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.
