Stephen M. Jackson

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 thehabitat relationships of these two species. The study area contained atrapping grid (80 traps) within an area of continuous forest and trappingtransects within an adjacent area of fragmented forest (44 traps). Themahogany glider was trapped more often at 43 of the 124 locations (38 in thecontinuous and 5 in the fragmented forest), with the sugar glider dominant at46 locations (18 in the continuous forest and 28 in the fragmented forest).The remaining 27 trap locations where gliders were caught did not favoureither species. Eight trap locations within riparian rainforest had nocaptures of either species. The presence of mahogany gliders was significantlycorrelated with the presence ofCorymbia clarksoniana,Eucalyptus platyphylla, the absence ofCorymbia intermedia andAcacia mangium, and a small mid and upper canopy cover.In contrast, the presence of sugar gliders was most correlated with a largenumber of stems. When the presence of the mahogany glider was compared withthat of the sugar glider with respect to various habitat variables for theentire study area, the mahogany glider was most associated with the presenceofC. clarksoniana,Eucalyptus pellita,Lophostemon suaveolens,Melaleuca dealbata and a reduced lower and upper canopy.In contrast, the sugar glider was most associated withC. intermedia,A. mangium, a largenumber of potential food species, rainforest species and a dense mid and uppercanopy cover.