{"id":8629,"date":"2024-05-27T03:14:37","date_gmt":"2024-05-27T03:14:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/terrain.org.au\/pond-apple-survey-copy\/"},"modified":"2024-05-27T03:44:34","modified_gmt":"2024-05-27T03:44:34","slug":"mountain-top-nursery-frog","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/terrain.org.au\/mountain-top-nursery-frog\/","title":{"rendered":"Help for a critically-endangered frog"},"content":{"rendered":"[mk_page_section bg_image=”https:\/\/terrain.org.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/web-banner-lowland-rainforest-broadwater-dawe.jpg” bg_position=”center center” bg_repeat=”no-repeat” bg_stretch=”true” enable_3d=”true” min_height=”500″ js_vertical_centered=”true” padding_top=”” padding_bottom=”” section_id=”donate” el_class=”donate-1″ sidebar=”sidebar-1″][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”70px”][mk_fancy_title font_family=”none” align=”center”]MOUNTAIN-TOP NURSERY FROG[\/mk_fancy_title][mk_padding_divider size=”67″][\/vc_column][\/mk_page_section][mk_page_section section_id=”great-1″ sidebar=”sidebar-1″][vc_column width=”1\/2″ css=”.vc_custom_1563789112768{padding-right: 36px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}” el_class=”great_header_left”][mk_padding_divider size=”100″ visibility=”hidden-nb”][mk_padding_divider size=”15″ visibility=”visible-sm”][mk_padding_divider visibility=”visible-tl”][mk_fancy_title size=”28″ letter_spacing=”4″ margin_bottom=”0″ font_family=”none” el_class=”terrain-title-2″]HELP FOR A CRITICALLY-ENDANGERED FROG[\/mk_fancy_title][mk_padding_divider size=”60″ visibility=”hidden-nb”][mk_padding_divider size=”20″ visibility=”visible-nb”][vc_column_text el_class=”sub-head” css=”.vc_custom_1716250523986{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]MAY 2024[\/vc_column_text][mk_padding_divider size=”5″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1716780674740{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]The critically endangered mountain-top nursery frog has jumped into the spotlight as a new project starts, aimed at improving its chances of survival.<\/p>\n

The mountain-top nursery frog is only found near Mt Lewis, west of Port Douglas.<\/p>\n

Terrain NRM secured funding this week through the Australian Government\u2019s Saving Native Species (Priority Species) Grants for a project focused on protecting the rare frog\u2019s breeding sites at the heights of Mt Lewis National Park.<\/p>\n

Reducing threats to mountain-top nursery frogs<\/strong><\/p>\n

The project aims to reduce threats to the survival of the mountain top nursery frog and will be delivered by Terrain in partnership with Western Yalanji traditional owners, James Cook University researchers, Gulf Savannah NRM and the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service.<\/p>\n

Project leader Dr Andrew Dennis said feral pigs were a major threat and pig exclusion fencing would be installed around known frog breeding sites. Pig control measures would also begin soon, as well as species monitoring work.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese frogs are only found in dense, small-leafed, or microphyll rainforest at altitudes above 1100 metres \u2013 they\u2019re considered to be one of the most range-restricted frog species in Australia,\u201d Dr Dennis said. \u201cBecause of this they\u2019re extremely vulnerable to the effects of climate change from warming to changes in rainfall and cloud distribution.<\/p>\n

Focus on feral pigs<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cFeral pigs are another big threat, and pigs are increasing in numbers at high altitudes and disturbing and in some cases destroying the small palms and woody debris that are critical habitat for the mountain top nursery frog.<\/p>\n

\u201cWestern Yalanji traditional owners will help monitor exclosure fencing and with surveying the feral pig damage on Mt Lewis, and we\u2019ll work with Queensland Parks and Wildlife rangers on the most effective control measures.<\/p>\n

\u201cAbout 2000 square metres of frog breeding habitat will be fenced off.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will also be partnering with James Cook University on research to monitor protected and unprotected habitat, looking at the breeding success of mountain top nursery frogs, the amount of woody debris and the numbers of small palm trees (Linospadix apetiolatus) that they live in and near.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″ css=”.vc_custom_1563789122720{padding-right: 0px !important;padding-left: 34px !important;}” el_class=”great_header_right”][mk_padding_divider size=”206″ visibility=”hidden-sm”][mk_padding_divider size=”50″ visibility=”hidden-sm”][mk_padding_divider size=”50″ visibility=”hidden-sm”][mk_padding_divider size=”5″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1716780742100{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]\"\"<\/p>\n

A way to help other frog species<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWe are excited to have funding to work together and find the best ways to help this tiny, critically endangered frog. It faces the same challenges as a suite of other mountain top frogs with tiny distributions, so anything we learn from this project may help other similar species.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe hope these protection measures will allow maximum survival and reproduction, to give the species its best chance of being resilient to climate change, and will also guide measures to build resilience in other frog species in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n

FAST FACTS: MOUNTAIN TOP NURSERY FROGS<\/strong>
\n– Listed nationally as critically endangered
\n– One of the most range-restricted frogs in Australia \u2013 they are only found on high mountain top ridges near Mt Lewis west of Port Douglas
\n– Adults are 2cm or smaller
\n– The males call from elevated spots in the small palms, and that\u2019s where they also protect small clusters of eggs which develop into froglets within the egg.<\/p>\n

Image: AJ Dennis[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/mk_page_section][mk_page_section el_class=”grean-btn-sec” sidebar=”sidebar-1″][vc_column][mk_padding_divider size=”47″ visibility=”hidden-sm”][mk_button dimension=”outline” url=”https:\/\/terrain.org.au\/what-we-do\/waterway-health\/murray-and-mossman\/” align=”right” el_class=”green-btn” outline_skin=”custom” outline_active_color=”#175137″ outline_active_text_color=”#ffffff” outline_hover_bg_color=”#175137″ outline_hover_color=”#ffffff”]Read More[\/mk_button][mk_padding_divider size=”100″ visibility=”hidden-sm”][\/vc_column][\/mk_page_section][mk_page_section section_id=”great-1-blog” sidebar=”sidebar-1″][vc_column][mk_padding_divider size=”105″ visibility=”hidden-sm”][mk_fancy_title size=”28″ letter_spacing=”4″ margin_bottom=”0″ font_family=”none” align=”right” el_class=”terrain-title”]RELATED NEWS[\/mk_fancy_title][mk_padding_divider visibility=”hidden-sm”][\/vc_column][\/mk_page_section][vc_row fullwidth=”true” fullwidth_content=”false” id=”post_grid_filter_1″][vc_column][vc_column_text el_class=”grid_greate_3″ css=”.vc_custom_1598408950187{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]\n

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