HOME RANGES, TIME BUDGETS AND FOOD-TREE USE IN A HIGH-DENSITY TROPICAL POPULATION OF GREATER GLIDERS, PETAUROIDES VOLANS MINOR (PSEUDOCHEIRIDAE, MARSUPIALIA)

The socio-ecology of Petauroides volans has been studied for subtropic al and temperate populations, but not for the northern tropical subspe cies, Petauroides volans minor. Data on the effects of a high populati on density on home ranges, time budgets and food-tree use were obtaine d by means of radio-telemetry. Three techniques were used to estimate home-range area (kernel, MCP and harmonic mean) and the kernel method was preferred. Estimates of home-range area (defined by the 95% kernel ) gave mean values of 2.5 and 1.3 ha for males and females, respective ly. Broad overlap of home ranges of males was observed, which has not been reported previously for populations of P. volans. Behaviour patte rns for males and females were similar to those in previous studies, a lthough the mating system may differ, possibly because of the high pop ulation density. Dietary patterns were similar to those previously rep orted for this species, the most important food items being young leav es and flower buds of particular eucalypt species, notably Eucalyptus acmenoides.