Author: Jasmine Clarkson
Exciting research is underway at the CSRG to monitor the reintroduction of Mixophyes australis (M. australis), or the Southern Stuttering Frog, to Royal National Park in NSW!
Supervisors Dr. Chad Beranek and Dr. Alex Callen, along with Honours student Jasmine Clarkson, are partnering with Symbio Wildlife Park, NSW National Parks, and the Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment, and Water to release roughly 30 juvenile captive-bred frogs at two locations within Royal National Park. Several key reasons highlight the importance of this research and monitoring effort.
M. australis was recently genetically identified as a distinct species after being split from Mixophyes balbus (the stuttering frog; more on that research can be found here) While Mixophyes balbus inhabits areas north of the Macleay River (covering Gumbainggir and Bundjalung countries on the mid-north to north coast of NSW), M. australis historically ranged from south of the Macleay River to the Cann River catchment of eastern Victoria (Biripi, Worimi, Darkinjung, Dharug, Dharawal, Kurnai, and Bidwel nations). However, M. australis has not been recorded in any sites south of Sydney for over 30 years and is considered extinct in the state of Victoria. Reintroducing M. australis to Royal National Park in southern Sydney is crucial for the conservation of the species and for preserving their historic range across southeastern Australia.
(Image from S. Mahony via frogid.net.au)
The two locations chosen for the release of M. australis will provide valuable insights into the species' habitat preferences and help determine whether there is environmental resistance to chytrid fungus.
Chytrid disease, a fungal skin infection, has been linked to the decline of numerous amphibian species. It causes illness and infection in frogs. We have selected a rainforest interior site and a rainforest-sclerophyll woodland site for the release. Once the frogs are released, our team will radio-track them for two weeks to monitor any movement outside the selected sites, which could suggest a preference for different habitat conditions. During the rest of our fieldwork, we will be capturing, measuring, swabbing for chytrid, and re-releasing the frogs several nights a week to test for differences in the presence of chytrid between the two sites.
This research could provide critical information for developing future protocols on the reintroduction of captive-bred amphibian populations and their ability to successfully reinhabit areas where their species has disappeared.
Keep an eye on this blog to stay updated as our research progresses!
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