Photopollution impacts on the nocturnal behaviour of the Sugar Glider (Petaurus breviceps)

2007 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shannon M. Barber-Meyer
Keyword(s):  
Industrial Development ◽  
Migratory Birds ◽  
Sea Turtle ◽  
Light Pollution ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
High Luminosity ◽  
Existing Problems ◽  
Sugar Glider ◽  
Dark Regime ◽  
Petaurus Breviceps

Night light pollution is an important environmental problem impacting on many animals including a variety of insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. While some impacts of night light pollution are well-known such as misorientation of sea turtle hatchlings and deaths of migratory birds, other less obvious impacts on reproduction, communication, competition, and predation have recently been reported. As some natural areas in New Guinea and Australia face agricultural and industrial development, conflicts between wildlife and photopollution will add to existing problems of habitat fragmentation and degradation. I report on the photopollution impacts on the nocturnal behavior of the sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps). Captive sugar gliders were monitored using a "super nightshot" camcorder for baseline nocturnal behaviour following a 12 hour dayligh/12 hour dark regime. Treatment consisted of 12 hour dayligh/12 hour simulated ambient low and high luminosity street light photopollution (average 7.0 and 12.0 lux). Over 575 sugar glider-hours were analyzed. The results show marked behavioural impacts under high luminosity treatment, even 7.0 lux reduced foraging time. This is the first report of photopollution impacts on sugar glider foraging and activity levels. Further research, particularly with wild populations, is needed to elucidate the extent of photopollution impacts on sugar gliders and their endangered and vulnerable relatives.

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

2000 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen M. Jackson
Keyword(s):  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Acacia Mangium ◽  
Adjacent Area ◽  
Entire Study ◽  
Fragmented Forest ◽  
Eucalyptus Pellita ◽  
Continuous Forest ◽  
Sugar Glider ◽  
Food Species ◽  
Petaurus Breviceps

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.

Use of Tree Hollows by Two Sympatric Gliding Possums, The Squirrel Glider, Petaurus norfolcensis and The Sugar Glider, P. breviceps.

1998 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 79
Author(s):  
B.J. Traill ◽  
A. Lill
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Nest ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
Forestry Practices ◽  
Tree Hollows ◽  
Sugar Glider ◽  
Squirrel Glider ◽  
Petaurus Breviceps ◽  
Artificial Nest Boxes

Populations of the Squirrel Glider, Petaurus norfolcensis and the Sugar Glider, P. breviceps, are often sympatric and the two species are potential competitors for tree hollows. Their use of hollows and artificial nest-boxes was examined in a Box-Ironbark forest where natural hollows are scarce due to past forestry practices. We found gliders used hollows in the boles and branches of trees and in coppicing stumps. There was considerable interspecific overlap in the use of hollows and nest-boxes, both by gliders and other birds and mammals. Both gliders preferred hollows and nest-boxes with narrow entrances (<50 mm diameter). Petaurus breviceps preferred nest-boxes and possibly natural tree hollows with entrances too narrow for the larger P. norfolcensis. When abundant nest-boxes of this type were introduced at the study site, P. breviceps numbers increased and then decreased when the nest-boxes were removed. The results suggest that the larger P. norfolcensis monopolise the best available hollows. Petaurus breviceps numbers may have been limited by a lack of suitable hollows.

Listeria monocytogenesInfection in a Sugar Glider (Petaurus breviceps) - New Mexico, 2011

2014 ◽  
Vol 62 (4) ◽  
pp. 254-257 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Nichols ◽  
N. Takacs ◽  
J. Ragsdale ◽  
D. Levenson ◽  
C. Marquez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Mexico ◽  
Sugar Glider ◽  
Petaurus Breviceps

Population dynamics and life history of the mahogany glider, Petaurus gracilis, and the sugar glider, Petaurus breviceps, in north Queensland

2000 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen M. Jackson
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Litter Size ◽  
Average Density ◽  
Head Width ◽  
Fragmented Habitat ◽  
Average Litter Size ◽  
Sugar Glider ◽  
History Of ◽  
Petaurus Breviceps ◽  
Natality Rate

Mahogany gliders, Petaurus gracilis, and sugar gliders, Petaurus breviceps, were trapped in an area of open woodland in north Queensland between 1994 and 1996 to examine their population ecology and life history. This study area contained two smaller areas, one consisting of continuous habitat and the other an area of fragmented habitat adjacent to the continuous habitat. Within the continuous area, the mahogany glider had an average density of 0.24 ha–1 whereas the sugar glider had an average density of 0.27 ha–1. In contrast, the density of mahogany gliders in the fragmented habitat averaged only 0.16 ha–1 whereas the density of sugar gliders was higher, at 0.46 ha–1. Both the mahogany glider and the sugar glider showed sexual dimorphism in their weight, head length and head width. The average body weight of both species fluctuated throughout the year with no consistent pattern. The mahogany glider showed a distinct breeding season, with births being recorded between April and October, whereas the sugar glider showed no pattern, with births being recorded during all months except February and April. During the study, all adult females of both species were observed to have bred, with an average litter size of 1.55 and a natality rate of 2.09 for the mahogany glider, and an average litter size of 1.83 and a natality rate of 2.14 for the sugar glider. The sugar glider was able to raise two litters of young within a single year whereas a second litter was raised by the mahogany glider only if the first litter was lost.

Geographic variation in the diet of the powerful owl (Ninox strenua) at a local scale

2013 ◽  
Vol 61 (5) ◽  
pp. 372 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rohan J. Bilney
Keyword(s):  
Coastal Forests ◽  
Forest Sites ◽  
Sugar Glider ◽  
Pseudocheirus Peregrinus ◽  
The Common ◽  
Dietary Variation ◽  
Conservation Concern ◽  
Petaurus Breviceps ◽  
Ringtail Possum

This study reports the diet of the powerful owl (Ninox strenua) in East Gippsland, from a dataset of 2009 vertebrate prey items collected from 53 sites. Mammals dominated the diet at all sites, but birds were also consumed regularly. The greater glider (Petauroides volans) was the dominant dietary item across the region in terms of both frequency of consumption and biomass contribution. There was geographical dietary variation between coastal and foothill forest sites, with the sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps) and birds consumed more frequently in foothill forests, whereas the common ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus) was frequently consumed only in coastal forests. Typically, a higher percentage of powerful owl diet comprised birds closer to cleared land. The dietary reliance upon hollow-dependent mammals in foothill forests (averaging >70%) is of conservation concern, especially when non-hollow-dependent prey are rare. Forest management activities, especially logging, that reduce densities of hollow-bearing trees in the landscape are therefore likely to decrease the long-term carrying capacity of the landscape for the powerful owl.

The effect of on-shore light pollution on sea-turtle hatchlings commencing their off-shore swim

2017 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zoe Truscott ◽  
David T. Booth ◽  
Colin J. Limpus
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Green Turtle ◽  
Sea Turtle ◽  
Swimming Behaviour ◽  
Light Pollution ◽  
The World ◽  
Near Shore ◽  
Turtle Population ◽  
Nesting Beaches ◽  
Nesting Season

Context Off-shore recruitment impairment of sea-turtle hatchlings because of light pollution is a growing concern to conservation of sea-turtle population throughout the world. Studies have focussed on sea-turtle hatchling sea-finding behaviour, and ignored the possible effect that on-shore lighting might have on hatchlings after they have entered the sea. Aims We experimentally evaluated the effect that on-shore light pollution has on the swimming behaviour of green turtle hatchlings once they have entered the sea and begun swimming off-shore. We also estimated the decrease in off-shore recruitment of hatchlings as a result of light pollution disruption of the off-shore swim. Methods Hatchling misorientation rates were quantified by releasing marked hatchlings to the sea from different land-based locations adjacent to light-polluted beach areas under a variety of environmental conditions. The beach in light-polluted regions was then searched for marked hatchlings returning to shore from the sea. Key results Misorientation rates were highest in trials conducted during moonless nights (66.7% of trials had some hatchlings return to shore) and lowest during trials conducted during moonlit nights (no trials had hatchlings return to shore). Green turtle hatchling off-shore recruitment for the entire 2014–15 nesting season at Heron Island was estimated to decrease 1.0 –2.4% as a result of on-shore lights disrupting hatchling off-shore swimming behaviour. Conclusions On moonless nights, sea-turtle hatchlings after having successfully completed their journey from nest to sea and entered the sea can be lured back to shore again by shore-based light pollution and, this will decrease their off-shore recruitment success. Implications To ensure maximum off-shore recruitment of sea-turtle hatchlings, on-shore light pollution adjacent to nesting beaches needs to be minimised so as to minimise misorientation and disorientation of hatchlings while on the beach and in near-shore waters.

Feeding Behavior and Nutrition of the Sugar Glider (Petaurus breviceps)

2009 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 209-215 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ellen S. Dierenfeld
Keyword(s):  
Feeding Behavior ◽  
Sugar Glider ◽  
Petaurus Breviceps
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document