pwcs t4 project proposal: on the green golden bell frog · green & golden bell frog in nsw –...
TRANSCRIPT
![Page 1: PWCS T4 project proposal: on the Green Golden Bell Frog · Green & Golden Bell Frog in NSW – 1995 to 2007 • Populations 23% lost • Only about 40 populations remaining in 2007,](https://reader033.vdocument.in/reader033/viewer/2022052816/60adbe51797caa76785faf52/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
PWCS T4 project proposal:Impacts on the Green & Golden
Bell Frog
Prof Graham H. Pyke (UTS)Representing the NSW Frog &
Tadpole Study Group
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Main points
• GGBF critically endangered, within NSW, within the Hunter region and at Kooragang
• Single highly‐significant population of GGBFs on Kooragang/ Ash islands; it needs to be managed as such
• Assessing impacts of human activities on GGBF populations rests on breeding habitat
• T4 project will probably lead to population extinction; ‘death by several cuts’
• Contribution of proposed offset area to GGBF conservation is close to zero
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GGBF‐ Heading for extinction
• Up to 1995‐ over 80% loss
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Green & Golden Bell Frog in NSW –1995 to 2007
• Populations23% lost
• Only about 40 populations remaining in 2007, out of thousands
• More disappeared since 2007
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GGBFs in Upper Hunter
• 8 recorded sites
• Possibly all gone
• One site uncertain
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GGBFs in Middle Hunter
• 8 recorded sites
• Probably all gone
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GGBFs in Lower Hunter
• Probably only Kooragang/ Ash Island still extant
• Sig population
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GGBFs on Kooragang/ Ash Island
• Scattered records of GGBFs
• Single, large population
• Development areas treated as separate
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GGBF population size on Kooragang/ Ash Island
• The trend is in the wrong direction!
1,995 2,000 2,005 2,010 2,015YEAR
0
200
400
600
800
1,000
# G
GB
F ad
ults
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GGBF breeding and assessing human impacts
NO:• Calling (by males)• Eggs• Immatures• AdultsYES:• Tadpoles• Metamorphs
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Impacts on GGBFs on Kooragang island
• GGBF breeding habitat lostBHPB
1.4ha => 0.7haNCIG
0.8ha
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Impacts on GGBFs on Kooragang island
• GGBF breeding habitat lostBHPB & NCIG
1.5ha PWCS
5.1haDeath by three cuts
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GGBFs in Ramsar wetland
• Kooragang population declines => Fewer GGBFs in Ramsarwetland
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No worries? – New breeding habitat on
the way
• Success unlikely & will take timeRecipe not worked out
Previous such attempts have mostly failed
Max success rate only ~10%
Outcome requires at least 3 years
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Proposed Brundee offset area:Contribution to GGBF conservation?
• NegligibleGGBF
records few & restricted in location
No breeding habitat
Potential to develop breeding habitat
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Impact of proposed T4 project on GGBF
• Likely extinction of Kooragang/ Ash Island population
• Negligible contribution to GGBF conservation from proposed offset area
T4 bad news for GGBF