THREATENED SPECIES SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE

Established under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

The Minister’s delegate approved this Conservation Advice on 13/07/2017 .

Conservation Advice

Litoria piperata

peppered tree frog

Conservation Status

Litoria piperata (peppered tree frog) is listed as Vulnerable under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cwlth) (EPBC Act) effective from 16 July 2000. The species is eligible for listing under the EPBC Act as on 16 July 2000 it was listed as Vulnerable under Schedule 1 of the Endangered Species Protection Act 1992 (Cwlth).

The peppered tree frog is listed as Critically Endangered in New South Wales under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 .

The main factors that made the species eligible for listing in the Vulnerable category are that the peppered tree frog had a limited distribution, in the Northern Tablelands region of New South Wales, that was severely fragmented and continuing decline was inferred due to habitat disturbance, caused by land clearance, grazing and timber harvesting, and competition and predation on tadpoles by the introduced fish eastern gambusia ( Gambusia holbrooki ) and trout (family Salmonidae).

Further research is required to confirm the validity of the peppered tree frog as a species, given that the species has not been seen since 1973 when it was discovered (Hoskin et al., 2013). Unfortunately, all known collected specimens of the peppered tree frog have been preserved in formalin, meaning that genetic data cannot be obtained from them (Hoskin et al., 2013).

This species’ status under the EBPC Act is currently being reviewed as part of a species expert assessment plan for frogs.

Description

The peppered tree frog, family Hylidae, is a small leaf green tree frog growing to a maximum size of 27 mm (NSW NPWS 2001). The species is smooth-skinned and dull olive or grey-green coloured on its dorsal surface (Cogger 2000). The species is distinctively marked with dark- brown peppering and no obvious lateral stripe, with a white to cream colouration on its limbs and flanks (Cogger 2000; NSW NPWS 2001). On its ventral surface, the skin is granulated and coloured white or cream (Cogger 2000). It has scattered low tubercles on the head and well developed finger and toe discs that are markedly wider than its digits (Cogger 2000). The species’ second finger (on front limbs) is longer than its first (Cogger 2000). The call of the peppered tree frog is described by Anstis (2013) as a series for short “chuck-chuck-chuck”’ notes.

Distribution

The peppered tree frog is endemic to northern New South Wales on eastern slopes of the Dividing Range with a geographic range extending from southeast of Armidale, northwards to the Gibraltar Range, just northeast of Glen Innes (NSW NPWS 2001). Its habitat comprises the headwaters of five streams on the Northern Tablelands at an altitude range between 800– Litoria piperata (peppered tree frog) Conservation Advice Page 1 of 5

1120 m above sea level (NSW NPWS 2001). The species has been collected from rocky habitats in the headwaters of streams that flow eastwards from the New England Tableland (Mahony 1996, cited in NSW NPWS 2001). However, despite searches of areas where it was once collected, and other streams with similar habitat within the vicinity of these collection sites, the species has not been seen since 1973 when it was discovered (NSWSC 2008).

Relevant Biology/Ecology

Very little is known about the biology and ecology of the peppered tree frog (NSW NPWS 2001). The survey in which the type individual was collected in 1973 noted that adults are active in bushes or on rocks at the edge of creeks (Webb 1973, cited in NSW NPWS 2001). Common streamside vegetation at sites where records were collected include Lomandra (mat rushes), Leptospermum (tea trees) and Casuarina (sheoaks) (Mahony 1996, cited in NSW NPWS 2001).

It is presumed that breeding activity occurs during the warmer months, following reasonable rainfall, although there are no reports of male mating calls (NSW NPWS 2001).

Threats

Clearance of streamside vegetation, stock grazing and timber harvesting are suspected threats to the peppered tree frog (Hines pers. obs., cited in Gillespie & Hines 1999). Competition and predation by the alien fish species, eastern gambusia and trout are also suspected threats (Gillespie & Hines 1999). It is also likely that the disease chytridiomycosis, caused by the amphibian chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis , threatens the species (NSW NPWS 2001).

Table 1 – Threats impacting the peppered tree frog in approximate order of severity of risk, based on available evidence.

Threat factor Threat type Evidence base and status

Disease

Chytridiomycosis suspected Chytridiomycosis is an infectious disease that affects caused by chytrid past, amphibians worldwide, causing mass die-offs and some fungus current and species extinctions (DoEE 2016). future

Habitat loss and fragmentation

Clearance of suspected Most of the sites where the species was collected in 1973 streamside past, have undergone substantial alteration and habitat vegetation, stock current and disturbance through land clearing, grazing and timber grazing and timber future harvesting (Hines pers. obs., cited in Gillespie & harvesting Hines 1999). Streamside vegetation is considered to be important to these frogs as the original observations in 1973 recorded adults active in bushes on the banks of creeks and 22 animals were observed within cracks of a dead tree limb next to a stream (Webb 1973).

Litoria piperata (peppered tree frog) Conservation Advice Page 2 of 5

Invasive species

Competition and suspected Alien predatory fish species, including eastern gambusia predation by alien past, (Gambusia holbrooki ) and trout (family Salmonidae), occur fish species current and in streams where the species was once collected, and may future have displaced the species by predation upon larvae (Gillespie & Hines 1999).

Conservation Actions

Primary conservation objective

Undertake surveys to detect the species in locations that records have been collected from and in other areas that the species is likely to occur. The conservation and management priorities below should be undertaken if surveys are successful in locating the species.

Conservation and management priorities

Assisted Reproduction including Head-starting o Investigate and where appropriate apply assisted reproductive strategies such as captive breeding and/or head-starting (rearing juvenile stages in captivity until they can be released when translocation success will be higher). Follow appropriate protocols and guidelines for translocation, including acclimation, pre and post release training, health screening, genetic management and long term monitoring (Griffiths & Pavajeau 2008), noting the importance of avoiding the introduction of diseases into any existing amphibian populations. Habitat loss disturbance and modifications

o Revegetate and protect riparian vegetation in the catchments in which the species was collected.

o Protect the stream habitats by installing fencing so livestock cannot access the riparian zone.

Invasive species

o Do not stock trout (family Salmonidae) into areas where the species has been recorded.

o Eradicate eastern gambusia (Gambusia holbrooki ) from areas where the species has been recorded using techniques deemed appropriate, such as Rotenone.

Disease

o Minimise the spread of the chytrid fungus by implementing suitable hygiene protocols (Murray et al., 2011) to protect priority populations as described in the Threat abatement plan for infection of amphibians with chytrid fungus resulting in chytridiomycosis (DoEE 2016).

Litoria piperata (peppered tree frog) Conservation Advice Page 3 of 5

Survey and monitoring priorities

• Monitor the progress of recovery if rediscovered, including the effectiveness of management actions and the need to adapt them if necessary.

Information and research priorities

• Undertake genetic and morphometric studies to resolve systematic uncertainty between the peppered tree frog and closely related species, such as L. pearsoniana (cascade tree frog), given that a 2013 study found that “the validity of L. piperata requires further investigation” (Hoskin et al., 2013).

References cited in the advice

Anstis, M. (2013) Tadpoles and Frogs of Australia. New Holland, Sydney. 164 -165. Cogger, H.G. (2000). Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia - 6th edition . Reed New Holland Books, Sydney, New South Wales.

Gillespie, G.R., & Hines, H.B. (1999). Status of temperate riverine frogs in south-eastern Australia. In: Campbell, A. (ed.) (1999). Declines and Disappearances of Australian Frogs . pp. 109 – 130. Environment Australia, Canberra.

Griffiths RA & Pavajeau L (2008) Captive Breeding, Reintroduction, and Conservation of Amphibians. Conservation Biology 22:4, 852 - 896

Hoskin, C.J., Hines, H.B., Meyer, E., Clarke, J., & Cunningham, M. (2013). A new treefrog (Hylidae: Litoria ) from Kroombit Tops, east Australia, and an assessment of conservation status. Zootaxa 3646(4) , 426 – 446.

Mahony, M.J. (1996). Final Report - Research Plan for the Yellow-spotted ( Litoria flavipunctata (castanea) ) and Peppered ( Litoria piperata ) Tree-frogs . Report to Australian Nature Conservation Agency, Endangered Species Program and the NSW NPWS.

Murray, K.A., Skerratt, L.F., Marantelli, G., Berger, L., Hunter, D., Mahony, M., & Hines, H. (2011). Hygiene protocols for the control of diseases in Australian frogs . Available on the Internet at: http://www.environment.gov.au/bi-odiversity/invasive-species/publications/hygiene- protocols-control-diseases-australian-frogs

Webb, G. (1973). Field notes accompanying registered Litoria piperata specimens in the Australian Museum . Australian Museum, Sydney.

Other sources cited in the advice

Department of the Environment and Energy (DoEE) (2016). Threat abatement plan for infection of amphibians with chytrid fungus resulting in chytridiomycosis . Commonwealth of Australia 2016. Available on the Internet at: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/tap/infection- amphibians-chytrid-fungus-resulting-chytridiomycosis-2016

Litoria piperata (peppered tree frog) Conservation Advice Page 4 of 5

National Parks & Wildlife Service (NSW NPWS) (2001). Yellow-spotted Bell Frog (Litoria castanea ) and Peppered Tree Frog ( Litoria piperata ) recovery plan . New South Wales National Parks & Wildlife Service, Hurstville, News South Wales.

New South Wales Scientific Committee (NSWSC) (2008). Peppered Tree Frog Litoria piperata – Review of current information in NSW – July 2008. Unpublished report arising from the Review of the Schedules of the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 . NSW Scientific Committee, Hurstville, New South Wales.

Litoria piperata (peppered tree frog) Conservation Advice Page 5 of 5