National Recovery Plan for the Wallum Sedgefrog and Other Wallum-Dependent Frog Species
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National recovery plan for the wallum sedgefrog and other wallum-dependent frog species National recovery plan for the wallum sedgefrog and other wallum-dependent frog species Prepared by: Ed Meyer1, Jean-Marc Hero1, Luke Shoo1 and Ben Lewis2 1 School of Environmental and Applied Sciences, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD 9726 2 Lewis Ecological Surveys, Wingham, NSW 2459 Title page clockwise from top left: wallum sedgefrog (Litoria olongburensis), Cooloola sedgefrog (Litoria cooloolensis), wallum froglet (Crinia tinnula) and wallum rocketfrog (Litoria freycineti). Photos by Ed Meyer. © The State of Queensland, Environmental Protection Agency 2006 Copyright protects this publication. Except for the purposes permitted by the Copyright Act, reproduction by whatever means is prohibited without prior written knowledge of the Environmental Protection Agency. Inquiries should be addressed to PO Box 15155, CITY EAST, QLD 4002. Copies may be obtained from the: Executive Director Conservation Services Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service PO Box 15155 City East Qld 4002 Disclaimer: The Australian Government, in partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency/Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and the New South Wales Department of Environment and Conservation, facilitates the publication of recovery plans to detail the actions needed for the conservation of threatened native wildlife. The attainment of objectives and the provision of funds may be subject to budgetary and other constraints affecting the parties involved, and may also be constrained by the need to address other conservation priorities. Approved recovery actions may be subject to modification due to changes in knowledge and changes in conservation status. This recovery plan includes four species of frog, however adoption as a national recovery plan under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 refers only to the wallum sedgefrog Litoria olongburensis. Publication reference: Meyer, E., Hero, J-M., Shoo, L. and Lewis, B. 2006. National recovery plan for the wallum sedgefrog and other wallum-dependent frog species . Report to Department of the Environment and Water Resources, Canberra. Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Brisbane. Material presented in this document may not be copied unless approved by the South-east Queensland Threatened Frogs Recovery Team. 2 Contents Executive Summary.............................................................................................. 4 1. General information.......................................................................................... 6 Species covered by plan ................................................................................ 6 International obligations ................................................................................. 6 Affected interests............................................................................................ 6 Consultation with Indigenous people.............................................................. 8 Benefits to other species and communities.................................................... 8 Social and economic impacts......................................................................... 9 2. Biological information ...................................................................................... 10 Distribution ..................................................................................................... 10 Habitat critical to the survival of the species .................................................. 12 Important populations..................................................................................... 14 3. Threats ............................................................................................................... 16 Biology and ecology relevant to threats ......................................................... 16 Identification of threats ................................................................................... 16 Areas under threat ......................................................................................... 19 Populations under threat................................................................................ 19 4. Recovery objectives ......................................................................................... 20 Overall objective............................................................................................. 20 Specific objectives.......................................................................................... 20 5. Performance criteria and Recovery actions ................................................... 20 Performance criteria....................................................................................... 20 Evaluation of recovery plan............................................................................ 20 Recovery actions............................................................................................ 20 Summary .......................................................................................................28 6. Management practices ..................................................................................... 30 7. Cost of recovery................................................................................................ 32 References............................................................................................................. 33 Appendix 1. Species Profiles............................................................................... 36 3 Executive Summary Species This recovery plan is a multi-species plan for wallum-dependent frog species of coastal south-east Queensland and eastern New South Wales. The species covered by this plan are the wallum sedgefrog Litoria olongburensis, Cooloola sedgefrog L. cooloolensis, wallum rocketfrog L. freycineti and wallum froglet Crinia tinnula. Current species status The species in this plan are listed as ‘Rare’ or ‘Vulnerable’ under state legislation, the Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992 and the New South Wales Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995. However, only the wallum sedgefrog is listed under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). All species in this plan are listed as ‘Vulnerable’ or ‘Endangered’ by the World Conservation Union (IUCN). Habitat and distribution The species in this plan are wholly or largely restricted to lowland sand plains, dunes and sand islands of coastal south-east Queensland and New South Wales (including coastal ‘wallum’). All breed in oligotrophic (nutrient poor) acidic (pH < 6.0) coastal swamps and/or lakes. Rarely, except in disturbed habitat, are these species found together with related species (i.e. the common sedgefrog Litoria fallax, striped rocketfrog Litoria nasuta and beeping froglet Crinia parinsignifera). Threats The species in this plan have suffered significant habitat loss due to urban and resort development, the establishment of pine plantations and sand mining. Habitat loss and fragmentation due to urban development remains one of the main threats to wallum frog species, particularly in coastal south-east Queensland and northeast New South Wales. Other known and potential threats include habitat degradation, predation of eggs and larvae by introduced fish (in particular the mosquito fish Gambusia holbrooki), inappropriate fire regimes, use of biocides in weed and mosquito control, habitat disturbance and predation by pigs, chytrid fungus infection, a possible rise in sea levels as a consequence of global warming, competition with ecologically-similar species, exotic disease and vehicular traffic. Overall objective The overall aim of this plan is to improve the conservation status of wallum frog species through effective management, protection and rehabilitation of wallum frog habitat. Specific objectives The specific objectives of this five-year plan are: 1. To identify areas of habitat critical to the survival of wallum frog species more accurately. 2. To protect habitat critical to wallum frog survival and important wallum frog populations from threatening processes. 3. To rehabilitate degraded wallum frog habitat. 4. To determine population trends in areas of disturbed undisturbed and rehabilitated habitat. 4 Performance criteria The success of this plan will be measured against the following criteria: 1. Non-breeding habitat critical to the survival of wallum frog species is identified. 2. Important populations and their habitat are identified. 3. Essential habitat outside protected areas is conserved. 4. Threats to wallum frog populations in protected areas are mitigated. 5. Knowledge of threats is improved and utilised to ensure wallum frog habitat and populations are appropriately managed/protected. 6. Stakeholders and the broader community are engaged in the recovery of wallum frog species. 7. Degraded wallum frog habitat is rehabilitated. 8. Data on population trends are collected for all wallum frog species in areas of undisturbed, disturbed and rehabilitated habitat and used to guide management actions. Recovery actions Actions needed for recovery of wallum-dependent frog species include: 1. Identify and assess essential habitat. 2. Protect wallum frog populations and manage habitat. 3. Acquire additional information on threats to inform management. 4. Engage stakeholders and the broader community in recovery of wallum frog species. 5. Rehabilitate degraded wallum frog habitat. 6. Monitor