On the edge of extinction Geocrinia brochure - South West ...

WHAT CAN I DO TO
help frogs?
• Keep your fences in good condition and stock out
of creeks.
• Ensure adequate buffers and appropriate wind
conditions when spraying chemicals near creeks
and watercourses.
• Practice responsible (frog friendly) use of fertiliser and
herbicide. Do not spray when rain is likely.
• Do soil testing before adding fertiliser, it could save
you thousands of dollars.
• Ensure environmental flows from upstream dams are
maintained all year round.
• Prevent fire from entering creek and watercourse
vegetation, by maintaining firebreaks.
• Obtain firebreak variations to allow frog habitat to
remain undisturbed.
• Install off-stream stock watering points and stock
crossings.
• Retain remnant vegetation and healthy stock grazing
rates to prevent erosion and sediment entering creeks
and watercourses.
• Investigate eligibility for SWCC funding for on-ground
works including revegetation, fencing and weed
control.
Further Information
Captive Frog Breeding Program:
http://www.perthzoo.wa.gov.au/conservation/nativespecies-breeding-programs/frogs/perth-zoos-amphibianbreeding-and-research-program/
Geocrinia Recovery Plan:
http://www.dec.wa.gov.au/content/view/869/2008/
SWCC Funding Available:
Refer to Funding Tab
http://www.swccnrm.org.au
This project is supported by the South West Catchments Council, through
funding from the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country and
Government of Western Australia.
The White-Bellied Frog
Geocrinia alba

White-Bellied Frogs
On the edge of extinction
White-Bellied Frogs (Geocrinia alba) are almost extinct.
The number of sites where these frogs can be found have
declined by about 30% over the last 10 years . Many creek
lines around Margaret River and Witchcliffe have fallen
silent, or only have one or two males left calling for a mate.
The Orange-Bellied Frog (Geocrinia vitellina) is also
threatened, being restricted to an area of habitat so narrow
that a single fire event could render this species extinct.
This species occurs in state forest north of the Blackwood
River, south east of Margaret River.
Perth Zoo, in partnership with Department of Environment
and Conservation and funding partner the South West
Catchments Council, has established a ground-breaking
captive rearing and breed-for-release program for these
threatened frogs to help boost their numbers in the wild.
Early results are encouraging with a number of male White-
Bellied Frogs heard calling in 2011 following the first release
of Geocrinia alba juveniles in 2010.
What threatens Geocrinia frogs?
1. Habitat destruction from clearing and habitat
fragmentation (G.alba live in Margaret River area
with only 1.9km 2 of suitable habitat remaining).
2. Changed fire regimes. Fire has previously reduced
populations by 60%.
3. Trampling and disturbance by people and stock or
feral pigs.
4. Disease. Chytrid fungus spores have been detected
from frogs at all sites tested so far.
5. Poor water quality from fertiliser and or herbicide run off.
6. Altered hydrology and climate change.
Illegal drug crops
The growing of drug crops along creek lines in otherwise
pristine habitats is having a major impact on the remaining
frog populations.
The activity has multiple impacts on the frogs as the clearing
of undergrowth makes the area hotter, herbicide spraying to
prevent regrowth is toxic and the heavy application of fertiliser
to improve crop growth contaminates the site and builds up in
the soil over time.
The phosphates from fertiliser and breakdown products from
herbicides disrupt growth and development of frogs. At an
illegal crop site found last year, all frogs had disappeared and
all egg nests laid in the zone up to 100m downstream of the
crop failed to hatch.
1st release of captive reared Geocrinia alba juveniles, 2010
What are we doing to help frogs?
• Department of Environment and Conservation
manages the Geocrinia Recovery Plan, fire risk, protects
habitat on crown land, monitors populations and
manages translocations.
• Perth Zoo
manages captive breeding and rearing, provides animals
for release and monitors disease issues.
• South West Catchments Council (SWCC)
manages community education, landholder capacity
building and implements on-ground works (fencing,
weed control, revegetation) to improve habitat
condition.
SWCC also provides additional funding to support the
captive breeding program.
Geocrinia alba. Perth Zoo
What do Geocrinia frogs need?
• A cool moist place to live, along the edges of
creeks with a year round water supply.
• Lots of undergrowth, leaf litter and trees
overhead for shade along the edges of creeks
(but not in the water).
• Clean water and clean soil, free of herbicide
and fertiliser.
• A stable habitat free from fire, stock and
machinery disturbance.
Illegal drug crop
1st release of captive reared Geocrinia alba juveniles, 2010