Pre-Incursion Plan PIP003 Toads and Frogs
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Pre-incursion Plan PIP003 Toads and Frogs Scope This plan is in place to guide prevention and eradication activities and the management of non-indigenous populations of Toads and Frogs (Order Anura) in the wild in Victoria. Version Document Status Date Author Reviewed By Approved for Release 1.0 First Draft 26/07/11 Dana Price M. Corry, S. Wisniewski and A. Woolnough 1.1 Second Draft 21/10/11 Dana Price S. Wisniewski 2.0 Final Draft 11/01/12 Dana Price S.Wisniewski 2.1 Final 27/06/12 Dana Price M.Corry Visual Standard approved by ADP 3.0 New Final 6/10/15 Dana Price A.Kay New DEDJTR template and document revision Acknowledgement and special thanks to Peter Courtenay, Senior Curator, Zoos Victoria, for reviewing this document and providing comments. Published by the Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources, Agriculture Victoria, May 2016 © The State of Victoria 2016. This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. Authorised by the Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources, 1 Spring Street, Melbourne 3000. Front cover: Cane Toad (Rhinella marinus) Photo: Image courtesy of Ryan Melville, HRIA Team, DEDJTR For more information about Agriculture Victoria go to www.agriculture.vic.gov.au or phone the Customer Service Centre on 136 186. ISBN 978-1-925532-37-1 (pdf/online) Disclaimer This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication. Pre-Incursion Plan PIP003 Toads and Frogs 2 Pre-incursion Plan PIP003 Toads and Frogs Order: Anura Families: Bufonidae, Dendrobatidae, Hylidae, Microhylidae, Ranidea, Leptodactylidae, Bombinatoridae and Pipidae Pre-Incursion Plan PIP003 Toads and Frogs 3 Contents Table 1: Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 5 Table 2: Declaration Status ........................................................................................................................ 5 Table 3: Delimitation survey options........................................................................................................ 5-7 Table 4: Species specific delimitation options ............................................................................................ 7 Table 5: Detection,control, monitoring and breeding calendar ................................................................... 8 Table 6: Transport of live specimens.......................................................................................................... 8 Table 7: Brief description of eradication and containment options ........................................................ 8-10 Table 8: Species specific eradication and containment options ............................................................... 10 Table 9: Brief description of disease, parasite and infection risks ...................................................... 10-11 Table 10: Treatment specific WHS considerations ............................................................................. 11-12 Table 11: Identification requirements - take photo/video and e-mail to: ................................................... 12 Table 12: Euthanasia options ................................................................................................................... 12 Table 13: Sampling/Autopsy requirements .............................................................................................. 13 Table 14: Disposal options ....................................................................................................................... 13 Table 15: Legislation, regulations and required permits........................................................................... 13 Table 16: General species and technical experts .................................................................................... 14 Table 17: List of Acronyms .................................................................................................................. 14-15 Table 18: Glossary ............................................................................................................................... 15-16 Appendices ................................................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined. 1. Bufonidae Family: Species Specific Table ...................................................................................... 17-26 2. Dendrobatidae Family: Species specific table 3. Hylidae Family: Species specific table 4. Microhylidae Family: Species specific table 5.Ranidae Family: Species specific table 6. Leptodactylidae Family: Species specific table 7. Bombinatoridae Family: Species specific table 8. Pipidae Family: Species specific table 9. Excursus: Asian Black-spined toad case study……………………………………………………27-28 References ................................................................................................................................... ..….29-31 Photographic References……………………………………………………………………………………..32 Accessibility If you would like to receive this information/publication in an accessible format (such as large print or audio) please call the Customer Service Centre on 136 186, TTY 1800 122 969, or email [email protected]. Pre-Incursion Plan PIP003 Toads and Frogs 4 Table 1: Introduction The small size, cryptic nature, physiological tolerance to high temperatures and adaptability of these taxa enables them to stowaway in or on containers and live plant shipments with relative ease. These same traits, along with very high fecundity and a lack of predators, present major difficulties for control and eradication The Cane Toad (Rhinella marinus) is commonly intercepted arriving in Victoria on cargo, vehicles and in baggage from other states of Australia. The illegal herpetology trade is also a significant pathway of entry into Victoria, with the potential for many new introductions (either accidental or deliberate) of these species into the wild in Victoria. The potential consequences of establishment of invasive frog and toad species in Victoria are wide ranging and may include the introduction of new pathogens, direct predation upon native species, and competition with native species for food, spawning resources and shelter resulting in the displacement of endemic species. In the case of invasive Bufonidae species, toxic skin secretions pose a direct threat of death to native predators such as snakes, lizards, birds and small mammals. The impact of Cane toads in Australia extends to the pollution of bore holes, water holes, drinking troughs and domestic swimming pools, the death of domestic pets, the erosion of dams and creek banks by burrowing toads and the effect of toads on the apiary industry (via a single toad consuming up to 100 bees/day). Table 2: Declaration Status in Victoria All species included in this Pre-Plan are either currently undeclared under the Catchment and Land Protection (CALP) Act 1994 or are controlled pest animals. The Vertebrate Pest Committee lists the considered species as either having a Serious or Extreme/Not Assessed establishment threat. See species specific tables for details. Table 3: Delimitation survey options Method Description Time suggested to determine presence at site 1. Active visual Lift logs, rocks and debris in proximity to potential habitat to Dependant on amount and type of ground survey – line find toads. This method is not useful in areas of dense cover (or density of aquatic vegetation). transects or understorey. Visual searching can also be conducted in Bufo metamorphs are easily distinguished quadrats water bodies for evidence of eggs, tadpoles or metamorphs from native species, tadpoles may require expert identification. 2. Dip-net Use a hand held net and sweep it through the water If animals occur at low density, intensive sampling column. sampling using this method will be required to maximise detection probability (Bennett et al 2012) 3. Use of Aquatic funnel traps are baited with commercially available Traps can be left for several hours or aquatic funnel green glow sticks and are deployed parallel to the waters’ overnight – glow sticks last from 8-12 traps with glow edge at approximately 5 metre intervals. Ensure that the hours. This technique has been very stick lures trap entrance is submerged and that a portion of the trap is effectively used for toads, newts and frogs above the waters’ surface. (Grayson and Roe, 2007) and salamanders (Bennett et al 2012). 4. Spot Light The water body is visually scanned for swimming, stratified 5 consecutive nights of spot-lighting searches or resting larvae using a torch. Look for evidence of eye- during summer (in conjunction with the shine. This is the most effective survey technique if the use of auditory monitoring and light traps) number of individuals is low. will give a 90% confidence of absence (Parris, 2009) at any one site. 5. Nocturnal Researchers walk or drive along roads looking for active During spring and summer, for 14 nights Pre-Incursion Plan PIP003 Toads and Frogs 5 Table 3: Delimitation survey options Method Description Time suggested