Free Standard AU & NZ Shipping For All Book Orders Over $80!
Register      Login
Australian Journal of Zoology Australian Journal of Zoology Society
Evolutionary, molecular and comparative zoology
Shopping Cart: ( empty )
You are here: Home > Journals > ZO > ZO08053
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 56(1)

The characteristics of squirrel glider (Petaurus norfolcensis) den trees in subtropical Australia

Georgia L. Beyer A , Ross L. Goldingay A C and David J. Sharpe A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A School of Environmental Science and Management, Southern Cross University,

B PO Box 157, Lismore, NSW 2480, Australia.

C Corresponding author. Email: ross.goldingay@scu.edu.au

Australian Journal of Zoology 56(1) 13-21 https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO08053
Submitted: 10 August 2007  Accepted: 8 April 2008   Published: 29 July 2008

Abstract

Effective management of tree-hollow-dependent wildlife requires a sound knowledge of the characteristics of the trees used for shelter or breeding. We used radio-tracking to identify the den trees of squirrel gliders (Petaurus norfolcensis) in south-east Queensland (Qld) and north-east New South Wales (NSW). Squirrel gliders used dead trees as well as 13 species of living tree for dens across the two locations. Dead trees accounted for a large percentage of dens (54% of 48 dens in Qld, and 50% of 18 dens in NSW) despite comprising only 3–10% of the forest (trees >20 cm diameter at breast height (dbh)) at each location. This preference is largely due to dead trees being more likely to contain hollows, accounting for 26–44% of available hollow-bearing trees. Mean den tree size (dbh) was 48.9 ± 2.4 cm in Qld and 62.8 ± 5.6 cm in NSW. Den entrance height averaged 6.8 ± 1.2 m in Qld and 11.9 ± 1.3 m in NSW. Fissures in the trunk and holes in branches were the most common of six hollow types used. At one location branch end hollows were ignored relative to their availability. Den entrances varied in size (2.5–12 cm wide) but most were ≤5 cm in diameter. Entrance size of hollows appears to be the hollow attribute of most importance to squirrel gliders. Monitoring of these den trees over several years revealed the collapse of three dead den trees at each location, which is equivalent to an annual loss of 3% of den trees. Further research is needed to determine whether this will lead to a future shortage of den trees.


Acknowledgements

We thank Brisbane City Council, particularly Stacey McLean, for supporting our field studies in Brisbane. Matt Dobson and Antony von Chrismar are thanked for assistance with field work. This study was conducted under approvals from the Southern Cross University animal ethics committee. The comments of two referees helped improve the manuscript.


References

Ambrose G. J. (1982). An ecological and behavioural study of vertebrates using hollows in eucalypt branches. Ph.D. Thesis, La Trobe University, Melbourne.

Bennett, A. F. , Lumsden, L. F. , and Nicholls, A. O. (1994). Tree hollows as a resource for wildlife in remnant woodlands: spatial and temporal patterns across the northern plains of Victoria, Australia. Pacific Conservation Biology 1, 222–235.
Calder T. G., Golding B. G., and Manderson A. D. (1983). Management for arboreal species in the Wombat State Forest. Environmental Report No. 16. Graduate School of Environmental Science, Monash University, Melbourne.

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.)

Comport, S. S. , Ward, S. J. , and Foley, W. J. (1996). Home ranges, time budget and food-tree use in a high-density tropical population of greater gliders, Petauroides volans minor (Pseudocheiridae: Marsupialia). Wildlife Research 23, 401–419.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 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.)

Eyre, T. J. (2005). Hollow-bearing trees in large glider habitat in south-east Queensland, Australia: abundance, special distribution and management. Pacific Conservation Biology 11, 23–37.
Gibbons P., and Lindenmayer D. (2002). ‘Tree Hollows and Wildlife Conservation in Australia.’ (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne.)

Gibbons, P. , Lindenmayer, D. B. , Barry, S. C. , and Tanton, M. T. (2000a). Hollow formation in eucalypts from temperate forests in southeastern Australia. Pacific Conservation Biology 6, 218–228.
Goldingay R. L., and Quin D. G. (2004). Components of the habitat of the yellow-bellied glider in north Queensland. In ‘The Biology of Australian Possums and Gliders’. (Eds R. L. Goldingay and S. M. Jackson.) pp. 369–375. (Surrey Beatty: Sydney.)

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. , Sharpe, D. J. , Beyer, G. L. , and Dobson, M. (2006). Using ecological studies to understand the conservation needs of the squirrel glider in Brisbane’s urban-forest remnants. Australian Mammalogy 28, 173–186.
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.)

Kehl J., and Borsboom A. (1984). Home range, den tree use and activity patterns in the greater glider, Petauroides volans. In ‘Possums and Gliders’. (Eds A. P. Smith and I. D. Hume.) pp. 229–236. (Australian Mammal Society: Sydney.)

Lindenmayer, D. B. (2000). Factors at multiple spatial scales affecting distribution patterns and their implications for animal conservation – Leadbeater’s possum as a case study. Biodiversity and Conservation 9, 15–35.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Mackowski C. M. (1984). The ontogeny of hollows in blackbutt, Eucalyptus pilularis, and its relevance to the management of forests for possums, gliders and timber. In ‘Possums and Gliders’. (Eds A. P. Smith and I. D. Hume.) pp. 553–567. (Australian Mammal Society: Sydney.)

Menkhorst P. W. (1984). The application of nest boxes in research and management of possums and gliders. In ‘Possums and Gliders’. (Eds A. P. Smith and I. D. Hume.) pp. 517–525. (Australian Mammal Society: Sydney.)

Mitrus, C. (2003). A comparison of the breeding ecology of collared flycatchers nesting in boxes and natural cavities. Journal of Field Ornithology 74, 293–299.
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 Gliders’. (Eds R. L. Goldingay and S. M. Jackson.) pp. 339–349. (Surrey Beatty: Sydney.)

Sharpe, D. , and Goldingay, R. L. (1998). Feeding behaviour of the squirrel glider at Bungawalbin Nature Reserve, north-eastern NSW. Wildlife Research 25, 243–254.
| 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. , Bennett, A. F. , and Soderquist, T. R. (2006). Nest-tree selection by the threatened brush-tailed phascogale (Phascogale tapoatafa) (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae) in a highly fragmented agricultural landscape. Wildlife Research 33, 113–119.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 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.)

Wormington, K. R. , Lamb, D. , McCallum, H. I. , and Moloney, D. J. (2002). Habitat requirements for the conservation of arboreal marsupials in dry sclerophyll forests of southeast Queensland, Australia. Forest Science 48, 217–227.


Wormington, K. R. , Lamb, D. , McCallum, H. I. , and Moloney, D. J. (2003). The characteristics of six species of living hollow-bearing trees and their importance for arboreal marsupials in the dry sclerophyll forests of southeast Queensland, Australia. Forest Ecology and Management 182, 75–92.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Zinner, D. , Hilgartner, R. D. , Kappeler, P. M. , Pietsch, T. , and Ganzhorn, J. U. (2003). Social organization of Lepilemur ruficaudatus. International Journal of Primatology 24, 869–888.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |