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Pseudophryne corroboree
– Critically Endangered
Taxonomy
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Kingdom:
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ANIMALIA
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Phylum:
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CHORDATA
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Class:
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AMPHIBIA
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Order:
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ANURA
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Family:
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MYOBATRACHIDAE
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Scientific Name:
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Pseudophryne corroboree
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Species Authority:
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Moore, 1953
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Common Name/s:
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CORROBOREE FROG (Eng)
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Assessment Information
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Red List Category & Criteria:
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CR A2ace+3ce; B2ab(ii,iii,iv,v); C1 ver 3.1 (2001)
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Year Assessed:
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2004
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Assessor/s:
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Gillespie, G., Robertson, P. & Lemckert, F.
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Evaluator/s:
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Stuart, S., Chanson, J. & Cox, N. (Global Amphibian Assessment Coordinating Team)
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Justification:
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Listed as Critically Endangered because of an observed drastic population decline estimated to be more than 80% over the last ten years, and a projected decline of more than 80% over the next ten years, perhaps due to chytridiomycosis; and because its area of occupancy is less than 10 km², its distribution is severely fragmented, and there is continuing decline in its area of occupancy, in the extent and quality of its habitat, in the number of subpopulations and in the number of mature individuals; and because its population size is estimated to number fewer than 250 mature individuals and there is an expected continuing decline of at least 25% within three years or one generation.
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History:
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| 1994 | - | Vulnerable (Groombridge 1994) |
| 1996 | - | Endangered (Baillie and Groombridge 1996) |
| 2001 | - | Critically Endangered (IUCN 2002) |
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Geographic Range
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Range Description:
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Prior to the detailed survey undertaken by Osborne (1989), there were museum records of P. corroboree from only seven locations, all in the Snowy Mountains of southeastern New South Wales, Australia (Guthega, Smiggin Holes, Happy Jacks Plain, Round Mt., Alpine Hut, Pretty Plain and Tooma Swamp). Osborne (1989) subsequently recorded the species at most of these sites (although was unable to find the species near Guthega and Alpine Hut) in a survey that included 257 potential breeding sites, recording the species at 63 locations. The extent of occurrence of the species was reported to be about 400 km² in a relatively narrow band between 1,240 and 1,710 m asl (Osborne 1989). Osborne, Hunter and Hollis (1999) surveyed 170 potentially suitable breeding sites across the known historical range of the species and detected P. corroboree still inhabiting 63 sites during the period 1995-1998. However, in this survey only a single individual was found in the southernmost extent of the former range, few extant populations were found along the entire eastern edge of the former distribution and only a single individual was found at low-altitude sites near Tooma Dam in the northern Snowy Mountains. In the central region of the former distribution the species was only located at 21 sites with the numbers at each site being critically low. This represents an extensive collapse of the population in this region.
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Range Map:
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 (click for detailed map)
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Countries:
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Native:
Australia (Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales)
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Population
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Population:
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The population size in the wild is now believed to number fewer than 250 mature individuals.
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Population Trend:
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Habitat and Ecology
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Habitat and Ecology:
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The Corroboree Frog is a habitat specialist, restricted to montane and sub-alpine woodlands, heathland and grassland above about 1,000 m asl. Breeding sites are associated with shallow pools, fens, seepages, wet grassland, and wet heaths. Non-breeding habitat occurs in forest, woodland and heath adjacent to breeding sites. It breeds in shallow pools or seepages. Osborne (1990b) summarised the main features of their reproductive ecology (after Pengilley 1966, 1971, 1973; W.S. Osborne unpubl.). Field measurements (Pengilley 1973) suggest that the species reaches sexual maturity at three years of age (i.e., one year as an embryo/tadpole and two years as a juvenile/sub-adult), which is consistent with observations of captive-reared individuals (Osborne 1990b). It is unlikely that many adults survive for more than one breeding season (Osborne 1990b). Breeding occurs from January to February (Pengilley 1966, 1973; W.S. Osborne unpubl.) and 16-40 eggs (Pengilley 1973) of ovum diameter 3.1-3.6 mm (capsule diameter 6.0-10.0 mm W.S. Osborne unpubl.) are deposited terrestrially (Pengilley 1966; W. Osborne unpubl.). Tadpoles develop within the egg capsule and hatching occurs when high ground-water levels after rain cause the nest to become flooded (Osborne 1990b). Hatching occurs at four to six months (W.S. Osborne unpubl.) and the tadpole development period is six to eight months (Pengilley 1966, 1973; W.S. Osborne unpubl.). Metamorphosis occurs between December and early February (Pengilley 1966, 1973; W.S. Osborne unpubl.).
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System:
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Terrestrial; Freshwater
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List of Habitats:
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| 1.4 | Forest - Temperate |
| 3.7 | Shrubland - Subtropical/Tropical High Altitude |
| 4.7 | Grassland - Subtropical/Tropical High Altitude |
| 5.4 | Wetlands (inland) - Bogs, Marshes, Swamps, Fens, Peatlands |
| 5.10 | Wetlands (inland) - Tundra Wetlands (incl. pools and temporary waters from snowmelt) |
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Threats
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Threats:
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The Corroboree Frog is one of a number of Australian alpine amphibian species that have experienced pronounced population declines for unknown reasons (Osborne, Hunter and Hollis 1999). There is no single aspect of the field biology of these species that stands out as a feature in common, and that might help explain the declines (Osborne, Hunter and Hollis 1999). Pseudophryne pengilleyi is still widespread and abundant at lower altitudes (Osborne, Hunter and Hollis 1999). Osborne, Hunter and Hollis (1999) reviewed some of the possible factors contributing to population declines at high altitudes including long-term weather patterns and pathogens such as the chytrid fungus (Berger, Speare and Hyatt 1999). Chytrid fungus has recently been detected in museum specimens of the Corroboree Frog by R. Speare, although the level of virulence in wild populations is unknown (W.S. Osborne pers. comm.). Planting of exotic trees, such as Willows (Salix spp.), has been widespread in the Snowy Mountains (Osborne 1990b). Although no breeding sites are directly threatened by willow invasion, in the longer-term the spread of willows by vegetative growth along seepages and streams might present a problem for the management of some sites (Osborne 1990b). Excavation by feral pigs has also been identified as a potentially threatening process (Osborne 1990b; W.S. Osborne pers. comm.). The bushfires of 2002/2003 destroyed over 90% of the species' habitat.
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List of Threats:
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| 1.4.3 | Habitat Loss/Degradation - Infrastructure development - Tourism/recreation (ongoing) |
| 1.5 | Habitat Loss/Degradation - Invasive alien species (present, future) |
| 6.1.1 | Pollution (affecting habitat and/or species) - Atmospheric pollution - Global warming/oceanic warming (ongoing) |
| 6.1.3 | Pollution (affecting habitat and/or species) - Atmospheric pollution - Ozone hole effects (ongoing) |
| 7.4 | Natural disasters - Wildfire (ongoing) |
| 8.5 | Changes in native species dynamics - Pathogens/parasites (ongoing) |
| 12 | Unknown (past, present) |
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Conservation Actions
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Conservation Actions:
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Research is currently being undertaken to examine the potential role of captive husbandry in aiding the recovery of small populations through direct manipulation of recruitment to the terrestrial development stage (Hunter et al. 1999). The range of the species includes Kosciusko National Park. Since 2001, Melbourne Zoo has raised/maintained tadpoles and frogs as part of the national recovery program. After the devastating bushfires of 2003/2003, all eggs were removed from the wild to increase the intensity of the captive-breeding program.
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List of Conservation Actions:
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| 1.1.1 | Policy-based actions - Management plans - Development (in place) |
| 1.1.2 | Policy-based actions - Management plans - Implementation (in place) |
| 1.2.1.2 | Policy-based actions - Legislation - Development - National level (in place) |
| 1.2.1.3 | Policy-based actions - Legislation - Development - Sub-national level (in place) |
| 1.2.2.2 | Policy-based actions - Legislation - Implementation - National level (in place) |
| 1.2.2.3 | Policy-based actions - Legislation - Implementation - Sub-national level (in place) |
| 1.3.1 | Policy-based actions - Community management - Governance (in place) |
| 1.3.2 | Policy-based actions - Community management - Resource stewardship (in place) |
| 2.2 | Communication and Education - Awareness (in place) |
| 3.2 | Research actions - Population numbers and range (in place) |
| 3.3 | Research actions - Biology and Ecology (in place, needed) |
| 3.4 | Research actions - Habitat status (in place) |
| 3.5 | Research actions - Threats (needed) |
| 3.8 | Research actions - Conservation measures (needed) |
| 3.9 | Research actions - Trends/Monitoring (in place) |
| 4.1 | Habitat and site-based actions - Maintenance/Conservation (in place) |
| 4.4.1 | Habitat and site-based actions - Protected areas - Identification of new protected areas (in place) |
| 4.4.2 | Habitat and site-based actions - Protected areas - Establishment (in place) |
| 4.4.3 | Habitat and site-based actions - Protected areas - Management (in place) |
| 4.4.4 | Habitat and site-based actions - Protected areas - Expansion (in place) |
| 5.1 | Species-based actions - Re-introductions (in place, needed) |
| 5.4 | Species-based actions - Recovery management (in place) |
| 5.5 | Species-based actions - Disease, pathogen, parasite management (in place, needed) |
| 5.7.1 | Species-based actions - Ex situ conservation actions - Captive breeding/Artificial propagation (in place) |
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Bibliography
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Bibliography:
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Amphibian Data. For additional documentation about utilization and CITES status, click on the Global Amphibian Assessment (GAA) link above to see the GAA account for this species or alternatively follow this link to the search function on the Global Amphibian Assessment web site and run your own search. Baillie, J. and Groombridge, B. (compilers and editors) 1996. 1996 IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland. Berger, L., Speare, R. and Hyatt, A. 1999. Chytrid fungi and amphibian declines: overview, implications and future directions. In: A. Campbell (ed.), Declines and Disappearances of Australian Frogs, pp. 23-33. Environment Australia, Canberra. Groombridge, B. (ed.) 1994. 1994 IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland. Hunter, D., Osborne, W., Marantelli, G. and Green, K. 1999. Implementation of a population augmentation project for remnant populations of the Southern Corroboree Frog (Pseudophryne corroboree). In: A. Campbell (ed.), Declines and Disappearances of Australian Frogs, pp. 158-167. Environment Australia, Canberra. IUCN. 2002. 2002 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. . Downloaded on 8 October 2002. Osborne, W., Hunter, D. and Hollis, G. 1999. Population declines and range contraction in Australian alpine frogs. In: Campbell, A. (ed.), Declines and Disappearances of Australian Frogs, pp. 145-157. Environment Australia, Canberra. Osborne, W.S. 1989. Distribution, relative abundance and conservation status of Corroboree Frogs, Pseudophryne corroboree (Anura: Myobatrachidae). Australian Wildlife Research 16: 537-547. Osborne, W.S. 1990. The biology and management of the Corroboree Frog (Pseudophryne corroboree) in NSW. In: Species Management Report No. 8. National Parks and Wildlife Service, Hurtsville, NSW. Osborne, W.S. and Norman, J.A. 1991. Conservation Genetics of Corroboree Frogs Pseudophryne corroboree Moore (Anura: Myobatrachidae): population subdivision and genetic divergence. Australian Journal of Zoology 39: 285-297. Pengilley, R. 1973. Breeding Biology of some species of Pseudophryne (Anura: Leptodactylidae) of the Southern Highlands New South Wales. Australian Journal of Zoology 18(1): 15-30. Pengilley, R.K. 1966. The biology of the genus Pseudophryne (Anura: Leptodactylidae). MSc. thesis, Australian National University, Canberra. Pengilley, R.K. 1971. Calling and associated behaviour of some species of Pseudophryne (Anura: Leptodactylidae). Journal of Zoology 163: 73-92. Tyler, M.J. 1997. The Action Plan for Australian Frogs. Wildlife Australia, Canberra, ACT.
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