Frogs of the Litoria aurea complex were common and widespread in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory before they apparently suffered a major decline in abundance at the end of the 1970s. The extent of population declines in the species complex has been assessed by examination of museum specimens and records, evaluation of reports by experienced herpetologists and by undertaking field surveys, particularly in the Canberra region. Examination of museum material confirmed that three taxa occurred in the Southern Tablelands; L. aurea, L. raniformis and L. flavipunctata. Litoria aurea occurred only in the northern half of the Southern Tablelands, extending as far south as Canberra and Braidwood; L. raniformis occurred throughout much of the region at altitudes up to about 1 300 metres, but may not have occurred east of Lake George; and L. flavipunctata apparently had a restricted distribution near Canberra, Bombala and Delegate. Opportunistic surveys conducted since 1985 indicate that all members of the complex have disappeared from an extensive area of the Southern Tablelands centred on Canberra. Surveys have not been conducted in the southern Monaro or along the eastern edge of the tablelands where remnant populations may still occur. Long-term records of precipitation indicate that a series of severe droughts correlates with the period when members of the L aurea complex disappeared from the Southern Tablelands. However, the frogs also vanished from well-watered sites such as rivers, urban lakes and pools located in botanic gardens. This indicates that other unknown factors are likely to have been involved in the declines. Surveys to locate any remnant populations should be given a high priority and further research is required to determine the extent to which disease, climate change, increasing ultraviolet radiation and spread of the fish Gambusia influenced the population declines.
Bragg, N. A., 1960. Population fluctuations in the amphibian fauna of Cleveland county, Okalahoma during the past twenty-five years. Southwest Naturalist 5: 165-69.
,
Population fluctuations in the amphibian fauna of Cleveland county, Okalahoma during the past twenty-five years
, Southwest Naturalist
, vol. 5
(pg. 165
-69
) Blaustein, A. R. and Wake, D. B., 1995. The puzzle of declining amphibian populations. Scientific American April 1995: 56-61.
,
The puzzle of declining amphibian populations
, Scientific American
(pg. 56
-61
) Blaustein, A. R., Hoffman, P. D., Hokit, D. G., Kiesecker, J. F., Walls, S. C. and Hays, J., 1994. UV repair and resistance to solar UV-B in amphibaian eggs: a link to population declines? Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 91: 1791-95.
,
UV repair and resistance to solar UV-B in amphibaian eggs: a link to population declines?
, Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA
, vol. 91
(pg. 1791
-95
) Brook, A. J., 1983. Atlas of Australian Anura. Publication No. 7, Department of Zoology, University of Melbourne.
Cogger, H. G., 1992. Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia. Rev. Ed. Reed: Sydney.
,
Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia
Courtice, G. P. and Grigg, C. C., 1975. A taxonomic revision of the Litoria aurea complex (Anura: Hylidae) in south-eastern Australia. Aust. Zool. 18: 149-63
,
A taxonomic revision of the Litoria aurea complex (Anura: Hylidae) in south-eastern Australia
, Aust. Zool.
, vol. 18
(pg. 149
-63
) Copland, S. J., 1957. Presidential address. Australian tree frogs of the genus Hyla. Proceedings of the Linnoean Society of New South Wales. 82: 9-108.
,
Presidential address. Australian tree frogs of the genus Hyla
, Proceedings of the Linnoean Society of New South Wales
, vol. 82
(pg. 9
-108
) Corn, P. S. and Fogleman, J. C., 1984. Extinction of montane populations of the northern Leopard Frog (Rana pipiens) in Colorado. Journal of Herpetology 18: 147-52.
,
Extinction of montane populations of the northern Leopard Frog (Rana pipiens) in Colorado
, Journal of Herpetology
, vol. 18
(pg. 147
-52
) Daly, G., 1995. Observations on the Green and Golden Bell Frog (Litoria aurea) (Anura: Hylidae) in southern New South Wales. Herpetofauna 25(1): 2-9.
,
Observations on the Green and Golden Bell Frog (Litoria aurea) (Anura: Hylidae) in southern New South Wales
, Herpetofauna
, vol. 25
(pg. 2
-9
) Daniell, T. M., 1986. The drought of 1979183 and its effect on the operation and design of Canberra's water supply system. Pp. 1-22 in The Drought of 197942: A Management Study ed by M. N. Viswanathan. Hunter District Water Board: Newcastle.
,
The Drought of 197942: A Management Study
(pg. 1
-22
) Harrison, L., 1922. On the breeding habits of some Australian frogs. Asst. Zool. 3: 17-34.
,
On the breeding habits of some Australian frogs
, Asst. Zool.
, vol. 3
(pg. 17
-34
) Hayes, M. P. and Jennings, M. R., 1986. Decline of Ranid frog species in western North America: Are bull frogs (Rana catesbeiana) responsible? Journal of Herpetology 20: 490-509.
,
Decline of Ranid frog species in western North America: Are bull frogs (Rana catesbeiana) responsible?
, Journal of Herpetology
, vol. 20
(pg. 490
-509
) Heyer, W. R., Rand, A. S., Goncalvez, da Cruz, C. A. and Peixoto, O. L., 1988. Decimations, extinctions, and colonizations of frog populations in south-east Brazil and their evolutionary implications. Biotropica 20: 320-35.
,
Decimations, extinctions, and colonizations of frog populations in south-east Brazil and their evolutionary implications
, Biotropica
, vol. 20
(pg. 320
-35
) Hero, J-M., Littlejohn, M. J. and Marantelli, G., 1991. Frogwatch Field Guide to Victorian Frogs. Department of Conservation and Environment: Victoria.
,
Frogwatch Field Guide to Victorian Frogs
Honegger, R. E., 1981. Threatened Amphibians and Reptiles of Europe. Akad. Verlagsges.: Wiesbaden, Germany.
,
Threatened Amphibians and Reptiles of Europe
Humphries, R. B., 1979. Dynamics of a breeding frog community. Ph.D. Thesis, Australian National University: Canberra.
Ferraro, T. J., and Burgin, S., 1993. Review of environmental factors influencing the decline of Australian frogs. Pp. 205-18 in Herpetology in Australia: A Diverse Discipline ed by D. Lunney and D. Ayres. Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales: Mosman.
,
Herpetology in Australia: A Diverse Discipline
(pg. 205
-18
) Laurance, W- F., McDonald, K. R. and Speer, R., in press. Epidemic disease and the catastrophic decline of Australian rainforest frogs. Conservation Biology.
Littlejohn, M. J., 1980. The frogs of French Island and Phillip Island. Victorian Naturalist 97: 232-34.
,
The frogs of French Island and Phillip Island
, Victorian Naturalist
, vol. 97
(pg. 232
-34
) Lunney, D. and Ayers, D., 1993. The official status of frogs and reptiles in new South Wales. Pp. 404-08 in Herpetology in Australia: A Diverse Discipline ed by D. Lunney and D. Ayres. Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales: Mosman.
,
Herpetology in Australia: A Diverse Discipline
(pg. 404
-08
) McDonald, K. R., 1990. Rheobatrachus Liem and Taudaatylus Straughan and Lee (Anura: Leptodactylidae) in Eungella National Park, Queensland: distribution and decline. Trans. Roy. Soc. Sth Amt. 114: 187-94.
,
Rheobatrachus Liem and Taudaatylus Straughan and Lee (Anura: Leptodactylidae) in Eungella National Park, Queensland: distribution and decline
, Trans. Roy. Soc. Sth Amt.
, vol. 114
(pg. 187
-94
) Mahony, M., 1996. The decline of the Green and Golden Bell Frog Litoria aurea viewed in the context of declines and disappearances of other Australian frogs. Aust. Zool. 30(2): 237-47.
,
The decline of the Green and Golden Bell Frog Litoria aurea viewed in the context of declines and disappearances of other Australian frogs
, Aust. Zool.
, vol. 30
(pg. 237
-47
) Moore, J. A., 1961. The frogs of eastern New South Wales. Bul. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. 121: 149-386.
,
The frogs of eastern New South Wales
, Bul. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist.
, vol. 121
(pg. 149
-386
) Osborne, W. S., 1986. Frogs of the Canberra region. Bogong 7: 10-12.
,
Frogs of the Canberra region
, Bogong
, vol. 7
(pg. 10
-12
) Osborne, W. S., 1990. Declining frog populations and extinctions in the Canberra region. Bogong 11: 4-7.
,
Declining frog populations and extinctions in the Canberra region
, Bogong
, vol. 11
(pg. 4
-7
) Osborne, W. S., 1992. Declines and extinctions in populations of frogs in the ACT: a discussion paper. Report 92/8, Australian Capital Territory Parks and Conservation Service: Canberra.
Osborne, W, S., 1989. Distribution relative abundance and conservation status of corroboree frogs, Pseudophryne corroboree Moore (Anura; Myobatrachidae). Aust. Wild. Res. 16: 537-47.
,
Distribution relative abundance and conservation status of corroboree frogs, Pseudophryne corroboree Moore (Anura; Myobatrachidae)
, Aust. Wild. Res.
, vol. 16
(pg. 537
-47
) Pechmann, J. H. K., Scott, D. E., Semlitsch, R. D., Cadlwell, J. P., Vitt, L. J. and Gibbons, J. W., 1991. Declining amphibian populations: The problem of separating human impacts from natural fluctuations. Science 253: 892-95.
,
Declining amphibian populations: The problem of separating human impacts from natural fluctuations
, Science
, vol. 253
(pg. 892
-95
) Rauhala, M., 1993. The reptile, amphibian and mammal fauna of the Stony Creek Nature Reserve, Australian Capital Territory. Australian Capital Territory Parks and Conservation Service, Technical Report No 6, Canberra.
Rauhala, M., 1995. The reptile, amphibian and mammal fauna of the Cigerline Nature Reserve, Australian Capital Territory. Australian Capital Territory Parks and Conservation Service, Technical Report No II, Canberra.
Richards, S. V., McDonald, K. R. and Alford, R. A., 1993. Declines in populations of Australia's endemic tropical rainforest frogs. Pacific Conservation Biology 1: 66-77.
,
Declines in populations of Australia's endemic tropical rainforest frogs
, Pacific Conservation Biology
, vol. 1
(pg. 66
-77
) Thomson, S. A., Littlejohn, M. J., Robinson, W. A. and Osborne, W. S., 1996. Taxonomy of the Litoria aurea complex: a re-evaluation of the Southern Tablelands populations of the Australian Capital Territory and New South Wales. Aust. Zool. 30(2): 158-69.
,
Taxonomy of the Litoria aurea complex: a re-evaluation of the Southern Tablelands populations of the Australian Capital Territory and New South Wales
, Aust. Zool.
, vol. 30
(pg. 158
-69
) Trennery, M. J., Laurence, W. F, and McDonald, K. R., 1994. Further evidence for the precipitous decline of endemic rainforest frogs in tropical Australia. Pacific Conservation Biology 1: 150-53.
,
Further evidence for the precipitous decline of endemic rainforest frogs in tropical Australia
, Pacific Conservation Biology
, vol. 1
(pg. 150
-53
) Tyler, M. J., 1976. Frogs. Collins: Sydney.
,
Frogs
Tyler, M. J., 1991. Declining amphibian populations — a global phenomenon? An Australian perspective. Alytes 9: 43-50.
,
Declining amphibian populations — a global phenomenon? An Australian perspective
, Alytes
, vol. 9
(pg. 43
-50
) van de Mortel, T. F. and Buttemer, W. A., 1996. Are Litoria aurea eggs more sensitive to ultraviolet-B radiation than eggs of sympatric L. peroni or L. dentala? Aust. Zool. 30(2): 150-57.
,
Are Litoria aurea eggs more sensitive to ultraviolet-B radiation than eggs of sympatric L. peroni or L. dentala?
, Aust. Zool.
, vol. 30
(pg. 150
-57
) Watson, G. F. and Littlejohn, M. J., 1985. Patterns of distribution, speciation and vicariance biogeography of southeastern Australian amphibians. Pp. 91-97 in Biology of Australasian Frogs and Reptiles ed by G. Grigg, R. Shine and H. Ehmann. Surrey Beatty & Sons: Sydney.
,
Biology of Australasian Frogs and Reptiles
(pg. 91
-97
)
This content is only available as a PDF.
