Conservation genetics of Mahogany Gliders and their complex evolutionary relationship with Squirrel Gliders
Chang, Yiyin, Bertola, Lorenzo V., Zenger, Kyall R., and Hoskin, Conrad J. (2025) Conservation genetics of Mahogany Gliders and their complex evolutionary relationship with Squirrel Gliders. Conservation Genetics, 26 (4). pp. 731-750.
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Abstract
Squirrel Gliders (Petaurus norfolcensis) are widely distributed throughout the woodlands of eastern Australia, while the similar but larger Mahogany Glider (Petaurus gracilis) inhabits the coastal woodlands of the Wet Tropics in northeastern Queensland. The Mahogany Glider is an Endangered species due to habitat loss and fragmentation. This study used single nucleotide polymorphism markers (SNPs) from field and museum-derived samples to investigate genetic relationships within the Squirrel/Mahogany Glider complex and conduct a conservation genetics assessment for the Mahogany Glider. Analyses of genetic structure, phylogenomics, and outlier loci identified four genetic groups: Mahogany Glider and three distinct groups in Squirrel Gliders (North Queensland, Cape Cleveland, and mid-eastern/south-eastern Queensland). We found genetic admixture between these groups, but whether the admixture is historic or current remains unclear. Squirrel Gliders from North Queensland were genetically more similar to Mahogany Gliders in some analyses than to the other two Squirrel Glider groups. Morphological analysis confirmed that Mahogany Gliders are distinguishable from other gliders primarily by their larger body size but did not provide clear differences for the other three genetic groups. We hypothesize that the four genetic groups represent four subspecies of Squirrel Glider, of which the Mahogany Glider is one. This hypothesis can be tested with further field sampling of genetics and morphology, particularly in identified areas of potential contact. When assessing Mahogany Gliders alone, we found a clear north–south split in genetic structuring, with the southern cluster being more structured than the northern cluster. Genetic diversity within Mahogany Gliders was generally comparable to that of Squirrel Gliders, but some sampling localities indicated loss of genetic diversity and low effective population size. Regardless of whether Mahogany Gliders are classified as a species or subspecies, their Endangered status underscores the need for targeted conservation efforts. The genetic findings offer practical pathways for on-ground management to enhance population recovery and connectivity.
| Item ID: | 87837 |
|---|---|
| Item Type: | Article (Research - C1) |
| ISSN: | 1572-9737 |
| Keywords: | Genetic diversity, Genetic structure, Genomics, Habitat fragmentation, Petaurus gliders, SNPs, Taxonomic uncertainty, Threatened species |
| Copyright Information: | © The Author(s) 2025. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. |
| Date Deposited: | 10 Sep 2025 05:05 |
| FoR Codes: | 31 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 3104 Evolutionary biology > 310401 Animal systematics and taxonomy @ 50% 41 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 4104 Environmental management > 410401 Conservation and biodiversity @ 50% |
| SEO Codes: | 18 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT > 1806 Terrestrial systems and management > 180606 Terrestrial biodiversity @ 50% 28 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 2801 Expanding knowledge > 280102 Expanding knowledge in the biological sciences @ 50% |
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