168 Monitoring Threatened Species and Ecological Communities
Baw Baw frog Philoria frosti
The Baw Baw frog (Fig. 12.1) is restricted to subalpine meadows and montane
forest on the Baw Baw Plateau, Victoria and is listed as Endangered under the
EPBC Act. An extensive survey in 1983 and 1984 indicated that the species was
common throughout bog systems within its limited subalpine range; however,
further surveys conducted from 1993 to 1995 revealed that the species had
undergone a substantial decline (Hollis 1995). In light of reported amphibian
declines elsewhere, a formal monitoring program was initiated in 1996. Systematic
annual counts of calling males have been conducted along 37 transects in
subalpine and montane habitats throughout the species’ historic and extant range
(Table 12.1). The species has continued to decline to critically low levels and now
persists in only a small number of drainage lines on the south-west slopes of the
Baw Baw Plateau. The ecology and conservation biology of this species has been
well researched (see Hollis 2004; 2011), with two other PhD projects currently
underway. Bd is considered to be the primary cause of decline, along with climate
change (Hollis 2011). A captive breeding program has commenced, with the
intention of undertaking population supplementations similar to that for the
southern corroboree frog.
The monitoring was initiated and managed by the Victorian Department of
Land, Environment, Water and Planning, and funded by various grants and
initiatives from both the Victorian and Australian Governments. In recent years,
Fig. 12 .1. The Baw Baw frog Philoria frosti, restricted to the Baw Baw Plateau of Victoria. Photo: G. Hollis.