Journal article
Gliding performance in the inland sugar glider in low-canopy forest
Australian mammalogy, Vol.46(3)
22/10/2024
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Abstract
Knowledge of the gliding performance of gliding mammals provides important insight into how these species have evolved to use their environment but it can also be used to guide tree retention and habitat restoration. We investigated the glide performance of the inland sugar glider (Petaurus notatus) in central Victoria. We measured 40 glides from untagged individuals during nest box monitoring. On average, gliders launched into a glide from a height of 14.7 m above the ground and landed at 6.2 m above the ground. The average horizontal glide distance was 18.1 m (range 8–41 m). The glide ratio (horizontal glide distance/height dropped) and glide angle averaged 2.2 and 26.4°, respectively. These values represent a better average glide performance than any previously measured for an Australian gliding mammal. These data are contrasted with those of other gliding mammals to explore the hypothesis that smaller species may be more capable gliders than larger related species.
Details
- Title
- Gliding performance in the inland sugar glider in low-canopy forest
- Creators
- Ross L. Goldingay - Southern Cross UniversityDarren G. Quin - Southern Cross UniversityKaren J. Thomas - PO Box 181, Mandurang, 3551, Australia.
- Publication Details
- Australian mammalogy, Vol.46(3)
- Publisher
- CSIRO Publishing
- Grant note
- Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action: 22/021, 23/018, 10010321, 10010722
This project was conducted under approvals 22/021 and 23/018 from the Southern Cross University Animal Ethics Committee, and Permits 10010321 and 10010722 from the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action. We thank Karl Vernes for providing his data for the northern flying squirrel and for comments on a draft of this paper.
- Identifiers
- 991013225775002368
- Copyright
- © 2024 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)).
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering; Science
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article