maximum longevity was at least 6 years.

Conclusions. The demographic characteristics of this squirrel glider population within remnant forest surrounded by urban development were similar to those reported elsewhere. Variation in nectar availability appears to have a substantial influence on the dynamics of squirrel glider populations.

Implications. The substantial variation in population size driven by food availability raises concerns regarding the viability of small populations of nectarivorous non-flying mammals inhabiting remnant habitat.


Acknowledgements

Georgia Beyer and Matt Dobson are thanked for substantial assistance with the fieldwork. We thank Craig Taylor for on-going technical support of our field studies. Brisbane City Council generously provided financial support for our research in Brisbane. We thank Rodney van der Ree and two anonymous referees for comments that greatly improved the manuscript.


References

Australian Bureau of Statistics (2009). ‘3218.0 – Regional Population Growth Australia 2007–08.’ Available at http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs [verified January 2010].

Ball, T. , Adams, E. , and Goldingay, R. L. (2009). Diet of the squirrel glider in a fragmented landscape near Mackay, central Queensland. Australian Journal of Zoology 57, 295–304.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | BCC (2000). ‘Brisbane City Plan 2000.’ (Brisbane City Council: Brisbane.)

BCC (2009). Brisbane City Council. Available at http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/ [verified January 2010].

Beyer G. (2003). The value of nest boxes in managing hollow-using arboreal Marsupials. B.Sc.(Honours) Thesis, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW.

Beyer, G. L. , Goldingay, R. L. , and Sharpe, D. J. (2008). The characteristics of squirrel glider (Petaurus norfolcensis) den trees in subtropical Australia. Australian Journal of Zoology 56, 13–21.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Catterall C. P. , Storey R. J. , and Kingston M. B. (1997). Reality versus rhetoric: a case study monitoring regional deforestation. In ‘Conservation Outside Nature Reserves’. (Eds P. Hale and D. Lamb.) pp. 367–377. (Centre for Conservation Biology, University of Queensland: Brisbane.)

Claridge A. W. , and van der Ree R. (2004). Recovering endangered populations in fragmented landscapes: the squirrel glider Petaurus norfolcensis on the south-west slopes of New South Wales. In ‘Conservation of Australia’s Forest Fauna’. 2nd edn. (Ed. D. Lunney.) pp. 678–687. (Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales: Sydney.)

Dobson M. (2002). The ecology of the squirrel glider (Petaurus norfolcensis) in the urban Brisbane landscape. B.Sc.(Honours) Thesis, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW.

Dobson, M. , Goldingay, R. , and Sharpe, D. (2005). Feeding behaviour of the squirrel glider in remnant habitat in Brisbane. Australian Mammalogy 27, 27–35.
Eyre T. J. (2004). Distribution and conservation status of the possums and gliders of southern Queensland. In ‘The Biology of Australian Possums and Gliders’. (Eds R. L. Goldingay and S. M. Jackson.) pp. 1–25. (Surrey Beatty: Sydney.)

Fleming, P. A. , and Nicolson, S. W. (2002). How important is the relationship between Protea humiflora (Proteaceae) and its non-flying mammal pollinators? Oecologia 132, 361–368.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Goldingay R. L. , and Jackson S. M. (2004). A review of the ecology of the Australian Petauridae. In ‘The Biology of Australian Possums and Gliders’. (Eds R. L. Goldingay and S. M. Jackson.) pp. 376–400. (Surrey Beatty: Sydney.)

Goldingay, R. L. , and Kavanagh, R. P. (1990). Socioecology of the yellow-bellied glider (Petaurus australis) at Waratah Creek, NSW. Australian Journal of Zoology 38, 327–341.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Goldingay R. L. , and Sharpe D. J. (2004). How do we conserve the squirrel glider in Brisbane’s urban matrix? In ‘Conservation of Australia’s Forest Fauna’. 2nd edn. (Ed. D. Lunney.) pp. 663–677. (Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales: Sydney.)

Goldingay, R. L. , Carthew, S. M. , and Whelan, R. J. (1991). The importance of non-flying mammals in pollination. Oikos 61, 79–87.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Heinze D. , Broome L. , and Mansergh I. (2004). A review of the ecology and conservation of the mountain pygmy-possum Burramys parvus. In ‘The Biology of the Australian Possums and Gliders’. (Eds R. L. Goldingay and S. M. Jackson.) pp. 254–267. (Surrey Beatty: Sydney.)

Holland, G. , Bennett, A. F. , and van der Ree, R. (2007). Time-budget and feeding behaviour of the squirrel glider (Petaurus norfolcensis) in remnant linear habitat. Wildlife Research 34, 288–295.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Kavanagh R. P. (2004). Distribution and conservation status of possums and gliders in New South Wales. In ‘The Biology of Australian Possums and Gliders’. (Eds R. L. Goldingay and S. M. Jackson.) pp. 130–148. (Surrey Beatty: Sydney.)

Lachish, S. , McCallum, H. , and Jones, M. (2009). Demography, disease and the devil: life-history changes in a disease-affected population of Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii). Journal of Animal Ecology 78, 427–436.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed | Melton J. (2007). Corridor and matrix use by the squirrel glider, Petaurus norfolcensis, in urban south-east Queensland. B.Sc.(Honours) Thesis, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW.

Menkhorst P. W. (1995). Squirrel glider Petaurus norfolcensis. In ‘Mammals of Victoria: Distribution, Ecology and Conservation’. (Ed. P. W. Menkhorst.) pp. 113–114. (Oxford University Press: Melbourne.)

Menkhorst, P. W. , and Collier, M. (1987). Diet of the squirrel glider, Petaurus norfolcensis (Marsupialia: Petauridae), in Victoria. Australian Mammalogy 11, 109–116.
Sharpe D. (1996). Foraging ecology of the squirrel glider. B.Sc.(Honours) Thesis, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW.

Sharpe D. J. (2004). Effect of flowering patterns on a population of squirrel gliders Petaurus norfolcensis in north-east New South Wales. In ‘The Biology of Australian Possums and Gliding Possums’. (Eds R. L. Goldingay and S. M. Jackson.) pp. 339–349. (Surrey Beatty: Sydney.)

Sharpe D. J. (2009). Ecology of the squirrel glider (Petaurus norfolcensis) in subtropical Australia. Ph.D. Thesis, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW.

Sharpe, D. J. , and Goldingay, R. L. (1998). Feeding behaviour of the squirrel glider at Bungawalbin Nature Reserve, north-eastern New South Wales. Wildlife Research 25, 243–254.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Sharpe D. , and Goldingay R. (2006). Cabbage Tree Creek squirrel glider action plan. Unpublished report to Brisbane City Council by the Centre for Coastal Management, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW.

Sharpe, D. J. , and Goldingay, R. L. (2007). Home range of the Australian squirrel glider Petaurus norfolcensis (Diprotodontia). Journal of Mammalogy 88, 1515–1522.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Traill B. J. (1995). Co-existence and competition in a community of forest vertebrates. Ph.D. Thesis, Monash University, Melbourne.

van der Ree, R. (2002). The population ecology of the squirrel glider, Petaurus norfolcensis, within a network of remnant linear habitats. Wildlife Research 29, 329–340.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | van der Ree R. , Ward S. J. , and Handasyde K. A. (2004). Distribution and conservation status of possums and gliders in Victoria. In ‘The Biology of Australian Possums and Gliders’. (Eds R. L. Goldingay and S. M. Jackson.) pp. 91–110. (Surrey Beatty: Sydney.)

van der Ree, R. , Harper, M. J. , and Crane, M. (2006). Longevity in wild populations of the squirrel glider Petaurus norfolcensis. Australian Mammalogy 28, 239–242.
Winter J. W. , Dillewaard H. A. , Williams S. E. , and Bolitho E. E. (2004). Possums and gliders of north Queensland: distribution and conservation status. In ‘The Biology of Australian Possums and Gliders’. (Eds R. L. Goldingay and S. M. Jackson.) pp. 26–50. (Surrey Beatty: Sydney.)

Wooller, R. D. , Richardson, K. C. , Garavanta, C. A. M. , Saffer, V. M. , Anthony, C. , and Wooller, S. J. (1998). The influence of rainfall upon capture rates of a nectar-dependent marsupial. Wildlife Research 25, 165–169.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |