Situational Analysis: Frogs in the Bega Valley

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Situational Analysis Frogs in the Bega Valley

A report prepared for Southern Rivers Catchment Management Authority

JANUARY 2011

Author: Steve Sass

Report No. ER 213

Acknowledgements

As the author of this report and Principal Ecologist of EnviroKey, I wish to take this opportunity to thank the following people and organisations for their discussions and assistance:

• Don McPhee, Justin Gouvernat, Helen Davies and the Local Management Team of the Southern Rivers Catchment Management Authority. • David Hunter, George Malolakis and Max Beukers of the Department of Environment, Climate Change & Water. • All contributors of spatial data including Southern Rivers Catchment Management Authority, DECCW Atlas of NSW Wildlife, DECCW Spatial Data Unit and the Australian Museum collection database. • Peter Kambouris and Dr Trent Penman of Forests NSW. • Dr Glenn Shea for information on the Southern Bell Frog

Citation

EnviroKey (2011) Situational Analysis: Frogs in the Bega Valley. A report prepared by S. Sass of EnviroKey for Southern Rivers Catchment Management Authority. Report No. ER 213. Final Version. 27th January 2011.

Commercial In Confidence

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Disclaimer

The scope of work for this report was defined by time and budgetary constraints and the availability of other reports and data.

EnviroKey accept no liability or responsibility for or in respect of any use of or reliance upon this report and its supporting material in whole or in part by any third party. Information in this report is not intended to be a substitute for site specific assessment or legal advice in relation to any matter.

Front Cover Photos

Left: Green and Golden Bell Frog (Litoria aurea). Photo copyright and courtesy of Riona Twomey. Right: Male Lesueur’s Frog (Litoria lesueurii) in breeding colouration. Photo copyright Steve Sass.

PO Box 7231 Tathra NSW 2550 t 02 6494 5422 www.envirokey.com.au [email protected] ABN 35255478680

Executive Summary

The Southern Rivers Catchment Management Authority (SRCMA) along with the Local Management Team and community members are developing a long term strategy to engage and support people to manage frog habitat to secure all the existing frog species in the Bega Valley. One of the strategic objectives is to understand the technical scope of frog management in the area and the first action of this objective is to understand the status and trend of all frog species, populations and their habitat.

EnviroKey were engaged by the Southern Rivers Catchment Management Authority to complete a Situational Analysis of Frogs in the Bega Valley that will underpin the long term strategy being developed and provide direction to future projects including management, restoration and rehabilitation strategies and priorities.

Extensive data compilation resulted in the identification of 26 frog species that have been recorded in the Bega Valley. Six threatened frog species are included that are listed under both NSW and Commonwealth threatened species legislation. Two frog species are considered to have been translocated to the region, resulting in the number of local frog species being revised to 24.

Summaries of previous frog surveys, studies, scientific manuscripts and environmental reports that are known, are included. Data is presented on species records, numbers of individuals reported, potential associations with vegetation communities and historical trends. Potential frog ‘hot spots’ and knowledge gaps are proposed. Ten threatening processes listed under threatened species legislation have the potential to significantly impact on local frog communities.

The final chapter is devoted to “What’s next”? Nine statements or points of need have been formulated relating to information gathered during the Situational Analysis. Future projects that could be supported that are designed to address knowledge gaps and are likely to improve the knowledge and management of frogs and their habitats in the Bega Valley.

Steve Sass

Principal Ecologist / Herpetologist

B.App.Sci (Env.Sci) (Hons)

Adjunct Associate, Ecology & Biodiversity Group, Institute of Land, Water & Society, Charles Sturt University Member, Australian Society of Herpetologists

PO Box 7231 Tathra NSW 2550 t 02 6494 5422 www.envirokey.com.au [email protected] ABN 35255478680

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Table of Contents

1 INTRODUCTION ...... 1

2 METHODOLOGY ...... 2 2.1 STUDY AREA ...... 2 2.2 DATA COMPILATION ...... 4 2.2.1 Database Searches ...... 4 2.2.2 Scientific manuscripts and previous surveys ...... 4 2.2.3 Correspondence ...... 5 2.3 GIS AND DATA ANALYSIS ...... 5 2.4 NOMENCLATURE ...... 5 2.5 QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE OF PERSONNEL ...... 5

3 DATA COMPILATION ...... 6 3.1 DECCW ATLAS OF NSW WILDLIFE ...... 6 3.2 AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM COLLECTION ...... 7 3.3 FORESTS NSW VIA DECCW ATLAS OF NSW WILDLIFE ...... 8 3.4 OTHER DATA ...... 9 3.4.1 Lunney & Barker (1986) ...... 9 3.4.2 Wellington & Wells (1994) ...... 9 3.4.3 Lemckert et al. (1997) ...... 9 3.4.4 Daly (1998) ...... 10 3.4.5 Lemckert et al. (1998) ...... 10 3.4.6 Daly & Senior (2001) ...... 10 3.4.7 Hunter (2001) ...... 11 3.4.8 Daly et al. (2002) ...... 11 3.4.9 Daly & Senior (2003) ...... 11 3.4.10 Penman (2005) ...... 11 3.4.11 Sydney Morning Herald (2005) ...... 12 3.4.12 Bega Environment Network (2006) ...... 12 3.4.13 NGH Environmental (2006) ...... 13 3.4.14 Daly (2007) ...... 13 3.4.15 Miles (2007) ...... 13 3.4.16 Daly et al. (2008) ...... 13

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3.4.17 Forests NSW (2008) ...... 13 3.4.18 Lesryk (2008) ...... 14 3.4.19 NGH Environmental (2008) ...... 14 3.4.20 NGH Environmental (2010) ...... 14 3.4.21 Yurangalo Inc. (2010) ...... 14 3.4.22 EnviroKey (2011) ...... 14

4 DATA ANALYSIS ...... 15 4.1 SPECIES DIVERSITY ...... 15 4.2 SPECIES ABUNDANCE...... 16 4.3 THREATENED SPECIES ...... 18 4.4 LIKELY TRANSLOCATIONS ...... 19 4.5 DISTRIBUTIONAL TRENDS ...... 19 4.6 HISTORICAL TRENDS ...... 19 4.7 POTENTIAL VEGETATION ASSOCIATIONS ...... 20 4.8 FROG ‘HOT SPOTS’ ...... 21 4.9 KNOWLEDGE GAPS ...... 21

5 WHAT NEXT FOR FROGS IN THE BEGA VALLEY? ...... 23

6 REFERENCES ...... 25

7 APPENDICES ...... I APPENDIX 1 – ALL FROG RECORDS IN THE BEGA VALLEY ...... II APPENDIX 2 – THREATENED FROG SPECIES IN THE BEGA VALLEY ...... III APPENDIX 3 – SINGLE SPECIES MAPS DETAILING RECORDED LOCATIONS IN THE BEGA VALLEY ...... IV APPENDIX 4 – HISTORIAL DATA FOR FROGS IN THE BEGA VALLEY ...... V APPENDIX 5 – POTENTIAL VEGETATION ASSOCIATIONS FOR FROGS IN THE BEGA VALLEY ...... XIX APPENDIX 6 – POTENTIAL HOTS SPOTS AND KNOWLEDGE GAPS IN THE BEGA VALLEY ...... XX APPENDIX 7 – QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE OF AUTHOR ...... XXI

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Figures

Figure 1: Location of Bega Valley local government area on the NSW far south coast (Source: Wikimedia 2011)...... 2 Figure 2: Overview of the Bega Valley LGA (Source: Bega Valley Shire Council website, 2011)...... 3 Figure 3: No. of records and species abundance for Common Froglet (Crinia signifera) from all DECCW Atlas of NSW Wildlife Database records including Forests NSW between the years 1961 and 2010 in the Bega Valley...... vi Figure 4: No. of records and species abundance for Eastern Smooth Frog (Geocrinia victoriana) from all DECCW Atlas of NSW Wildlife Database records including Forests NSW between the years 1961 and 2010 in the Bega Valley...... vi Figure 5: No. of records and species abundance for Giant Burrowing Frog (Helioporus australiacus) from all DECCW Atlas of NSW Wildlife Database records including Forests NSW between the years 1961 and 2010 in the Bega Valley...... vii Figure 6: No. of records and species abundance for Eastern Banjo Frog (Limnodynastes dumerilii) from all DECCW Atlas of NSW Wildlife Database records including Forests NSW between the years 1961 and 2010 in the Bega Valley...... vii Figure 7: No. of records and species abundance for Striped Marsh Frog (Limnodynastes peronii) from all DECCW Atlas of NSW Wildlife Database records including Forests NSW between the years 1961 and 2010 in the Bega Valley...... viii Figure 8: No. of records and species abundance for Spotted Grass Frog (Limnodynastes tasmaniensis) from all DECCW Atlas of NSW Wildlife Database records including Forests NSW between the years 1961 and 2010 in the Bega Valley...... viii Figure 9: No. of records and species abundance for Green and Golden Bell Frog (Litoria aurea) from all DECCW Atlas of NSW Wildlife Database records including Forests NSW between the years 1961 and 2010 in the Bega Valley...... ix Figure 10: No. of records and species abundance for Green Tree Frog (Litoria caerulea) from all DECCW Atlas of NSW Wildlife Database records including Forests NSW between the years 1961 and 2010 in the Bega Valley...... ix Figure 11: No. of records and species abundance for Blue Mountains Tree Frog (Litoria citropa) from all DECCW Atlas of NSW Wildlife Database records including Forests NSW between the years 1961 and 2010 in the Bega Valley...... x Figure 12: No. of records and species abundance for Keferstein’s Tree Frog (Litoria dentata) from all DECCW Atlas of NSW Wildlife Database records including Forests NSW between the years 1961 and 2010 in the Bega Valley...... x Figure 13: No. of records and species abundance for Ewing’s Tree Frog (Litoria ewingii) from all DECCW Atlas of NSW Wildlife Database records including Forests NSW between the years 1961 and 2010 in the Bega Valley...... xi Figure 13: No. of records and species abundance for Eastern Dwarf Tree Frog (Litoria fallax) from all DECCW Atlas of NSW Wildlife Database records including Forests NSW between the years 1961 and 2010 in the Bega Valley...... xi

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Figure 15: No. of records and species abundance for Jervis Bay Tree Frog (Litoria jervisiensis) from all DECCW Atlas of NSW Wildlife Database records including Forests NSW between the years 1961 and 2010 in the Bega Valley...... xii Figure 16: No. of records and species abundance for Lesueur’s Frog (Litoria lesueurii) from all DECCW Atlas of NSW Wildlife Database records including Forests NSW between the years 1961 and 2010 in the Bega Valley...... xii Figure 17: No. of records and species abundance for Heath Frog (Litoria littlejohni) from all DECCW Atlas of NSW Wildlife Database records including Forests NSW between the years 1961 and 2010 in the Bega Valley...... xiii Figure 18: No. of records and species abundance for Narrow Fringed Frog (Litoria nudidigitus) from all DECCW Atlas of NSW Wildlife Database records including Forests NSW between the years 1961 and 2010 in the Bega Valley...... xiii Figure 19: No. of records and species abundance for Peron’s Tree Frog (Litoria peronii) from all DECCW Atlas of NSW Wildlife Database records including Forests NSW between the years 1961 and 2010 in the Bega Valley...... xiv Figure 20: No. of records and species abundance for Verreaux’s Tree Frog (Litoria verreauxii verreauxii) from all DECCW Atlas of NSW Wildlife Database records including Forests NSW between the years 1961 and 2010 in the Bega Valley...... xiv Figure 21: No. of records and species abundance for Stuttering Frog (Mixophyes balbus) from all DECCW Atlas of NSW Wildlife Database records including Forests NSW between the years 1961 and 2010 in the Bega Valley...... xv Figure 22: No. of records and species abundance for Southern Barred Frog (Mixophyes iteratus) from all DECCW Atlas of NSW Wildlife Database records including Forests NSW between the years 1961 and 2010 in the Bega Valley...... xv Figure 23: No. of records and species abundance for Haswell’s Froglet (Paracrinia haswelli) from all DECCW Atlas of NSW Wildlife Database records including Forests NSW between the years 1961 and 2010 in the Bega Valley...... xvi Figure 24: No. of records and species abundance for Bibron’s Toadlet (Pseudophryne bibronii) from all DECCW Atlas of NSW Wildlife Database records including Forests NSW between the years 1961 and 2010 in the Bega Valley...... xvi Figure 25: No. of records and species abundance for Dendy’s Toadlet (Pseudophryne dendyi) from all DECCW Atlas of NSW Wildlife Database records including Forests NSW between the years 1961 and 2010 in the Bega Valley...... xvii Figure 26: No. of records and species abundance for Smooth Toadlet (Uperoleia laevigata) from all DECCW Atlas of NSW Wildlife Database records including Forests NSW between the years 1961 and 2010 in the Bega Valley...... xvii Figure 26: No. of records and species abundance for Tyler’s Toadlet (Uperoleia tyleri) from all DECCW Atlas of NSW Wildlife Database records including Forests NSW between the years 1961 and 2010 in the Bega Valley...... xviii

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Tables

Table 1: Summary of species, records and individuals of frogs within the DECCW Atlas of NSW Wildlife database (Forests NSW records excluded)...... 6 Table 2: Summary of frog specimens within the Australian Museum collected from the Bega Valley...... 7 Table 3: Summary of species, records and individuals of frogs within the DECCW Atlas of NSW Wildlife database with Forests NSW recorded as the data source...... 8 Table 4: Frog species recorded from the Bega Valley obtained from pooling all data (bold text denotes listed as a threatened species under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 or the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999)...... 15 Table 5: Numbers of individual frogs reported and approximate percentage of all records in the Bega Valley from the DECCW Atlas of NSW Wildlife database and Forests NSW via the DECCW Atlas of NSW Wildlife database. (bold text denotes listed as a threatened species under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 or the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999)...... 17 Table 6: Threatened frog species previously recorded in the Bega Valley and their legal status under NSW and Commonwealth threatened species legislation. (TSC Act = NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995, EPBC Act = Environment and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, V= Vulnerable, E = Endangered)...... 18

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1 INTRODUCTION The Southern Rivers Catchment Management Authority (SRCMA) along with the Local Management Team and community members are developing a long term strategy to engage and support people to manage frog habitat to secure all the existing frog species in the Bega Valley. The aspirational goal is to have “A landscape with a full range of well managed, healthy, resilient frog populations and habitat”. One of the strategic objectives is to understand the technical scope of frog management in the area and the first action of this objective is to understand the status and trend of all frog species, populations and their habitat. The SRCMA objective for this project is to undertake a Situational Analysis of existing information on frogs in the Bega Valley.

EnviroKey were engaged by SRCMA to complete this study that will underpin the long term Frog Strategy being developed and provide direction to future projects including management, restoration and rehabilitation strategies and priorities to achieve the aspirational goal.

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2 METHODOLOGY

2.1 STUDY AREA

The study area is generally defined by the boundaries of the Bega Valley local government area (LGA) located on the NSW far south coast (Figure 1). One exception applies to this definition. Bobundara Swamp is a significant coastal wetland located within the Eurobodalla LGA. The wetland it located north of Wallaga Lake (Bega Valley LGA) and is a part of the Wallaga Lake catchment. For the purpose of this report, Bobundara Swamp is included within the study area. The study area is hereafter referred to as the ‘Bega Valley’.

The Bega Valley LGA covers an area of approximately 6,052 square kilometers and includes almost 106 kilometres of coastline and to the west, reaches the higher peaks of the Great Dividing Range. The LGA comprises the well known coastal towns of Bermagui, Tathra, Merimbula and Eden with the administration of the LGA largely within the inland town of Bega (Figure 2).

Figure 1: Location of Bega Valley local government area on the NSW far south coast (Source: Wikimedia 2011).

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Figure 2: Overview of the Bega Valley LGA (Source: Bega Valley Shire Council website, 2011).

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2.2 DATA COMPILATION

2.2.1 Database Searches

Database searches were conducted using the Bega Valley as the search area including Bobundara Swamp. A 5km radius was applied to a centre point of Bobundara Swamp for the purpose of data compilation.

Data was sourced from the Atlas of NSW Wildlife Database through an existing data licence agreement (number: CON09007) administered by the NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change & Water (DECCW). The Atlas of NSW Wildlife contains more than 4 million recorded sightings with records coming from various sources including:

• Historical reports • DECCW staff • Survey data from major project assessment • Forests NSW • Environmental consultants (as part of the Scientific Licence procedure) • The general public.

Data was also sourced under license agreement from the Herpetology Department of the Australian Museum. The Australian Museum holds millions of records of specimens and objects dating back to 1828.

Searches of the DECCW spatial data catalogue and download site were undertaken. Of relevance, the Southeast NSW Native Vegetation Classification and Mapping dataset (SCIVI) and the DECCW Estate was downloaded.

SRCMA provided a wetland mapping spatial dataset under data licence agreement.

Database searches were completed in December 2010.

2.2.2 Scientific manuscripts and previous surveys

Searches for publicly accessible information was completing using the world wide web and Google Scholar in search of scientific manuscripts, technical reports, fauna surveys and environmental assessments and other information regarding frogs in the Bega Valley. Key words used for searches include herpetofauna, assessment, environmental, frog, bega valley, forest, south coast, far south coast, sapphire coast, Merimbula, Bega, Eden, Pambula and Bermagui.

The websites of the NSW Department of Planning (Major Project Register) and the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority were also searched (internet) for environmental reports that included fauna studies in the Bega Valley LGA.

These searches were completed in January 2011.

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2.2.3 Correspondence

Correspondence was sent (24th November 2010) to DECCW Southern Directorate (Biodiversity Conservation), Forests NSW (Eden and Beecroft), Bega Valley Shire Council, Eurobodalla Shire Council, Eurobodalla Natural History Association, National Parks Association (Bega Branch), Bournda Environmental Education Centre, DECCW (Merimbula office), NSW Frog and Tadpole Study Group and frog researchers (Dr Will Osborne, Dr David Hunter, Dr Arthur White) to source any additional data, scientific reports and manuscripts or any other information relevant to the Situational Analysis. Return information was requested to be received by the end of December 2010.

2.3 GIS AND DATA ANALYSIS

GIS mapping and GIS data analysis was completed using ArcMap Version 10. Graphs were composed using Microsoft Excel 2007.

2.4 NOMENCLATURE

Nomenclature within this report follows that within the most recent field guide to the frogs of Australia (Tyler and Knight 2009).

2.5 QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE OF PERSONNEL

This Situational Analysis was authored by Mr Steve Sass. GIS mapping and spatial queries were completed by Mr Mark Harris. Further details of these personnel are provided in Appendix 7.

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3 DATA COMPILATION

3.1 DECCW ATLAS OF NSW WILDLIFE

Data received from the DECCW Atlas of NSW Wildlife Database also included data from Forests NSW. Forests NSW data was extracted from this dataset and is detailed in section 3.3.

After this extraction, the search revealed a total of 997 records of 25 frog species. Within these records, Litoria phyllochroa is listed. However, Litoria phyllochroa is now recognised as Litoria nudidigitus on the south coast (Donnellan et al. 1999) so these records were pooled into Litoria nudidigitus for this dataset and for all subsequent data within this report. Therefore, the total number is revised to 24 species. The number of individuals from all records is 7,593; many of the individual counts being an estimate, not actual numbers of frogs. These are summarised in Table 1.

The earliest records commence in December 1963 with the most current available being August 2009.

Table 1: Summary of species, records and individuals of frogs within the DECCW Atlas of NSW Wildlife database (Forests NSW records excluded).

Species No. of Records No. of Individuals Crinia signifera 235 3398 Geocrinia victoriana 8 15 Heleioporus australiacus 16 18 Limnodynastes dumerilii 20 39 Limnodynastes peronii 123 523 Limnodynastes tasmaniensis 2 4 Litoria aurea 23 28 Litoria caerulea 1 1 Litoria citropa 36 49 Litoria dentata 13 24 Litoria ewingii 41 186 Litoria fallax 1 2 Litoria jervisiensis 9 26 Litoria lesueurii 63 187 Litoria littlejohni 5 5 Litoria nudidigitus 38 149

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Species No. of Records No. of Individuals Litoria peronii 150 936 Litoria verreauxii verreauxii 145 1508 Mixophyes balbus 1 1 Paracrinia haswelli 7 14 Pseudophryne bibronii 32 86 Pseudophryne dendyi 14 341 Uperoleia laevigata 2 2 Uperoleia tyleri 12 50

3.2 AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM COLLECTION

Data received from the Australian Museum Collection database revealed a total of 16 frog species comprising of 129 museum specimens collected from within the Bega Valley. These are summarised within Table 2.

Table 2: Summary of frog specimens within the Australian Museum collected from the Bega Valley.

Species No. of Specimens Crinia signifera 16 Limnodynastes dumerilii 5 Limnodynastes peronii 9 Limnodynastes tasmaniensis 3 Litoria aurea 8 Litoria citropa 7 Litoria dentata 1 Litoria ewingii 1 Litoria lesueurii 36 Litoria nudidigitus 9 Litoria peronii 5 Litoria raniformis 1 Litoria verreauxii verreauxii 7 Paracrinia haswelli 1 Pseudophryne bibronii 14 Pseudophryne dendyi 6

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3.3 FORESTS NSW VIA DECCW ATLAS OF NSW WILDLIFE

Data received from the DECCW Atlas of NSW Wildlife database revealed data received from Forests NSW. Forests NSW records in that database total 731 records of 21 species. The number of individuals from these records is 2,129. It should also be noted that many of the individual counts were estimates, not actual numbers of frogs. These are summarised in Table 3.

The earliest records commence in February 1992 with the most current record being August 2009.

Table 3: Summary of species, records and individuals of frogs within the DECCW Atlas of NSW Wildlife database with Forests NSW recorded as the data source.

Species No. of Records No. of Individuals Crinia signifera 344 1087 Geocrinia victoriana 19 185 Heleioporus australiacus 33 35 Limnodynastes dumerilii 7 8 Limnodynastes peronii 39 80 Limnodynastes tasmaniensis 7 7 Litoria aurea 3 3 Litoria caerulea 2 2 Litoria citropa 30 41 Litoria dentata 4 4 Litoria ewingii 5 59 Litoria fallax 3 5 Litoria jervisiensis 4 5 Litoria lesueurii 67 170 Litoria nudidigitus 55 102 Litoria peronii 44 78 Litoria verreauxii verreauxii 16 27 Mixophyes balbus 13 13 Mixophyes iteratus 1 1 Paracrinia haswelli 7 79 Pseudophryne bibronii 28 138

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Correspondence received from Forests NSW Eden in mid-January 2011 suggests that there may be additional frog data that has not been submitted to the DECCW Atlas of NSW Wildlife. However, this data is only likely to present additional information with regard to survey locations within State Forests and species abundance. Given these factors and that the existing dataset provides records with dates up until August 2009, the existing dataset is considered sufficient for the purpose of the Situational Analysis.

3.4 OTHER DATA

Additional data was located by desktop searches (as outlined in section 2.2.2 and 2.2.3). These included scientific manuscripts, environmental reports and frog survey results with specific reference to the Bega Valley.

3.4.1 Lunney & Barker (1986)

This study was undertaken by NPWS staff, Daniel Lunney and John Barker between 1980 and 1984 (Lunney and Barker 1986). The study area was the coastal forests roughly bound by the Murrah River in the north, Brogo River in the west, Bega River in the south and the Pacific Ocean in the east.

Twelve species of frog were identified during the study including three now listed threatened species. Green and Golden Bell Frog (Litoria aurea) was uncommon, found only in farm dams on the lower reaches of the Murrah River. Only one Giant Burrowing Frog (Helioporus australiacus) was found during the study. This individual was dead and appeared burnt from a fire event. A single Stuttering Frog (Mixophyes balbus) was recorded in a creek running through rainforest in the eastern section of Mumbulla State Forest.

3.4.2 Wellington & Wells (1994)

Australian Environmental Surveys completed reptile and frog surveys within Wandella and Dampier State Forests, west and south-west of Narooma (Wellington and Wells 1994). Species recorded within Wandella State Forest, located within the Bega Valley, include Keferstein’s Tree Frog (Litoria dentata) and the threatened Giant Burrowing Frog (Helioporus australiacus). A more updated inventory of Wandella State Forest is detailed within Daly (2007).

3.4.3 Lemckert et al. (1997)

This scientific manuscript provides records of the Stuttering Frog (Mixophyes balbus) (Lemckert et al. 1997). At the time of writing, this manuscript had not been sourced during data compilation. However, Daly (1998, 2002) provides a more recent account of this species in the Bega Valley which cite this 1997 manuscript.

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3.4.4 Daly (1998)

This scientific manuscript provides a review of the status and habitat of the threatened Stuttering Frog (Mixophyes balbus) on the NSW south coast (Daly 1998). The paper documents records and habitat well beyond the boundaries of the Bega Valley, reaching up to Helensburgh, north of Wollongong. Past records within the Bega Valley (Dampier and Mumbula State Forests) are discussed with reconsideration of conservation status only.

3.4.5 Lemckert et al. (1998)

This scientific manuscript documents recorded locations of the threatened Giant Burrowing Frog (Helioporus australiacus) made by Forests NSW personnel between 1994 and 1997 across the south coast (Lemckert et al. 1998). The locations of these sightings within the Bega Valley include Broadwater State Forest (20/09/1994), Compartment 336 of Yambulla State Forest (11/02/1997), Junction of Yambulla and Wallaby Roads, Yambula State Forest (13/02/1997), Finch Road, Yambulla State Forest (23/02/1997), Bermagui State Forest (11/09/1996) and the ‘Loop Road’ off Correa Road, Murrah State Forest (28/02/1996).

3.4.6 Daly & Senior (2001)

This study was commissioned by the then known, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service to investigate the status of threatened Green and Golden Bell Frog (Litoria aurea) on the NSW south coast (Daly and Senior 2001).

Surveys were conducted at 115 sites in the Bega Valley LGA and Eurobodalla LGA between December 2000 and February 2001 for 18 days/17 nights. The senior author also conducted interviews with local landholders which revealed historical records at Bobundara Swamp and Wapengo. Interviews identified that Green and Golden Bell Frog was common at Bobundara Swamp until the early 1990s and widespread across the Murrah River Flats and both persons suggested that the species might still occur there as they had seen frogs within the last few years. This study did not detect Green and Golden Bell Frog at either site.

A total of 17 species of frog were detected including the threatened Green and Golden Bell Frog and Heath Frog (Litoria littlejohni). Peron’s Tree Frog (Litoria peronii) was the most commonly encountered species, followed by Striped Marsh Frog (Lymnodynastes peronii) then Common Froglet (Crinia signifera).

Heath Frog tadpoles were detected in Nadgee Nature Reserve south of Eden, while one individual Green and Golden Bell Frog and a further two calling were detected at Tura Beach Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP).

It was concluded that the decline of Green and Golden Bell Frog was most likely due to threatened processes such as chytrid fungus and predation of tadpoles by exotic fish.

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3.4.7 Hunter (2001)

Daly (2007) cite this report titled ‘Surveys and monitoring of threatened frog species in south-eastern New South Wales between October, 2000 and March, 2001’ (Hunter 2001). Requested from its author, this report had not been received at the time of writing.

3.4.8 Daly et al. (2002)

One hundred and thirty sites from the Illawarra to the Victorian border, including many historic sites, were surveyed for the threatened Stuttering Frog (Mixophes balbus) (Daly et al. 2002). This study resulted in this species being detected at only four sites with none of these south of Cobargo. Only one location was detected within the Bega Valley, Red Creek, west of Cobargo, where one individual was recorded. It was suggested that the Stuttering Frog has significantly declined or disappeared from the southern part of its range. This corresponds to the majority of the Bega Valley.

3.4.9 Daly & Senior (2003)

This manuscript documents the results of technical report included within section 3. 4.7 (Daly and Senior 2001; Daly and Senior 2003). No additional data is provided within this manuscript than provided within the 2001 technical report.

3.4.10 Penman (2005)

Research as part of a Phd was conducted on the threatened Giant Burrowing Frog in the Bega Valley (Penman 2005). From this research, a number of scientific manuscripts were published. This section provides a brief summary of publications relevant to the Situational Analysis from this research.

Penman T., Lemckert F. & Mahony M. J. (2004) Two hundred and ten years looking for the Giant Burrowing Frog. Australian Zoologist 32, 597-604.

This manuscript provides an overview of the current state of knowledge of the Giant Burrowing Frog and identifies gaps that require additional investigation (Penman et al. 2004). Species ecology, determinants of distribution, the impacts of disturbance including fire are identified as key knowledge gaps.

Penman T., Lemckert F., Slade C. & Mahony M. (2005) Non-breeding habitat requirements of the giant burrowing frog, Heleioporus australiacus in south-eastern Australia. Australian Zoologist 33, 251-7.

This manuscript provides an assessment of non-breeding habitats for the Giant Burrowing Frog (Penman et al. 2005). These authors suggest that the preferential non-breeding habitat for this species is dry forest with relatively little vegetative ground cover and that this habitat type is relatively widespread in south-east NSW. It is concluded that the lack of records from many areas is best explained by the difficulty in detecting the species.

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Penman T., Lemckert F., Slade C. & Mahoney M. J. (2006) Description of breeding sites of the Giant Burrowing Frog Helioporus australiacus in south-eastern NSW. Herpetofauna 36, 102-5.

This manuscript provides descriptions of known breeding sites for the Giant Burrowing Frog in the Bega Valley (Penman et al. 2006). The authors hypothesise that the species is unlikely to be rare as a result of limited breeding sites, as their own observations of creek lines in the Eden region suggest that there are a large number that could provide potential breeding habitat.

Penman T., Lemckert F. & Mahony M. J. (2008) Spatial ecology of the Giant Burrowing Frog (Heleioporus australiacus): implications for conservation prescriptions. Australian Journal of Zoology 56, 179-86.

This manuscript provides the results of a radio-tracking study of the Giant Burrowing Frog (Penman et al. 2008a). Thirty-three individuals were radio-tracked revealing that frogs spend most of their time in non-breeding habitat between 20 and 250 metres from breeding sites. Activity areas were a greater distance from breeding sites for females (mean 143m) compared to males (mean 99m) and had a mean of 553m2 for males and 307m2 for females. Frogs used between 1 and 14 burrows repeatedly within each activity area.

Penman T. D., Lemckert F. L. & Mahony M. J. (2008) Applied conservation management of a threatened forest dependant frog, Heleioporus australiacus. Endangered Species Research 5.

This manuscript proposes the identification of key populations of the Giant Burrowing Frog on the south coast (Penman et al. 2008b). The authors suggest that current conservation prescriptions are ineffective and only enforced if individuals are detected. Previous studies have highlighted the difficulty in detecting this species, and the authors propose that new prescriptions are required to provide a landscape level approach to management of this threatened species. These key populations and protection zones should also be geographically separated to provide longer-term protection.

3.4.11 Sydney Morning Herald (2005)

A newspaper article documenting the breeding of Green and Golden Bell Frog (Litoria aurea) by Mr Peter Johnson, an amateur herpetologist (SMH 2005). The article outlines the successful breeding of tadpoles and the reintroduction program soon to commence at Pambula.

3.4.12 Bega Environment Network (2006)

A webpage providing an announcement of the first batch of threatened Green and Golden Bell Frog tadpoles released near Pambula on the 24th December 2005 (BEN 2006). The page also announces that the first frogs were spotted on the 23rd February 2006.

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3.4.13 NGH Environmental (2006)

Fauna surveys were conducted as part of the Bega to Yellow Pinch water transfer pipeline project that traversed agricultural and forested land between Yellow Pinch through Wolumla and onto Bega. The Biodiversity Assessment for this infrastructure project revealed seven species of frog (nghenvironmental 2006). These were the Common Froglet (Crinia signifera), Striped Marsh Frog (Limnodynastes peronii), Blue Mountains Tree Frog (Litoria citropa), Lesueur’s Frog (Litoria lesueurii), Peron’s Tree Frog (Litoria peronii), Litoria phyllochroa (which is now known as Litoria nudidigitus) and Verreaux’s Tree Frog (Litoria verreauxii verreauxii).

3.4.14 Daly (2007)

Frog surveys of 51 streamside sites across Wadbilliga National Park, Dampier State Forest, Buckenbowra State Forest (the latter two outside of the Bega Valley) and a number of freehold properties between 1997 and 2004 identified a total of 19 species of frog (Daly 2007). The threatened Stuttering Frog (Mixophyes balbus) was recorded at Big Belimba Creek (in Eurobodalla LGA) and a previous record at Red Creek documented elsewhere (Daly et al. 2002) was re-reported. The author also reports the presence of Litoria fallax near Batemans Bay, and suggests that this population is the result of animals being inadvertently translocated into the area. Differences in frog populations between coastal wetlands and creeks were observed.

3.4.15 Miles (2007)

Fauna surveys completed as part of a Flora and Fauna Impact Assessment for a proposed residential development at Jellat Jellat identified only one species of frog, Striped Marsh Frog (Limnodynastes peronii) (Miles 2007). The presence of the exotic fish, Plague Minnow (Gambusia holbrooki) was also documented.

3.4.16 Daly et al. (2008)

This scientific manuscript documents the reintroduction of threatened Green and Golden Bell Frog at Pambula including costs and chronology (Daly et al. 2008). The reintroduction involved the release of approximately 5000 captive bred tadpoles to a coastal wetland east of Pambula. In the time frame of the manuscript, two adult frogs had been detected post- release.

3.4.17 Forests NSW (2008)

A species management plan (SMP) developed for the Giant Burrowing Frog by Forests NSW provides a framework for the management of the species in the Eden region (ForestsNSW 2008). The SMP provides details of an action plan, management actions and guidance for future research including monitoring. The SMP also provides maps of each of the three Giant Burrowing Frog population management zones designated in south-eastern NSW.

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3.4.18 Lesryk (2008)

Fauna surveys completed as part of a proposed residential development near Wonboyn Lake identified four species of frog (Lesryk 2008). These were Striped Marsh Frog (Limnodynastes peronii), Spotted Grass Frog (Limnodynastes tasmaniensis), Peron’s Tree Frog (Litoria peronii) and Bibron’s Toadlet (Pseudophryne bibronii).

3.4.19 NGH Environmental (2008)

This report details a specialist frog study completed by herpetologist Steve Sass for the Bega River and Wetlands Landcare Group (BRAWL) (NGH 2008). Ali Rodway of BRAWL provided permission to use the information within that report for the purpose of this Situational Analysis. Six species of frog were recorded in an area encompassing Spenco Lagoon and the Bega River Anabranch. These were the Common Froglet (Crinia signifera), Peron’s Tree Frog (Litoria peronii), Ewing’s Tree Frog (Litoria ewingii), Lesueur’s Frog (Litoria lesueurii), Striped Marsh Frog (Limnodynastes peronii) and Verreaux’s Tree Frog (Litoria verreauxii verreauxii).

3.4.20 NGH Environmental (2010)

A Biodiversity Assessment for the Bega bypass identified four species of frog (nghenvironmental 2010). The fauna survey confirmed the presence of Striped Marsh Frog (Limnodynastes peronii), Peron’s Tree Frog (Litoria peronii), Verreaux’s Frog (Litoria verreauxii verreauxii) and Common Froglet (Crinia signifera). No details on abundance were provided.

3.4.21 Yurangalo Inc. (2010)

A local community group has prepared an online document providing information on the threatened Giant Burrowing Frog (Helioporus australiacus) and the Yurammie Population Management Zone (PMZ) (Yurangalo.Inc 2010). Key concerns within this document include a paucity of management agreements between Forests NSW and private landholders (which comprise around 50% of the PMZ), absence of systematic surveys for the species and a lack of specific knowledge of the local population.

3.4.22 EnviroKey (2011)

A specialist frog study of Panboola was undertaken in October and December 2010 (EnviroKey 2011). Lead by herpetologist Steve Sass, the study revealed a total of 11 frog species, one of which was a new record for the locality; Smooth Toadlet (Uperoleia laevigata). No threatened frog species were recorded. A number of potential threats to the frogs of Panboola were identified. These being chytrid fungus, Plague Minnow and the colonisation by non-endemic frog fauna. Recommendations to maintain and improve frog populations at Panboola were provided.

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4 DATA ANALYSIS

4.1 SPECIES DIVERSITY

The Situational Analysis has revealed a total of 27 frog species recorded in the Bega Valley. However, Litoria phyllochroa is now recognised as Litoria nudidigitus on the south coast (Donnellan et al. 1999) so these records were pooled into Litoria nudidigitus for this report as previously stated. Therefore, 26 species of frog are known (Table 4). Spatial data for these 26 species is presented in Appendix 1 (all species).

There is a level of doubt as to the correct identification for the single record of Southern Barred Frog (Mixophyes iteratus). This species is known to occur further north than the Bega Valley (Tyler and Knight 2009; White 2008), and it is possible that this record is most probably a Stuttering Frog (Mixophyes balbus). However, for the purpose of the Situational Analysis, this record will remain given the level of uncertainty as to potential distributions of species in the Bega Valley.

Table 4: Frog species recorded from the Bega Valley obtained from pooling all data (bold text denotes listed as a threatened species under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 or the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999).

Common Name Scientific Name Common Froglet Crinia signifera Eastern Smooth Frog Geocrinia victoriana Giant Burrowing Frog Heleioporus australiacus Eastern Banjo Frog Limnodynastes dumerilii Striped Marsh Frog Limnodynastes peronii Spotted Grass Frog Limnodynastes tasmaniensis Green and Golden Bell Frog Litoria aurea Green Tree Frog Litoria caerulea Blue Mountains Tree Frog Litoria citropa Keferstein’s Tree Frog Litoria dentata Ewing’s Tree Frog Litoria ewingii Eastern Dwarf Tree Frog Litoria fallax Jervis Bay Tree Frog Litoria jervisiensis Lesueur’s Frog Litoria lesueurii Heath Frog Litoria littlejohni Narrow Fringed Frog Litoria nudidigitus

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Common Name Scientific Name Peron’s Tree Frog Litoria peronii Southern Bell Frog Litoria raniformis Verreaux’s Tree Frog Litoria verreauxii verreauxii Stuttering Frog Mixophyes balbus Southern Barred Frog Mixophyes iteratus Haswell’s Froglet Paracrinia haswelli Bibron’s Toadlet Pseudophryne bibronii Dendy’s Toadlet Pseudophryne dendyi Smooth Toadlet Uperoleia laevigata Tyler’s Toadlet Uperoleia tyleri

4.2 SPECIES ABUNDANCE

Presenting the number of individuals from reported sightings may provide an indication of commonality of species within the Bega Valley. The majority of data derived from environmental reports, surveys and manuscripts does not provide specific information on abundance. Therefore, only data from the DECCW Atlas of NSW Wildlife database and Forests NSW via the DECCW Atlas of NSW Wildlife database is considered within this section.

These analyses should be used with caution as some of these records provide ‘estimates’ of species abundance, not actual counted individuals and that the number of individuals recorded may be an artifact of the ease of detection, not commonality.

The numbers of individuals reported within these datasets is presented from highest to lowest (Table 5). Australian Museum Collection database records are not used as they relate to a single individual in many cases.

Of these records, Common Froglet was the most commonly recorded species (46.1%). Verreaux’s Tree Frog (15.8%) and Peron’s Tree Frog (10.4%) bring the total of these three species to almost three quarters (72.3%) of the total number of individuals reported. These three species of frog are commonly recorded across the Bega Valley (pers.obs).

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Table 5: Numbers of individual frogs reported and approximate percentage of all records in the Bega Valley from the DECCW Atlas of NSW Wildlife database and Forests NSW via the DECCW Atlas of NSW Wildlife database. (bold text denotes listed as a threatened species under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 or the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999).

Common Name Scientific Name No. of individuals reported and approximate percentage of all records Common Froglet Crinia signifera 4488 (46.1%) Verreaux’s Tree Frog Litoria verreauxii verreauxii 1535 (15.8%) Peron’s Tree Frog Litoria peronii 1014 (10.4%) Striped Marsh Frog Limnodynastes peronii 603 (6.2%) Lesueur’s Frog Litoria lesueurii 357 (3.7%) Dendy’s Toadlet Pseudophryne dendyi 341 (3.5%) Narrow Fringed Frog Litoria nudidigitus 251 (2.6%) Ewing’s Tree Frog Litoria ewingii 245 (2.5%) Bibron’s Toadlet Pseudophryne bibronii 224 (2.3%) Eastern Smooth Frog Geocrinia victoriana 200 (2.1%) Haswell’s Froglet Paracrinia haswelli 93 (1.0%) Blue Mountains Tree Frog Litoria citropa 91 (0.9%) Giant Burrowing Frog Heleioporus australiacus 53 (0.5%) Tyler’s Toadlet Uperoleia tyleri 50 (0.5%) Eastern Banjo Frog Limnodynastes dumerilii 46 (0.5%) Green and Golden Bell Frog Litoria aurea 31 (0.3%) Jervis Bay Tree Frog Litoria jervisiensis 31 (0.3%) Keferstein’s Tree Frog Litoria dentata 28 (0.3%) Stuttering Frog Mixophyes balbus 14 (0.14%) Spotted Grass Frog Limnodynastes tasmaniensis 11 (0.1%) Eastern Dwarf Tree Frog Litoria fallax 7 (0.07%) Heath Frog Litoria littlejohni 5 (0.05%) Green Tree Frog Litoria caerulea 3 (0.03%) Smooth Toadlet Uperoleia laevigata 2 (0.02%) Southern Barred Frog Mixophyes iteratus 1 (0.01%)

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4.3 THREATENED SPECIES

Six threatened frog species have been recorded in the Bega Valley. These being the Giant Burrowing Frog, Green and Golden Bell Frog, Heath Frog, Southern Bell Frog, Stuttering Frog and Southern Barred Frog (Table 4). The current legal status of these species under both NSW and Commonwealth threatened species legislation is provided (Table 6). The spatial location of these recorded is detailed in Appendix 2.

Table 6: Threatened frog species previously recorded in the Bega Valley and their legal status under NSW and Commonwealth threatened species legislation. (TSC Act = NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995, EPBC Act = Environment and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, V= Vulnerable, E = Endangered).

Common Name Scientific Name TSC Act EPBC Act Giant Burrowing Frog Heleioporus australiacus V V Green and Golden Bell Frog Litoria aurea E V Heath Frog Litoria littlejohni V V Southern Bell Frog Litoria raniformis E V Stuttering Frog Mixophyes balbus E V Southern Barred Frog Mixophyes iteratus E E

While there is some level of doubt as to the correct identification for the single record of Southern Barred Frog (Mixophyes iteratus) as discussed in section 4.1, the single record of Southern Bell Frog (Litoria raniformis) is undisputable due to the presence of a voucher specimen lodged within the collection of the Australian Museum (Catalogue No. R.93243). The specimen was collected on the 13th January 1980 by Glenn Shea, a well-respected herpetologist in a location recorded as Big Jack Mountain. Personal communications with Dr Shea (January 2010) have confirmed the accuracy of this location.

Declines in the abundance and distribution of Southern Bell Frog were recently reviewed (Wassens 2005). For populations in the Southern Eastern Highlands (the closest to this record), declines were described as ‘sudden’ and the actual causes of these unknown (Osborne et al. 1996; Wassens 2005). Target surveys for Green and Golden Bell Frog did not target the Rocky Hall area (Daly and Senior 2001) and personal communications with Dr Skye Wassens about this record, suggest with confidence that no follow-up investigations have occurred at the location of the 1980 record.

The Green and Golden Bell Frog has also demonstrated rapid declines in abundance and distribution, particularly on the south coast (DECC 2005; White and Pyke 1996). Of particular interest to the Situational Analysis is the previous detection of a population within the vicinity of the Tura Beach Sewerage Treatment Plant (Daly and Senior 2001). One of the recommendations of that report was that additional survey and the development of a management plan for the Tura Beach population was urgently required.

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4.4 LIKELY TRANSLOCATIONS

Translocations of frogs across Australia by a variety of means such as fresh produce (fruit and vegetables), soils, garden plants and landscape supplies is reported regularly with government agencies, wildlife carers and frog groups.

Two species revealed in this Situational Analysis are likely to have been translocated to the region by these means, or have been released by captive frog enthusiasts, as the Bega Valley is beyond their natural distribution. These are Eastern Dwarf Tree Frog (Litoria fallax) and Green Tree Frog (Litoria caerulea). During the writing of the Situational Analysis, a Green Tree Frog was captured by a resident adjacent to Blackfellows Lake in Kalaru. The animal was noticed within a puddle of water within their garage. It would seem that this frog arrived in a caravan that had travelled from Queensland and spent some time on their land several weeks prior to the frogs discovery.

With the removal of these species from consideration, the number of local frog species in the Bega Valley is known as 24.

4.5 DISTRIBUTIONAL TRENDS

GIS mapping of all species records provide some preliminary information with regard to species distribution in the Bega Valley (Appendix 3). Some species have only been recorded in the far south of the region such as Eastern Smooth Frog (Map 4). The threatened Heath Frog has been recorded in the far south, with the exception of a single record near Tilba (Map 17). Haswell’s Froglet was been recorded within the southern half of the Bega Valley (Map 24).

The use of this data to imply distributional trends should be used with caution. This is apparent with consideration of the total dataset. Records in DECCW managed land total 267 (14%) while there were 731 records (42%) provided by Forests NSW; presumably within State Forests. Combined, 53% of all records for frogs have been within National Parks, Nature Reserves and State Forests in the Bega Valley. This large number of records within these managed lands is likely to be a reflection of survey effort rather than a true reflection of distributional trends.

4.6 HISTORICAL TRENDS

The identification of a species apparent decline can be measured by long-term monitoring at different spatial and temporal scales (Caughley and Gunn 1996). In the absence of such data, a review of past records of a species may provide information on their current status. Data collected from the DECCW Atlas of NSW Wildlife database and Forests NSW via the DECCW Atlas of NSW Wildlife database, includes sighting dates. Due to the relative paucity of records for many species, data was pooled from both sources, and then grouped into decades. Australian Museum data was excluded due to the small number of records. Graphs for each species are provided in Appendix 4.

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There is a general increase of frog records in the period 1991-2000 for most species. This was likely due to the target surveys for Green and Golden Bell Frog which also collected data on other frog species (Daly and Senior 2001). The data also suggests a dramatic drop in both the number of records and the number of records appears apparent between 2001 and the present (Appendix 4). It is uncertain as to whether this is due to a decline in frog diversity in the region, a reduction in the level of survey effort, or a combination of these two variables.

4.7 POTENTIAL VEGETATION ASSOCIATIONS

Using a form of surrogate taxa or vegetation community to predict species occurrence can provide potentially useful preliminary information in the absence of species-specific survey data (Ficetola et al. 2007; Garson et al. 2002; Gibbons et al. 2008; Gotelli et al. 1997; Sfenthourakis et al. 2005). Point-data modeling is fraught with inconsistency as it focuses on species presence at a single point location and does not consider other habitats that the biota may use at any given time during its life cycle. An area based approach such as recently documented for the Giant Burrowing Frog could provide greater levels of accuracy (Penman et al. 2007). However, in the absence of such detailed ecological data on frog species, vegetation communities provides a preliminary base level as their presence are generally determined by limiting factors such as geological formation, soils, rainfall, landscape position and elevation (Oliver et al. 2002; Tozer et al. 2006). These may imply potential ‘habitats’. Given the complexity of modeling undertaken by Tozer et al. (2006) down to vegetation community level, a broader approach was chosen in this instance by using the higher level of classification defined as ‘Vegetation Formation’. This provides a greater, broader consideration of potential ‘habitats’.

Map 29 to Map 54 (Appendix 5) provides a visual representation of potential associations with vegetation for each of the 26 frog species in the Bega Valley. Spatial point data was mapped onto the SCIVI Vegetation Formation, with only those formations who intersected with species records, used to present potential associations with vegetation and therefore, potential distribution in the Bega Valley.

For some species such as Common Froglet, these are widespread and have been recorded across the Bega Valley (Map 3, Appendix 3) and their association to vegetation presented (Map 29, Appendix 5) is likely to be an accurate reflection of potential distribution.

However, for rare or species with few records such as Stuttering Frog that are known from only a few discrete locations (Daly 1998; Daly et al. 2002; Hunter 2001; Lemckert et al. 1997), the vegetation association map (Map 48, Appendix 5) is unlikely to be a true reflection of their distribution. Conversely, the data presented on Map 48 does provide an indicative area for the planning of additional searches for new locations of this species in the future.

A recent project that focused on wetlands in the Southern Rivers CMA region, completed mapping and classification of the regions wetlands (WCA 2010). Frog spatial data was overlaid onto this wetland data to evaluate potential associations with wetlands in the Bega

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Valley (Map 55, Appendix 5). Using a 20m buffer of the wetland boundary to consider both digitizing inaccuracies and temporal dynamics of wetland boundaries, 21 of the 26 frog species (80%) have been recorded in wetlands. Of all pooled records for these 21 species, only 140 (7%) were within wetlands. This suggests that wetland systems in the Bega Valley have been extremely under-sampled for frogs.

4.8 FROG ‘HOT SPOTS’

The definition of a frog ‘hot spot’ used for the Situational Analysis was an area that had a high diversity of frogs species based on existing, publicly available data. These were determined relative to other areas in the Bega Valley. The presence of a hot spot is likely to be an artifact of survey effort in a particular location rather than a habitat’s ability to host a large number of frog species given their locations in National Parks and State Forests (as discussed in section 4.5). At the very least, a baseline knowledge of the frog diversity and abundance exists within areas defined as hot spots. These hot spots are presented in Map 56 (Appendix 6). The boundaries used for mapping hot spots are indicative only, and should not be used for site-specific analysis.

4.9 KNOWLEDGE GAPS

After a review of all spatial data it became apparent that many parts of the Bega Valley had no or very few records of frogs (see Map 1). In addition, urgent clarification of the current status of Green and Golden Bell Frog at Tura Beach STP is required. Polygons were drawn around these areas to become a ‘knowledge gap’ that should be used to target further survey and research.

Of the 627,211 ha of the Bega Valley, the total knowledge gap area is approximately 350,487 ha (55.9%). Throughout the Bega Valley, large proportions of these knowledge gap areas are on private land including land used for agricultural purposes where no frog records exist. The 2009 discovery of the Yellow-spotted Tree Frog (Litoria castanea) on a grazing property in the NSW southern highlands, presumed by many to be extinct after not having been sighted in NSW for almost 30 years (Robins 2010) demonstrates the importance of understanding frog communities in the agricultural landscapes of the Bega Valley.

A number of threatening processes (DECCW 2011) have been identified that are of potential relevance to frogs in the Bega Valley. These include:

a. Infection of frogs by amphibian chytrid fungus causing the disease chytridiomycosis. b. Loss of hollow-bearing trees. c. Human-caused climate change. d. Ecological consequences of high frequency fires. e. Clearing of native vegetation. f. Alteration to the natural flow regimes of rivers, streams, floodplains and wetlands. g. Herbivory and environmental degradation caused by feral deer.

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h. Predation by the Plague Minnow (Gambusia holbrooki). i. Predation by the European Red Fox. j. Predation by feral cats.

While some surveys and studies have considered some of these key threatening processes (Daly and Senior 2001; Penman et al. 2008a), detailed analysis on the effects of these on the frogs of the Bega Valley have not been undertaken.

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5 WHAT NEXT FOR FROGS IN THE BEGA VALLEY?

The following needs have been formulated relying on the information gather during the Situational Analysis. Each has specific detail to target gaps that were identified with the aim of addressing these deficiencies and developing a better understanding of frog communities of the Bega Valley.

1. The Situational Analysis has confirmed that the Bega Valley is known to support a rich and diverse frog fauna, with 26 species recorded to date. 2. Six threatened frog species have been recorded within the Bega Valley. To date, these records appear to be within DECCW estate, State Forests or other public land. Future surveys should target private land to determine if these threatened species occur there, and if so, their current status. 3. Urgent investigation is required in the Big Jack Mountain / Rocky Hall area to determine the status of the Southern Bell Frog (Litoria raniformis) population known from a single Museum specimen collected in 1980. This species is listed as Endangered under the TSC Act and Vulnerable under the EPBC Act. Recent modeling of the decline of ‘bell frog’ populations recommends that follow-up surveys of extant populations should be given high priority given recent ‘re-discoveries’ (Hamer et al. 2010). 4. Bega Valley Shire Council should be advised of the previous records of Green and Golden Bell Frog at the Tura Beach Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP). This population is also confirmed within the ‘best practice guidelines’ for the species (DECC 2008). These guidelines state that all STP should develop a site-specific management strategy and provide habitat features relevant to this species as part of STP landscapes and gardens. Follow-up survey is required to inform the development of a management strategy. This species is listed as Endangered under the TSC Act and Vulnerable under the EPBC Act. 5. An absence of information on frogs in the past decade. It is uncertain as to whether this is due to a decline in frog diversity, a reduction in the level of survey effort, or a combination of these two variables. 6. Wetland systems in the Bega Valley have been extremely under-sampled for frogs. Despite 21 species being recorded, only 7% of the total data records are within wetlands. Wetlands in the Bega Valley should be targeted in any future frog surveys. 7. A community and visitor awareness campaign should be initiated to reduce the threat of translocated frogs to local frog populations. The Situational Analysis has revealed the presence of two species that are considered translocated. Such translocations can have deleterious impacts on local frog populations. They can compete with local species for food and habitat, with the potential of displacing local species. Translocated frogs can also spread the amphibian disease known as Chytrid (pronounced ‘kit-trid’) fungus which is potentially fatal and has been attributed to the global decline in amphibian populations (Berger et al. 1999). This campaign should

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not only target visitors, but also fresh produce suppliers, nurseries and landscape suppliers about releasing frogs they find within their goods and the potential harm this activity poses to endemic frog fauna. For example, in Melbourne, the Eastern Dwarf Tree Frog is now commonly found in the vicinity of fresh produce stores and supermarkets (NECMA 2011), likely the artefact of persons with good intentions releasing the frog into their local bushland, creek or wetland. This species is now breeding in many parts of Melbourne, well outside their natural range and competing with local frog species. 8. More than half of the Bega Valley has little or no information on the frog community present (around 56%). In particular, there is a clear paucity of frog records on land primarily used for agricultural purposes (grazing, dairy, cropping). 9. There is little or no knowledge of the potential impacts of threatening processes such as chytrid fungus, plague minnow and climate change on the frog communities of the Bega Valley.

Future projects that are likely to improve the knowledge and management of frogs and their habitats in the Bega Valley should be supported. Projects that support one or more of the following themes should be given priority:

a. Improve knowledge of frogs in wetlands b. Conduct frog surveys on private land, including agricultural landscapes c. Increase community and visitor awareness about translocated frogs d. Improve ecological and distribution knowledge e. Threatening processes such as plague minnow, habitat removal and degradation f. The extent and impact of chytrid fungus g. The role of agricultural landscapes in providing frog habitat and refugia in a changing climate h. Understanding habitat requirements to provide specific data to inform rehabilitation projects and management plans.

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6 REFERENCES

BEN. (2006) Frogs: ENet is the sponsor of a Natural Heritage Trust project to reintroduce the Green and Golden Bellfrog to our region. Accessed online January 2011. http://www.thebegavalley.org.au/4048.html.

Berger L., Speare R. & Hyatt A. D. (1999) Chytrid fungi and amphibian declines: overview, implications and future directions. In: Declines and disappearances of Australian frogs (ed A. Campbell) pp. 23-33. Environment Australia, Canberra.

Caughley G. & Gunn A. (1996) Conservation Biology in Theory and Practice. Blackwell Science, Cambridge.

Daly G. (1998) Review of the status and assessment of the habitat of the Stuttering Frog Mixophes balbus (Anura: Myobatrachidae) on the south coast of New South Wales. Herpetofauna 28, 2-11.

Daly G. (2007) Reptiles and amphibians of Wadbilliga National Park and environs on the south coast of New South Wales. Herpetofauna 37, 45-62.

Daly G., Johnson P., Malolakis G., Hyatt A. & Pietsch R. (2008) Reintroduction of the Green and Golden Bell Frog Litoria aurea to Pambula on the south coast of New South Wales. Australian Zoologist 34, 261-70.

Daly G., Pennay M. & Coombes D. (2002) Surveys for the stuttering frog Mixophes balbus on the south coast of New South Wales. Herpetofauna 32, 110-30.

Daly G. & Senior C. (2001) Surveys for the Green and Golden Bell Frog Litoria aurea on the far south coast of NSW. Prepared for the NSW NPWS by Gaia Research Pty. Ltd.

Daly G. & Senior C. (2003) Surveys for and habitat assessment of the Green and Golden Bell Frog (Litoria aurea) on the far south coast of New South Wales. Herpetofauna 33, 86- 102.

DECC. (2005) Draft Recovery Plan for the Green and Golden Bell Frog (Litoria aurea). Department of ENvironment & Climate Change, Hurstville, N.S.W.

DECC. (2008) Best practice guidelines: Green and Golden Bell Frog Habitat. Department of Environment and Climate Change, Sydney, NSW.

DECCW. (2011) Threatened species, populations and ecological communities of NSW. Department of Environment, Climate Change & Water, Hurstville, N.S.W. www.threatenedspecies.environment.nsw.gov.au.

Donnellan S. C., McGuigan K., Knowles R., Mahony M. J. & Moritz C. (1999) Genetic evidence for species boundaries in frogs of the Litoria citropa species group (Anura: Hylidae). Australian Journal of Zoology 47, 275-93.

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