Natural resource management advisory series : note 3: Yellow-bellied glider feed trees

Abstract

This advisory note examines the ecology, habitat requirements, and conservation needs of the Yellow-bellied Glider (Petaurus australis), a vulnerable arboreal marsupial listed under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995. The species exhibits a patchy distribution throughout eastern Australia's tall open forests, with population declines of up to 50% in some former habitats. The document details the glider's specific resource requirements, including large hollow-bearing trees for denning, winter-flowering eucalypts for nectar and pollen, and particular eucalypt species for sap-feeding - a distinctive behavioral characteristic involving the creation of V-shaped incisions in tree bark. Home ranges of 30-65 hectares are maintained by family groups, with habitat selection driven by hollow availability and food resources. The note provides comprehensive identification guidelines for sap-feed trees and presents a detailed inventory of 23 preferred feed tree species in North East New South Wales. Conservation recommendations emphasize the retention of feed trees, particularly those showing evidence of past use, and the protection of old-growth forests containing hollow-bearing trees essential for the species' survival.