Studying the gut microbiome can provide valuable insights into animal health and inform the conservation management of threatened wildlife. Gut microbiota play important roles in regulating mammalian host physiology, including digestion, energy metabolism and immunity. Dysbiosis can impair such physiological processes and compromise host health, so it is essential that the gut microbiome be considered in conservation planning. The southern greater glider (Petauroides volans) is an endangered arboreal marsupial that faced widespread habitat fragmentation and population declines following the 2019–2020 Australian bushfire season. This study details baseline data on the gut microbiome of this species. The V3–V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was amplified from scats collected from individuals inhabiting burnt and unburnt sites across southeastern Australia and sequenced to determine bacterial community composition. Southern greater glider gut microbiomes were characterised by high relati
Hollow-bearing trees provide essential habitat for a range of threatened Australian wildlife species. Limited data exist for the hollow choice of greater gliders (Petauroides volans). This study aimed to provide the first comprehensive overview of the dimensions and characteristics of the den trees and hollows used by greater gliders, in the context of an endangered population. Through spotlighting and stag-watching, we identified 68 greater glider hollows in 54 den trees. When compared to reference hollows, greater gliders appeared to be preferentially choosing dens based on tree species, tree diameter at breast height (DBH), hollow type, hollow height and hollow depth. The aspect, entrance diameter, and cavity wall thickness of hollows did not appear to be influencing den choice, when compared to reference hollows. Greater gliders preferred to den in blackbutt (Eucalyptus pilularis) trees with a mean DBH of 114.1 cm (±4.3 cm). Hollows were most commonly a 'branch end' type
Abstract
This study aimed to provide accurate and current distribution and density estimates of the greater glider population size at Seven Mile Beach National Park, New South Wales Australia from extensive spotlight surveys. Distribution mapping of greater gliders and ArcGIS modelling allowed effective visual representation of the population’s distribution and provided preliminary evidence of a vegetation preference for the species within the study area. Spotlight surveys revealed the population ranged from 0 to 1.13 (±0.34) greater gliders per hectare; with an average of 0.41 greater gliders per hectare across Seven Mile National Park. An estimated total of 335 greater gliders could reside in the area. Vegetation surveys confirmed there was a higher encounter rate of greater gliders within Eucalyptus pilularis, blackbutt dominated forest. As expected, the number of suitable hollows was also an important factor affecting greater glider distribution. These findings have site-spec