Effects of landscape matrix on population connectivity of an arboreal mammal, Petaurus breviceps.

ABSTRACT: Ongoing habitat loss and fragmentation is considered a threat to biodiversity as it can create small, isolated populations that are at increased risk of extinction. Tree-dependent species are predicted to be highly sensitive to forest and woodland loss and fragmentation, but few studies have tested the influence of different types of landscape matrix on gene flow and population structure of arboreal species. Here, we examine the effects of landscape matrix on population structure of the sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps) in a fragmented landscape in southeastern South Australia. We collected 250 individuals across 12 native Eucalyptus forest remnants surrounded by cleared agricultural land or exotic Pinus radiata plantations and a large continuous eucalypt forest. Fifteen microsatellite loc

SUBMITTER: Malekian M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4588655 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature