NCCMA Internet - Monitoring is taking the heat off Frogs

7 September 2007

The North Central Catchment Management Authority's (CMA) Waterwatch team, together with Parks Victoria staff have discovered multiple populations of a threatened frog species in and around the Greater Bendigo National Park as part of their surveys.

North Central CMA's Regional Waterwatch Coordinator, Leigh Mitchell said that one of the more exciting finds of surveys conducted this year has been the small and secretive Bibrons or Brown Toadlet.

"We discovered this elusive toadlet in small soaks and drainage lines at One Tree Hill, close to Bendigo as part of our community Frog Monitoring Program," said Leigh.

"This strange little creature is listed as a threatened species in Victoria after having disappeared from much of its original range. Not actually a toad, the toadlet, has been given this common name due to its superficial toad-like appearance, its tendency to walk instead hopping and its small size".

Courtesy of the Amphibian Research Centre _ Lydia Fuksco (2).jpg

The secretive Bibrons or Brown Toadlet.

North Central Waterwatch and Parks Victoria staff having been conducting numerous Bibrons Toadlet surveys in a number of proposed burn units identified to be included as part of Department of Sustainability and Environment's fuel reduction program.

"To find this and many other populations of toadlets in and around the Greater Bendigo National Park is a real demonstration of the role the Parks System plays in the conservation of species such as the Bibrons Toadlet," said Leigh.

Kylie Stafford, Fire and Environment Program Officer with Park Victoria said that "We selected burn areas of greater conservation significance to conduct the surveys. At some of these locations where the Bibrons Toadlets have been recorded an effort will be made to exclude integral habitat zones from the burn".

"By doing this we will improve an understanding of any direct impacts fire has on Bibrons Toadlet populations," said Kyle.

"While it's fantastic to have found so many populations of Bibrons Toadlets in the Bendigo area, there have been a number of surveys in other parts of the north central Victorian region that have failed to detect the species. It appears that the parks around Bendigo may be a "hotspot" for this particular species of frog, making it all the more important to conserve these populations," said Leigh.

Leigh & Martin on-site

"It's great to see that Parks Victoria is taking the initiative and investigating management practices to help protect this species, which will complement the conservation measures implemented by the Department of Sustainability and Environment. It's also a demonstration of how information gathered by community members - who donate their time and efforts conducting these important surveys - can make a real difference in biodiversity conservation."

For more information on the Bibrons Toadlet, please contact Leigh Mitchell on 5440 1829.

For further information please contact:

Communications Officer
North Central Catchment Management Authority
PO Box 18, Huntly VIC 3551

t: 03 5448 7174
f: 03 5448 7148
e: info@nccma.vic.gov.au