Distribution and influences of occupancy of Yellow-bellied Gliders in a modified landscape

Aims; To understand the distribution and the influential factors of Yellow-bellied Glider occupancy within modified landscapes. This includes identifying site scale factors that effect occupancy and landscape level features that are important for persistence of the species. Methods; Using Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM), 69 sites across the highly modified region between the Dandenong Ranges National Park and Bunyip State Park where assessed for presence and absence of Yellow-bellied Gliders. Inclement weather was recorded as a factor that could influence detection probability, while a number of site and landscape characteristics such as forest cover, road density distance to nearest park or reserve and distance to nearest occupied site were derived from spatial data on a geographic information system. A species single-season occupancy model was run to find the factors influencing detection probability and site occupancy. Separate analysis were run for site scale and landscape scale factors. Key results; The most influential factors on site occupancy of the Yellow-bellied Glider were found to be distance to nearest park or reserve and distance to nearest occupied site. The site scale analysis revealed watercourse density and dry forest cover to have a positive effect and elevation a negative effect on site occupancy. Where at the landscape scale elevation and dry forest were also found to have an effect however additionally forest cover was found to have a positive influence on site occupancy. Conclusions; The parks and reserves that provide large contiguous patches of forest and connectivity are crucial elements for Yellow-bellied Gliders to be able persist within this modified landscape. Implications; Continued management and protection of the established parks and reserves within this landscape is crucial to the persistence of the species. Expanding on these reserves, forest patches and connecting vegetation will increase the likelihood of Yellow-bellied Gliders to persist in the future. Further research into the specifics of the habitat preferences and impacts of urbanisation on Yellow-bellied Gliders are recommended to assist in the future management of the species in modified landscapes.