12 – A tale of threatened frogs: demonstrating the value of long-term monitoring^167status, and interpreting the significance and nature of these declines (Alford and
Richards 1999). Some monitoring programs for threatened frog species were
subsequently established as part of various state and Commonwealth (federal)
recovery projects (see Chapter 5).
This chapter presents case studies of some of the longest-running monitoring
programs for threatened frog species in Australia, and evaluates how threatened
species recovery programs have benefited from these. It compares the conservation
outcomes for frogs with long-term monitoring programs with the outcomes for a
selection of other threatened species in the same region that have had limited or no
monitoring. It then examines the circumstances and drivers that brought about
these long-term population monitoring programs and enabled them to persist.
Case studies of long-term threatened frog monitoring
Southern corroboree frog Pseudophryne corroboree
The southern corroboree frog is restricted to subalpine areas in Kosciusko National
Park, southern New South Wales (OEH 2012). It is listed as Critically Endangered
under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation
Act 1999 (EPBC Act). Observations made before 1970 indicate that this species was
abundant within its limited geographic range, but extensive surveys for the species
in the 1980s revealed that it had declined considerably in abundance (Osborne
1989). These early surveys provided a baseline reference dataset for evaluating
subsequent population changes. Systematic annual spot counts of calling males
have been undertaken at a set of breeding sites since 1989. The species has since
declined to critically low levels and now persists in only a few subalpine bogs. The
distribution and habitat requirements of the species are well understood (Osborne
1989) and its ecology and conservation biology have been extensively studied (see
OEH 2012). The amphibian chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis
(hereafter Bd) is the primary cause of decline (OEH 2012). Recovery efforts are
focussed on maintaining genetically viable captive and wild populations, via
captive breeding and reintroductions, as an interim phase until techniques are
developed to mitigate the key threat of Bd (OEH 2012). Ongoing monitoring is used
to evaluate the performance of this and other management initiatives in sustaining
populations and ultimately securing the species (Table 12.1).
The monitoring was initiated, and continues to be implemented, by the New
South Wales (NSW) Office of Environment and Heritage. Most of the resourcing
and support for the monitoring program has been provided by NSW government
agencies, with some support from the Australian Government. Other key aspects
of the recovery program, in particular the captive breeding program, have been
resourced by non-government organisations, particularly the Amphibian Research
Centre, Taronga Zoo and Zoos Victoria.