Habitat relationships of the mahogany glider, Petaurus gracilis, and the sugar glider, Petaurus breviceps

Abstract

Trapping data of the mahogany glider, Petaurus gracilis, and the sugar glider, Petaurus breviceps, in sympatry, in north Queensland, were analysed with vegetation variables to determine the habitat relationships of these two species. The study area contained a trapping grid (80 traps) within an area of continuous forest and trapping transects within an adjacent area of fragmented forest (44 traps). The mahogany glider was trapped more often at 43 of the 124 locations (38 in the continuous and 5 in the fragmented forest), with the sugar glider dominant at 46 locations (18 in the continuous forest and 28 in the fragmented forest). The remaining 27 trap locations where gliders were caught did not favour either species. Eight trap locations within riparian rainforest had no captures of either species. The presence of mahogany gliders was significantly correlated with the presence of Corymbia clarksoniana, Eucalyptus platyphylla, the absence of Corymbia intermedia and Acacia mangium, and a small mid and upper canopy cover. In contrast, the presence of sugar gliders was most correlated with a large number of stems. When the presence of the mahogany glider was compared with that of the sugar glider with respect to various habitat variables for the entire study area, the mahogany glider was most associated with the presence of C. clarksoniana, Eucalyptus pellita, Lophostemon suaveolens, Melaleuca dealbata and a reduced lower and upper canopy. In contrast, the sugar glider was most associated with C. intermedia, A. mangium, a large number of potential food species, rainforest species and a dense mid and upper canopy cover.