Does urban isolation produce instability in a gliding mammal?

Abstract

Abstract Small populations are at a higher risk of extinction and are likely to need management intervention. Successful management however often relies on sufficient long-term demographic data to determine whether apparent declines are natural fluctuations or rather the product of threatening processes. In this study we monitored a small urban population of squirrel gliders (Petaurus norfolcensis) in Queensland, Australia over a 16-year period. A reference population situated in a larger forest patch was also monitored to identify whether its demographic trends were similar. We found evidence of a decline within the small population but not the reference population over the monitoring period. We suggest the influence of multiple factors may have led to the decline, but ultimately the genetic condition of the small population may be responsible. Understanding demographic trends is important for providing context for management interventions of small populations, however identifying the causes of declines is needed for successful management. This species provides a useful case study for small urban populations, and particularly for arboreal mammals.