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Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

2008

Physical Sciences and Mathematics

University of Wollongong

Frog

Articles 1 - 3 of 3

Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Applied Conservation Management Of A Threatened Forest Dependant Frog, Heleioporus Australiacus, Trent D. Penman, F Lemckert, M J Mahony Jan 2008

Applied Conservation Management Of A Threatened Forest Dependant Frog, Heleioporus Australiacus, Trent D. Penman, F Lemckert, M J Mahony

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

Threatened species management should be based on reliable scientific research. The giant burrowing frog Heleioporus australiacus is a threatened species in south-eastern Australia, and is often recorded on land managed for commercial forestry. As a result, management prescriptions have been developed in the absence of significant research data. Here, we review the available research data and assess the potential for forest management practices to impact upon this species. The species is restricted to naturally vegetated areas, but avoids steep areas, large rivers and forests with high levels of vegetative ground cover. Individuals spend the majority of the year in the …


Spatial Ecology Of The Giant Burrowing Frog (Heleioporus Australiacus): Implications For Conservation Prescriptions, Trent D. Penman, F Lemckert, M J Mahony Jan 2008

Spatial Ecology Of The Giant Burrowing Frog (Heleioporus Australiacus): Implications For Conservation Prescriptions, Trent D. Penman, F Lemckert, M J Mahony

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

Management of threatened anurans requires an understanding of a species’ behaviour and habitat requirements in both the breeding and non-breeding environments. The giant burrowing frog (Heleioporus australiacus) is a threatened species in south-eastern Australia. Little is known about its habitat requirements, creating difficulties in developing management strategies for the species.Weradio-tracked 33 individual H. australiacus in order to determine their habitat use and behaviour. Data from 33 frogs followed for between 5 and 599 days show that individuals spend little time near (<15 m) their breeding sites (mean 4.7 days for males and 6.3 days for females annually). Most time is spent in distinct non-breeding activity areas 20–250m from the breeding sites. Activity areas of females were further from the breeding site (mean 143 m) than those of males (mean 99 m), but were not significantly different in size (overall mean 500m2; males 553m2; females 307m2). Within activity areas, each frog used 1–14 burrows repeatedly, which weterm home burrows. Existing prescriptions are inappropriate for this species and we propose protection of key populations in the landscape as a more appropriate means of protecting this species.


Impact Of A Chytrid-Related Mortality Event On A Population Of The Green And Golden Bell Frog Litoria Aurea, Trent D. Penman, G Muir, E Magarey, E Burns Jan 2008

Impact Of A Chytrid-Related Mortality Event On A Population Of The Green And Golden Bell Frog Litoria Aurea, Trent D. Penman, G Muir, E Magarey, E Burns

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

Chytridiomycosis is considered a key threatening process under Commonwealth legislation. Little is known of the impact of this pathogen within wild populations. The Green and Golden Bell Frog Litoria aurea is a threatened species that is thought to be affected by this disease. Here we present an example of a chytrid related mortality event within an apparently healthy population of this species. The individuals were found to be carrying chytrid and we suggest that this was the proximal cause of mortality. Monitoring was conducted across Sydney Olympic Park between 1998 and 2005. In a small group of ponds in 1999, …