Conservation status in NSW: Endangered
National conservation status: Endangered
It is no secret that NSW Minister for Resources and Energy, Chris Hartcher, is enthusiastic at the prospect of mining on the Mid and Far North Coast – particularly when it comes to gold and antimony mining on the Dorrigo Plateau.
Local government areas falling within a region which has a population expected to grow more than 28% to around 424,400 by 2031.
NSW Department of Environment and Conservation:
Description
Location and habitat
Distribution
Coast and ranges from south-eastern Queensland to the Hawkesbury River in NSW. North-eastern NSW, particularly the Coffs Harbour-Dorrigo area, is now a stronghold. Considered to have disappeared south of the Hawkesbury and there are no recent records from the Blue Mountains. [my bolding]
- Giant Barred Frogs forage and live amongst deep, damp leaf litter in rainforests, moist eucalypt forest and nearby dry eucalypt forest, at elevations below 1000 m.
- They breed around shallow, flowing rocky streams from late spring to summer.
- Females lay eggs onto moist creek banks or rocks above water level, from where tadpoles drop into the water when hatched.
- Tadpoles grow to a length of 80 mm and take up to 14 months before changing into frogs. When not breeding the frogs disperse hundreds of metres away from streams. They feed primarily on large insects and spiders.
- Reduction in water quality, from sedimentation or pollution.
- Changes in water flow patterns, either increased or decreased flows.
- Reduction of leaf-litter and fallen log cover through burning.
- Timber harvesting and other forestry practices.
- Vegetation clearance.
- Predation on eggs and tadpoles by introduced fish.
- Weed spraying close to streams.
- Chytrid fungal disease.
No comments:
Post a Comment