Ecology, energetics and thermal biology of sugar gliders

Abstract

'Petaurus breviceps' inhabit tropical to cool-temperate regions within Australia and New Guinea. Despite their small body size (115-160 g) populations persist even in areas such as the New England region, where ambient temperature (Ta) frequently falls below 0°C over winter. Small mammals encounter a variety of energetic stresses at low Ta as a result or high thermal conductance requiring high metabolic rates (MR) for normothermic thermoregulation. Additionally insectivorous and nectarivorous species, such as sugar gliders, are confronted with seasonal reductions to food resources over winter. In order to survive and reproduce under these conditions, sugar gliders must employ a variety of behavioural and physiological strategies that include huddling and daily torpor. Although these strategies appear pivotal to their survival,almost all available information on this species is derived from captive animals and little is known on the seasonal adjustments of wild sugar gliders in terms of their thermal biology and behaviour. Moreover, little is known about the extent to which these adjustments are governed by reduced food availability and/or detrimental environmental conditions.