The decline of the Green and Golden Bell Frog Litoria aurea viewed in the context of declines and disappearances of other Australian frogs

Abstract

The Green and Golden Bell Frog Litoria aurea has undergone a reduction in range and significant population declines during the past 15 years. In this paper the decline is viewed from the perspective of declines and disappearances of other species of frog along the east coast of Australia. In contrast to L. aurea most declines affected species occurring at high altitude with relatively restricted ranges. These species typically bred in streams, adults were closely associated with stream habitats, and anthropogenic impacts such as habitat destruction, pollution or introduced predators have not been identified. The decline of the Green and Golden Bell Frog accords in part with this pattern, high altitude populations have disappeared and low altitude populations have declined. However, the habitat of adults and breeding sites are typically associated with ponds and swamps not streams. Because the causal agent responsible for declines has not been identified, an experimental approach is considered to be necessary to identify the causal agent, in addition to monitoring and field observations.