Landscape management of the mahogany glider (Petaurus gracilis) across its distribution: subpopulations and corridor priorities

Abstract

Key threatening processes to biodiversity include habitat loss and fragmentation, with populations restricted to small fragments of habitat being more prone to extinction. The mahogany glider (Petaurus gracilis) is endemic to sclerophyll woodland forests between Tully and Ingham in north Queensland and is one of Australia’s most endangered arboreal mammals due to these processes. The aim of this study was to identify the degree of habitat fragmentation of the remaining remnant vegetation of the mahogany glider, identify subpopulations within its distribution and identify key wildlife corridors for restoration to facilitate the movement of this species within and between subpopulations. Ten glider subpopulations, spread over 998 habitat fragments, were identified, of which only five subpopulations may currently be considered to be viable. To assist in providing habitat connectivity between and within the subpopulations, 55 corridors were identified for restoration that had an average length of 8.25 km. The average number of gaps greater than 30 m was 3.4 per corridor, with the average length of these gaps being 523 m. This study confirmed a high degree of habitat fragmentation across the distribution of the mahogany glider and highlighted the need to strengthen the remaining subpopulations by restoring habitat connectivity between the remaining habitat fragments.