BIODIVERSITY MANAGEMENT PLAN for PICKERSGILL's REED FROG (Hyperolius Pickersgilli)
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BIODIVERSITY MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR PICKERSGILL’S REED FROG ( Hyperolius pickersgilli ) Photo: Sam Phillips 9/5/2013 Background Information for Stakeholder Workshop Biodiversity Management Plan for Pickersgill’s Reed Frog: Background Information for Stakeholders Workshop Jointly developed by Dr. Jeanne Tarrant (Endangered Wildlife Trust) and Dr. Adrian Armstrong (Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife) Tarrant1, J. and Armstrong, A.J. 2 1 Threatened Amphibian Programme Manager, Endangered Wildlife Trust, Private Bag X11, Modderfontein, 1645, South Africa. 2Biodiversity Research & Assessment, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, P.O. Box 13053, 3202, Cascades, South Africa. DATE: 26 AUGUST 2013 Pickersgill’s Reed Frog from Mtunzini, Forest Lodge. Page 1 Biodiversity Management Plan for Pickersgill’s Reed Frog: Background Information for Stakeholders Workshop Biodiversity Management Plan for Pickersgill’s Reed Frog: Background Information for Stakeholders Workshop BACKGROUND INFORMATION EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Pickersgill’s Reed Frog ( Hyperolius pickersgilli ) (hereafter PRF) is a small hyperoliid frog known only from specialised wetland habitat in the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa. The species is listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List. This is the highest risk category assigned by the IUCN and species with this assessment are defined as having an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. In addition, it has recently (2013) been provisionally listed in terms of section 56(1) of the National Environmental Management Biodiversity Act (NEMBA) as a Threatened or Protected species (TOPS). Section 43 of NEMBA provides for the drafting of a Biodiversity Management Plan (BMP) for an indigenous species listed in terms of section 56 of the Act or for an indigenous species which is not listed in terms of section 56 but which does warrant special conservation attention. Section 9 of NEMBA provides for the national norms and standards for the management and conservation of South Africa’s biodiversity and its components. To this effect, the department developed the Norms and Standards for the development of BMP for Species (BMP-S), which were gazetted in March 2009 (Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism 2009). The purpose of these norms and standards is to provide a national approach and minimum standards for the development of a BMP-S. PRF is endemic to a narrow and extremely fragmented range within about 16 km of the KwaZulu-Natal coastline, where it is currently known from less than 20 localities. Most sites are not officially protected and are experiencing ongoing decline in habitat quality and some even face the threat of complete elimination as a result of industrial development. Known and possible threats include: 1. Habitat loss as a result of wetland drainage for agricultural, urban and industrial development; 2. Severe habitat fragmentation and small, isolated sub-populations; 3. Alien vegetation and afforestation resulting in drying out of breeding sites; 4. Pollution from pesticides and other contaminants. Without concerted proactive conservation intervention in the near future to it is likely that Pickersgill’s Reed Frog will face extinction. A BMP for the PRF is therefore warranted. Given that the majority of sites occur on privately or commercially-owned land, the participation of all relevant stakeholders in the management of habitat for the long-term protection of PRF is crucial. There are at least 15 different role-player groups that are well placed to influence the long-term future of PRF. The PRF BMP workshop to be held on 5 th and 6 th September 2013 aims to allow these role-players to contribute to the development of this BMP, as well as outline the threats, action plan and monitoring needs to ensure the conservation of Pickersgill’s Reed Frog. Page 2 Biodiversity Management Plan for Pickersgill’s Reed Frog: Background Information for Stakeholders Workshop Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................ 2 1. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................... 4 1.1 Why Pickersgill’s Reed Frog ( Hyperolius pickersgilli ) requires a BMP ................................ 4 1.2 Aims and Objectives of the Biodiversity Management Plan ................................................. 5 1.3 Benefits of the Biodiversity Management Plan ....................................................................... 5 1.4 Anticipated Outcomes .................................................................................................................. 5 2. CONSERVATION STATUS AND LEGISLATIVE CONTEXT .............................................. 6 2.1 Parties Currently Responsible for Management of Pickersgill’s Reed Frog ........................... 6 2.2 Additional Stakeholders .................................................................................................................. 6 2.3 Legislative Context ........................................................................................................................... 6 2.4 Status of Pickersgill’s Reed Frog in terms of the Act and IUCN Red List Data ...................... 7 2.5 Motivation for assigning priority to the development of this BMP-S ...................................... 7 3. SPECIES DETAILS........................................................................................................... 8 3.1 Taxonomy ....................................................................................................................................... 8 3.2 Species Description ....................................................................................................................... 8 3.3 Distribution, Habitat Requirements and Biology ..................................................................... 9 3.4 Threats .......................................................................................................................................... 10 3.5 Population Trends ....................................................................................................................... 10 3.6 Disease ......................................................................................................................................... 10 3.7 Conservation Measures ............................................................................................................. 11 4. MONITORING AND MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES ....................................................... 11 4.1 Implementing a Monitoring Protocol ....................................................................................... 11 4.2 Captive Breeding Programmes ............................................................................................... 12 4.3 Buffer Zone Management ........................................................................................................ 13 5. RESEARCH INVENTORY AND SUMMARY .................................................................. 13 6. ABBREVIATIONS USED ............................................................................................... 13 7. REFERENCES ............................................................................................................... 14 Page 3 Biodiversity Management Plan for Pickersgill’s Reed Frog: Background Information for Stakeholders Workshop 1. INTRODUCTION Pickersgill’s Reed Frog (Hyperolius pickersgilli ) is a little-known frog species that occurs in reed-bed wetlands only along the KwaZulu-Natal coast. Due to its furtive nature the species was described only in 1982 (Raw 1982). It is a small reed frog (females reach 29 mm in body length) and is very habitat specific (du Preez & Carruthers 2009). More than 50% of subpopulations are thought to be non-viable in the long-term under current conditions and approximately 50% of PRF individuals occur in small and isolated patches are (Measey 2011). A number of historical sites no longer exist and the perceived threats to remaining sites are most likely increasing as the pressure for urban and industrial development grows (Bishop 2004; Tarrant & Armstrong 2013). As for other frog species, PRF plays a role in ecological functioning as both predator and prey. Its presence is also an indication of the proper functioning of a certain type of coastal wetland habitat. Wetlands play an extremely important role in flood attenuation, water filtration and providing habitat to a vast array of species. Furthermore, Pickersgill’s Reed Frog has the potential to be a flagship species for KwaZulu-Natal, being the Provinces’ only Critically Endangered amphibian species. Amphibians are the most threatened vertebrates on Earth, with 32.5% of species currently Red Listed and 43% of all species estimated to be experiencing some form of population decline (IUCN 2011). Conservation planning and intervention is crucial for the survival of many species that are affected by a wide range of threats (Kiesecker et al. 2001; Semtlitsch 2003; Stuart et al. 2004; Gascon et al. 2005). 1.1 Why Pickersgill’s Reed Frog ( Hyperolius pickersgilli ) requires a BMP Listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List (IUCN 2012), the PRF has recently been added (2013) to the provisional Threatened or Protected Species (TOPS) list in terms of section 56(1) of the National Environmental Biodiversity Management Act (NEMBA). Recent surveys have revealed a few new localities for the species, but also that