Wetland frogs and turtles Prepared by Dr Skye Wassens (CSU) Introduction The availability of standing water is critical to the survival of frog populations through floodplain wetland systems. Environmental watering actions can be used to maintain frog populations via two key mechanisms: providing refuge habitat that support frog populations during periods of low water availability and through the provision of breeding habitat that allows frog populations to reproduce. Many of the frog species that occupy floodplain habitats have limited capacity to survive extended dry periods, so the maintenance of refuge habitat is critical for the persistence of populations, especially for the vulnerable southern bell frog (Litoria While persistent water is important for keeping frogs alive during raniformis). dry periods, breeding success is typically greater in areas of shallow, temporary habitat. Therefore watering actions targeting breeding outcomes should seek to increase the area of inundation within and around wetlands. The overriding objective of Commonwealth environmental water as it relates to frogs is to the habitat and breeding requirements of native fish and other “support vertebrates”. However, individual watering actions: Nimmie-Caira southern bell frog refuge (north Caira channel), Nimmie-Caira southern bell frog refuge (south Caira channel) and Nap Nap Waugorah were carried out with specific objectives to – refuge habitat for a diverse range of native fish, frogs and turtles and “maintain waterbirds” and the habitat requirements of southern bell frogs (EPBC Act “support Vulnerable)(Table 516).” These watering actions inundated four LTIM surveyed wetlands in 2015-16 including Telephone Creek, Eulimbah Swamp, Avalon Swamp (dam area only) and Waugorah Lagoon. The Redbank watering action inundated one LTIM surveyed site (Two Bridges Swamp). Water was pumped into Yarradda Lagoon in the mid-Murrumbidgee to known native fish and frog community “support established in 2015-16”.
Wetland frogs and turtles Prepared by Dr Skye Wassens (CSU) Introduction The availability of standing water is critical to the survival of frog populations through floodplain wetland systems. Environmental watering actions can be used to maintain frog populations via two key mechanisms: providing refuge habitat that support frog populations during periods of low water availability and through the provision of breeding habitat that allows frog populations to reproduce. Many of the frog species that occupy floodplain habitats have limited capacity to survive extended dry periods, so the maintenance of refuge habitat is critical for the persistence of populations, especially for the vulnerable southern bell frog (Litoria raniformis). While persistent water is important for keeping frogs alive during dry periods, breeding success is typically greater in areas of shallow, temporary habitat. Therefore watering actions targeting breeding outcomes should seek to increase the area of inundation within and around wetlands. The overriding objective of Commonwealth environmental water as it relates to frogs is to “support the habitat and breeding requirements of native fish and other vertebrates”. However, individual watering actions: Nimmie-Caira southern bell frog refuge (north Caira channel), Nimmie-Caira southern bell frog refuge (south Caira channel) and Nap Nap – Waugorah were carried out with specific objectives to “maintain refuge habitat for a diverse range of native fish, frogs and turtles and waterbirds” and “support the habitat requirements of southern bell frogs (EPBC Act Vulnerable)(Table 516).” These watering actions inundated four LTIM surveyed wetlands in 2015-16 including Telephone Creek, Eulimbah Swamp, Avalon Swamp (dam area only) and Waugorah Lagoon. The Redbank watering action inundated one LTIM surveyed site (Two Bridges Swamp). Water was pumped into Yarradda Lagoon in the mid-Murrumbidgee to “support known native fish and frog community established in 2015-16”.
murrumbidgee-ltim-report-2015-16.docx