Frogs

Problem:
We know Queensland's highland rainforest frogs have suddenly disappeared.  We do not know why.

Background Information:
In the last 20 years, at least 14 species of Queensland frogs have become extremely rare or have disappeared from their mountain rainforest streams. This relatively recent phenomenon of amphibian disappearance is not limited to Queensland, but is occurring on a world wide scale.

Suggested causes for the frog decline have included the effects of acid rain, pesticide residues carried in mists and fog, UV radiation effects on eggs, unusual weather, effects of feral pigs, natural population fluctuations, and the toxic consequences of exotic viruses possibly introduced by imported aquarium fish. More recently, the Chytrid fungus has been implicated.

Research:
Queensland Museum honorary Glen Ingram first documented the demise of south-eastern Queensland frogs in 1979.  Acknowledgment that the problem was global was to take a further 11 years.  Researchers from Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage, Queensland University, James Cook University and Griffith University are now addressing the problem.

Solution:
There is, as yet, no widely-accepted hypothesis to explain the phenomenon of disappearing frogs.  However, a Chytrid fungus from the northern hemisphere has recently been investigated as a possible cause of the problem in Queensland frogs.

Waterfall Frog, Litoria nannotis

Found in the Wet Tropics, northern Queensland.  In fast-flowing streams around waterfalls, on trees or in leaf litter. 80 – 1300m, now mostly absent 400m.  At high altitudes this species has declined since 1990.

Australian Lace-Lid, Nyctimystes dayi

Found in the Wet Tropics, northern Queensland 0-1200m. Now entirely absent above 300m.  At high altitudes this species has declined since 1989.

Northern Platypus Frog, Rheobatrachus vitellinus

Found in mid-eastern Queensland.  The female carries her young in her stomach.  This species has not been seen since 1985.

Fleay's Barred Frog, Mixophyes fleayi
Found in south-eastern Queensland and northern New South Wales.  This species has declined in numbers since the late 1970s.  It is now restricted to isolated localities.

The next species is the Freshwater Tiger Crab