Chytrid Research and Management in Tasmania
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Nature Conservation Report 10/02 Photos (L to R): DPIPWE, Jamie Voyles, Drew Lee, Annie Philips, Jamie Voyles, Iain Stych, Josh Griffiths Main photo: Jamie Voyles CONTACT DETAILS Biodiversity Conservation Branch Chytrid Research and Management Resource Managament and Conservation GPO Box 44 in Tasmania Hobart TAS 7001 Chytrid Research and Management in Tasmania and Management in Research Chytrid Contributors: Annie Philips, David Wilson, Jamie Voyles, Martine Cornish, Katrina Stewart, Charna Stowe, Kathleen Tsimbas, Stewart Blackhall, Michael Driessen. Department of BL10439 Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment Chytrid Research and Management in Tasmania Final report by Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment to NRM North Contract number FF207 Contributors: Annie Philips, David Wilson, Jamie Voyles, Martine Cornish, Katrina Stewart, Charna Stowe, Kathleen Tsimbas, Stewart Blackhall, Michael Driessen. Contents Introduction ..................................................................................................................... iii Chapter 1. Chytrid Testing at Animal Health Laboratories, Launceston ......................... 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 1 Methods and Results ..................................................................................................... 1 Discussion ..................................................................................................................... 7 Appendices ................................................................................................................... 8 Chapter 2. Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis distribution, prevalence and implications for amphibian management in Tasmania........................................................................ 16 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 16 Materials and Methods ............................................................................................... 17 Results ........................................................................................................................ 19 Discussion ................................................................................................................... 23 Appendix .................................................................................................................... 26 Chapter 3. Assessing pathogen virulence and host susceptibility: implications for risk assessment for chytridiomycosis management in Tasmanian frogs ............................... 28 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 28 Materials and methods ................................................................................................ 30 Results ........................................................................................................................ 33 Discussion ................................................................................................................... 34 Chapter 4. Retrospective analysis of museum frogs for chytridiomycosis .................... 39 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 39 Methods ...................................................................................................................... 40 Results ........................................................................................................................ 40 Discussion ................................................................................................................... 42 Chapter 5. Detection probabilities and optimal survey methods for Tasmanian anurans under varying environmental conditions. ....................................................................... 43 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 43 Materials and Methods ............................................................................................... 44 Results ........................................................................................................................ 47 Discussion ................................................................................................................... 52 Chapter 6. Environmental modelling of historic and current distribution for Tasmania's two threatened and three endemic frog species .............................................................. 57 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 57 Methods ...................................................................................................................... 57 Results ........................................................................................................................ 58 Discussion ................................................................................................................... 58 i Chapter 7. Recent range contraction of Litoria raniformis in Tasmania inferred through environmental modelling and repeat surveys ................................................................. 61 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 61 Methods and Results ................................................................................................... 61 Discussion ................................................................................................................... 62 Chapter 8. Skeletochronology of Litoria raniformis phalanges to assess age................ 64 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 64 Materials/ Methods ..................................................................................................... 66 Results ........................................................................................................................ 67 Discussion ................................................................................................................... 69 Chapter 9. The Tasmanian Tree Frog Litoria burrowsae; distribution, habitat use and seasonal activity patterns ................................................................................................ 70 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 70 Materials and Methods ............................................................................................... 71 Results ........................................................................................................................ 72 Discussion ................................................................................................................... 76 Chapter 10. A survey for disease introductions via frogs imported in fresh produce .... 78 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 78 Methods ...................................................................................................................... 78 Results ........................................................................................................................ 78 Discussion ................................................................................................................... 78 References ...................................................................................................................... 80 ii Introduction In September 2008, NRM North contracted the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment to significantly expand and accelerate Tasmania’s response to chytrid by: Establishing the extent of chytrid in Tasmania and identifying chytrid-free areas Identifying the risk status of key Tasmanian species (threatened species, endemics) and where appropriate developing monitoring programs Limiting the spread of chytrid in Tasmania through the development and implementation of a Chytrid Management Plan for Tasmania Establishing capacity for testing field samples for chytrid fungus in Tasmania. This report documents how several of the key objectives listed above have been met and exceeded, specifically: The distribution of chytrid positive and chytrid negative areas are documented Monitoring methods are established for key Tasmanian frog species The establishment of chytrid testing capabilities in Tasmania Susceptibility determined of key Tasmanian frogs species to chytrid A key contractual output, the Tasmanian Chytrid Management Plan, has been completed and contains a risk assessment considering the threat chytrid poses to Tasmanian frogs. Key findings of this research are: The endemic Tasmanian tree frog was found to be highly susceptible to chytrid and requires monitoring and chytrid management Our two threatened frog species are not at as high a risk from chytrid as feared at the beginning of this survey although the populations need to be monitored The distribution of the endemic Tasmanian froglet appears to have declined significantly in Tasmania with few recent records of the species in northern and