Clearing of native vegetation for urban and rural development constitutes one of the major threats to conservation of forest-dependent fauna in New SouthWales. The Hills Shire is an extensively forested local government area in northwestern Sydney which is experiencing rapid population growth and the associated expansion of residential and infrastructure development in both urban and rural areas. The Yellow-bellied Glider is one of many threatened species occurring in the Shire and information about this species' habitat requirements is needed for conservation planning. This study tested the hypothesis that the occurrence of Swamp Mahogany Eucalyptus robusta is an important factor explaining the distribution of the Yellow-bellied Glider in The Hills Shire. Spotlighting and call broadcast surveys for this and five other threatened species were undertaken on four occasions at each of 33 randomly-located sites stratified by proximity (<500 m and >1500 m) to forest containing Swamp Mahogany. The Yellow-bellied Glider was detected at 10 sites and was significantly more likely to occur at sites where Swamp Mahogany was present. Yellow-bellied Gliders were strongly associated with forests on alluvial soils occurring below 20 m elevation where Swamp Mahogany was present. Swamp Mahogany appears to be indicative of locations where a confluence of factors, including the forest types on adjacent slopes and ridges, results in favourable habitat for the gliders. The food resources provided by the winter-flowering Swamp Mahogany and other river-flat eucalypts, including Forest Red Gum E. tereticornis, is also thought to be important. The population of Yellow-bellied Gliders in The Hills Shire, based on all known records, was estimated to be 50 to 75 individuals occurring in at least 15 family groups most of which were distributed within seven core areas. The conservation of the Yellow-bellied Glider in the Shire requires the protection of these core areas and the existing forested corridors linking them. The Yellow-bellied Glider population in The Hills Shire is geographically isolated and warrants consideration for listing as an endangered population under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995.
Bureau of Meteorology. 2010. Climate data online. http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/data/index.shtml
Burnham, K.P. and Anderson, D.R. 2002. Model selection and multimodel inference: A practical information-theoretic approach. (Second Edition). Springer, New York.
Model selection and multimodel inference: A practical information-theoretic approach
Breiman, L., Friedman, J.H., Olshen, R. and Stone, C. J. 1984. Classification and Regression Trees. Wadsworth International Group, Belmont, California.
Classification and Regression Trees
Carr, H., Wilson, P., Pullen, N. and McCluskey, L. 1997. Settlement of Baulkham Hills and Castle Hill Townships 1791 – 1997. The Hills District Historical Society, Castle Hill.
Settlement of Baulkham Hills and Castle Hill Townships 1791 – 1997
Carthew, S.M., Goldingay, R.L. and Funnell, D.L. 1999. Feeding behaviour of the yellow-bellied glider (Petaurus australis) at the western edge of its range. Wildlife Research 26: 199-208.
Feeding behaviour of the yellow-bellied glider (Petaurus australis) at the western edge of its range
, Wildlife Research
, vol. 26
(pg. 199
-208
) Charlton, C. 1981. A History of Kenthurst and Annangrove. Kangaroo Press, Annangrove.
A History of Kenthurst and Annangrove
Daly, G. 2005. Mapping glider songlines: development of a landscape management policy for the Yellow-bellied Glider Petaurus australis (Shaw 1791) in the Eurobodalla Shire on the south coast of New South Wales. Australian Zoologist 33 (2): 180-187.
Mapping glider songlines: development of a landscape management policy for the Yellow-bellied Glider Petaurus australis (Shaw 1791) in the Eurobodalla Shire on the south coast of New South Wales
, Australian Zoologist
, vol. 33
(pg. 180
-187
) DEC. 2004. Atlas of NSW Wildlife, NSW Department of Environment and Conservation, Hurstville, Sydney.
DECCW. 2009. Atlas of NSW Wildlife, NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water, Hurstville, Sydney.
Ford, H.A., Barrett, G.W., Saunders, D.A., and Recher, H.F. 2001. Why have birds in the woodlands of southern Australia declined? Biological Conservation 97: 71–88.
Why have birds in the woodlands of southern Australia declined?
, Biological Conservation
, vol. 97
(pg. 71
-88
) Goldingay, R.L. 1990. The foraging behaviour of a nectarfeeding marsupial, Petaurus australis. Oecologia 85: 191-199.
The foraging behaviour of a nectarfeeding marsupial, Petaurus australis
, Oecologia
, vol. 85
(pg. 191
-199
) Goldingay, R.L. 1992. Socioecology of the Yellow-bellied Glider (Petaurus australis) in a coastal forest. Australian Journal of Zoology 40: 267-278.
Socioecology of the Yellow-bellied Glider (Petaurus australis) in a coastal forest
, Australian Journal of Zoology
, vol. 40
(pg. 267
-278
) Goldingay, R.L. 1994. Loud calls of the Yellow-bellied Glider, Petaurus australis: Territorial behaviour by an arboreal marsupial? Australian Journal of Zoology 42:279-293.
Loud calls of the Yellow-bellied Glider, Petaurus australis: Territorial behaviour by an arboreal marsupial?
, Australian Journal of Zoology
, vol. 42
(pg. 279
-293
) Goldingay, R.L. 2008. Yellow-bellied Glider Petaurus australis. Pp. 228-230 in The Mammals of Australia, edited by S. Van Dyck and R, Strahan. Reed New Holland, Sydney.
Yellow-bellied Glider Petaurus australis
, The Mammals of Australia
(pg. 228
-230
) Goldingay, R.L. and Kavanagh, R.P. 1990. Socioecology of the Yellow-bellied Glider, Petaurus australis, at Waratah Creek, NSW. Australian Journal of Zoology 38: 327-341.
Socioecology of the Yellow-bellied Glider, Petaurus australis, at Waratah Creek, NSW
, Australian Journal of Zoology
, vol. 38
(pg. 327
-341
) Goldingay, R.L. and Kavanagh, R.P. 1991. The Yellowbellied Glider: a review of its ecology, and management considerations. Pp. 365-375 in Conservation of Australia's Forest Fauna, edited by D. Lunney. Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales, Mosman.
The Yellowbellied Glider: a review of its ecology, and management considerations
, Conservation of Australia's Forest Fauna
(pg. 365
-375
) Goldingay, R.L. and Kavanagh, R.P. 1993. Home-range estimates and habitat of the Yellow-Bellied Glider (Petaurus australis) at Waratah Creek, New South Wales. Wildlife Research 20: 387-404.
Home-range estimates and habitat of the Yellow-Bellied Glider (Petaurus australis) at Waratah Creek, New South Wales
, Wildlife Research
, vol. 20
(pg. 387
-404
) Goldingay, R. and Possingham, H. 1995. Area requirements for viable populations of the Australian gliding marsupial Petaurus australis. Biological Conservation 73:161-167.
Area requirements for viable populations of the Australian gliding marsupial
, Petaurus australis. Biological Conservation
, vol. 73
(pg. 161
-167
) Goldingay, R.L. and Quin, D. 2004. Components of habitat of the yellow-bellied glider in north Queensland. Pp. 369-375 in The Biology of Australian Possums and Gliders, edited by R.L. Goldingay and S.M. Jackson. Surrey Beatty and Sons, Sydney.
Components of habitat of the yellow-bellied glider in north Queensland
, The Biology of Australian Possums and Gliders
(pg. 369
-375
) Goldney, D.C. and Bowie, I.J.S. 1990. Some management implications for the conservation of vegetation remnants and associated fauna in the central western region of New South Wales. Proceedings of the Ecological Society of Australia 16: 427–440.
Some management implications for the conservation of vegetation remnants and associated fauna in the central western region of New South Wales
, Proceedings of the Ecological Society of Australia
, vol. 16
(pg. 427
-440
) HCC. 2010. Land information, GIS data shape files. Hawkesbury City Council.
HSC. 2010. Land information, GIS data shape files. Hornsby Shire Council.
HDHS. 1987. The beginnings of the Hills District. The Hills District Historical Society, Castle Hill.
.id Consulting. 2010. The Hills Shire Council Community Profile and Population Forecasts. http://profile.id.com.au/Default.aspx?id=261
Kavanagh, R.P. 1987. Forest phenology and its effect on foraging behaviour and selection of habitat by the Yellowbellied Glider, Petaurus australis Shaw. Australian Wildlife Research 14: 371-84.
Forest phenology and its effect on foraging behaviour and selection of habitat by the Yellowbellied Glider, Petaurus australis Shaw
, Australian Wildlife Research
, vol. 14
(pg. 371
-84
) Kavanagh, R.P. 2004. Distribution and conservation status of possums and gliders in New South Wales. Pp. 130-148 in The Biology of Australian Possums and Gliders, edited by R.L. Goldingay and S.M. Jackson. Surrey Beatty and Sons, Sydney.
Distribution and conservation status of possums and gliders in New South Wales
, The Biology of Australian Possums and Gliders
(pg. 130
-148
) Kavanagh, R.P. and Bamkin, K.L. 1995. Distribution of nocturnal forest birds and mammals in relation to the logging mosaic in south-eastern New South Wales, Australia. Biological Conservation 71: 41-53.
Distribution of nocturnal forest birds and mammals in relation to the logging mosaic in south-eastern New South Wales, Australia
, Biological Conservation
, vol. 71
(pg. 41
-53
) Kavanagh, R.P., Debus, S., Tweedie, T. and Webster, R. 1995. Distribution of nocturnal forest birds and mammals in northeastern New South Wales: relationships with environmental variables and management history. Wildlife Research 22: 359-377.
Distribution of nocturnal forest birds and mammals in northeastern New South Wales: relationships with environmental variables and management history
, Wildlife Research
, vol. 22
(pg. 359
-377
) Kavanagh, R.P. and Rohan-Jones, W.G. 1982. Calling behaviour of the Yellow-bellied Glider, Petaurus australis Shaw (Marsupialia: Petauridae). Australian Mammalogy 5: 95-111.
Calling behaviour of the Yellow-bellied Glider, Petaurus australis Shaw (Marsupialia: Petauridae)
, Australian Mammalogy
, vol. 5
(pg. 95
-111
) Kingston, M.B., Hall, P.W. and Turnbull, J.W. 2000. 1999 remnant bushland and landcover mapping. Report to Baulkham Hills Shire Council. Ecograph, Limpinwood, NSW.
1999 remnant bushland and landcover mapping
, Report to Baulkham Hills Shire Council
Law, B., Mackowski, C., Schoer, L. and Tweedie, T. 2000. The flowering phenology of myrtaceous trees and their relation to climatic, environmental and disturbance variables in northern New South Wales. Austral Ecology 25: 160-178.
The flowering phenology of myrtaceous trees and their relation to climatic, environmental and disturbance variables in northern New South Wales
, Austral Ecology
, vol. 25
(pg. 160
-178
) Lunney, D. 1987. Effects of logging, fire and drought on possums and gliders in the coastal forests near Bega, N.S.W. Australian Wildlife Research 14: 263-274.
Effects of logging, fire and drought on possums and gliders in the coastal forests near Bega
, N.S.W. Australian Wildlife Research
, vol. 14
(pg. 263
-274
) Mackowski, C.M. 1988. Characteristics of eucalypts incised for sap by the Yellow-bellied Glider, Petaurus australis Shaw (Marsupialia: Petauridae), in north-eastern New South Wales. Australian Mammalogy 11: 5-13.
Characteristics of eucalypts incised for sap by the Yellow-bellied Glider, Petaurus australis Shaw (Marsupialia: Petauridae), in north-eastern New South Wales
, Australian Mammalogy
, vol. 11
(pg. 5
-13
) Quin, D., Goldingay, R., Churchill, S. and Engel, D. 1996. Feeding behaviour and food availability of the Yellow-bellied Glider in North Queensland. Wildlife Research 23: 637-646.
Feeding behaviour and food availability of the Yellow-bellied Glider in North Queensland
, Wildlife Research
, vol. 23
(pg. 637
-646
) R, version 2.8.0. 2008. The R Foundation for Statistical Computing.
Radford, J.Q., Bennett, A.F. and Cheers, G.J. 2005. Landscapelevel thresholds of habitat cover for woodland-dependent birds. Biological Conservation 124: 317–337.
Landscapelevel thresholds of habitat cover for woodland-dependent birds
, Biological Conservation
, vol. 124
(pg. 317
-337
) Scotts, D. and Drielsma, M. 2003. Developing landscape frameworks for regional conservation planning: and approach integrating faunal spatial distributions an ecological principles. Pacific Conservation Biology 8: 235-254.
Developing landscape frameworks for regional conservation planning: and approach integrating faunal spatial distributions an ecological principles
, Pacific Conservation Biology
, vol. 8
(pg. 235
-254
) Sharpe, D.J. 2004. Effect of flowering patterns on a population of squirrel gliders Petaurus norfolcensis in north-east New South Wales. Pp. 339-349 in The Biology of Australian Possums and Gliders, edited by R.L. Goldingay and S.M. Jackson. Surrey Beatty and Sons, Sydney.
Effect of flowering patterns on a population of squirrel gliders Petaurus norfolcensis in north-east New South Wales
, The Biology of Australian Possums and Gliders
(pg. 339
-349
) Sivertsen, D.P. 1995. Habitat loss: its nature and effects (including case studies from New South Wales). Pp. 28-42 in Conserving biodiversity: threats and solutions, edited by R.A. Bradstock, T.D. Auld, D.A. Keith, R.T. Kingsford, D. Lunney and D.P. Sivertsen. Surrey-Beatty and Sons, Sydney.
Habitat loss: its nature and effects (including case studies from New South Wales)
, Conserving biodiversity: threats and solutions
(pg. 28
-42
) Stewart, D. 1998. Nocturnal bird and mammal calls of northeast New South Wales. Nature Sound, Mullumbimby.
Nocturnal bird and mammal calls of northeast New South Wales
THSC. 2010. Land information, GIS data shape files. The Hills Shire Council.
Wintle, B.A., Elith, J. and Potts, J.M. 2005a. Fauna habitat modeling and mapping: A review and case study in the Lower Hunter Central Coast region of NSW. Austral Ecology 30: 719-738.
Fauna habitat modeling and mapping: A review and case study in the Lower Hunter Central Coast region of NSW
, Austral Ecology
, vol. 30
(pg. 719
-738
) Wintle, B.A., Kavanagh, R.P., McCarthy, M.A. and Burgman, M.A. 2005b. Estimating and dealing with detectability in occupancy surveys for forest owls and arboreal marsupials. Journal of Wildlife Management 69: 905-917.
Estimating and dealing with detectability in occupancy surveys for forest owls and arboreal marsupials
, Journal of Wildlife Management
, vol. 69
(pg. 905
-917
) Zar, J.H. 1984. Biostatistical Analysis. Prentice-Hall, New Jersey.
Biostatistical Analysis
This content is only available as a PDF.
