Evaluating monitoring methods to guide adaptive management of a threatened amphibian (<i><scp>L</scp>itoria aurea</i>)

Bower, Deborah S.; Pickett, Evan J.; Stockwell, Michelle P.; Pollard, Carla J.; Garnham, James I.; Sanders, Madeleine R.; Clulow, John; Mahony, Michael

doi:10.1002/ece3.980

Cited by 14 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 22 publications

(28 reference statements)

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“…aurea and other frog species. Standardised visual encounter surveys (VES) were conducted for all ponds and the surrounding terrestrial habitat, and were completed when the search area had been thoroughly searched once with no overlap [ 35 , 36 ]. During each survey, the presence and abundance of all anuran species was recorded.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

We Made Your Bed, Why Won’t You Lie in It? Food Availability and Disease May Affect Reproductive Output of Reintroduced Frogs

et al. 2016

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Mitigation to offset the impacts of land development is becoming increasingly common, with reintroductions and created habitat programs used as key actions. However, numerous reviews cite high rates of poor success from these programs, and a need for improved monitoring and scientific testing to evaluate outcomes and improve management actions. We conducted extensive monitoring of a released population of endangered green and golden bell frogs, Litoria aurea, within a created habitat, as well as complementary surveys of a surrounding wild population. We then compared differences between the created habitat and natural ponds where extant frogs either bred or didn’t breed in order to determine factors that contributed to the breeding failure within the created habitat. We evaluated differences of L. aurea abundance, abundance of other fauna, vegetation, water quality, habitat structure, invasive fish, and disease between the three pond types (created habitat, breeding ponds, non-breeding ponds). We discovered that vegetation and invertebrate diversity were low within the created habitat, potentially reducing energy and nutritional resources required for breeding. Also, a greater proportion of frogs in the created habitat were carrying the chytrid fungal pathogen, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, compared to the wild populations. In addition to causing the potentially fatal disease, chytridiomycosis, this pathogen has been shown to reduce reproductive functioning in male L. aurea, and subsequently may have reduced reproductive activities in the created habitat. Conspecific attraction, pond hydrology, and aquatic vegetation may also have had some influence on breeding behaviours, whilst the presence of the invasive mosquitofish, Gambusia holbrooki, and heterospecific tadpoles were unlikely to have deterred L. aurea from breeding within the created habitat. Through the use of scientific testing and monitoring, this study is able to make recommendations for future amphibian breed and release programs, and suggests planting a diversity of plant species to attract invertebrates, creating some permanent ponds, connecting habitat with existing populations, trialling artificial mating calls, and following recommendations to reduce the prevalence of disease within the population.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

We Made Your Bed, Why Won’t You Lie in It? Food Availability and Disease May Affect Reproductive Output of Reintroduced Frogs

et al. 2016

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“…Standardized visual encounter surveys (VES) involved nocturnal searches for L. aurea within ponds, aquatic vegetation, and surrounding terrestrial microhabitat within 1 m of the edge of the waterbody (Fig. 3) (Bower et al 2014;Crump and Scott 1994). All microhabitat features were inspected and any individuals that were encountered were captured by hand using a disposable plastic bag to prevent disease transmission.…”

Section: Field Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microhabitat selection varies by sex and age class in the endangered green and golden bell frog Litoria aurea

Valdez¹,

Klop‐Toker²,

Stockwell³

et al. 2016

Australian Zoologist

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Although amphibians are one of the most threatened animal groups, little published evidence exists on effective management programs. In order for conservation initiatives to be successful, an understanding of habitat use patterns is required to identify important environmental features. However, habitat use may differ between the different sexes and age classes due to different behavioural and resource requirements. For this study, we compared microhabitat use during the active breeding season among the sexes and age classes in the endangered green and golden bell frog Litoria aurea, a species which has had several failed management programs. We found aquatic vegetation was selected for by every L. aurea class, and should be the focus of future management plans for this species. Females were the only class to select for terrestrial vegetation more than availability. Increasing the amount of terrestrial vegetation around ponds may help encourage female occupancy, and possibly improve management outcomes, as they are typically a limiting resource. Although large rock piles have been used in past L. aurea habitat management, they were selected for by adults and juveniles, but not metamorphs. Therefore, large rocks may not be necessary for captive breeding portions of management initiatives, which typically only involve tadpoles and metamorphs prior to release. The results indicate that the most appropriate management plans should contain a habitat mosaic of various microhabitats, such as a large proportion of aquatic and terrestrial vegetation with patches of bare ground and a small proportion of rocks for basking and shelter. Recognizing differences in microhabitat use patterns between individuals in a population and implementing them into management strategies should be a pivotal step in any conservation plan.

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“…Aquatic biodiversity estimates obtained from conventional monitoring surveys are known to be influenced by the type of sampling method used (Kennard et al 2006, Porreca et al 2013, Bower et al 2014, the sampling season (Fischer andQuist 2014, Jurajda et al 2009) and the sampling effort (Reid and Haxton 2017, Pritt and Frimpong 2014, Ebner et al 2008. In order to obtain robust biodiversity estimates, a thorough understanding of the potential biases of survey methods is essential (Gotelli andColwell 2001, Schmidt 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Monitoring riverine fish communities through eDNA metabarcoding: determining optimal sampling strategies along an altitudinal and biodiversity gradient

Bylemans

Gleeson

Lintermans

et al. 2018

MBMG

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Monitoring aquatic biodiversity through DNA extracted from environmental samples (eDNA) combined with high-throughput sequencing, commonly referred to as eDNA metabarcoding, is increasing in popularity within the scientific community. However, sampling strategies, laboratory protocols and analytical pipelines can influence the results of eDNA metabarcoding surveys. While the impact of laboratory protocols and analytical pipelines have been extensively studied, the importance of sampling strategies on eDNA metabarcoding surveys has not received the same attention. To avoid underestimating local biodiversity, adequate sampling strategies (i.e. sampling intensity and spatial sampling replication) need to be implemented. This study evaluated the impact of sampling strategies along an altitudinal and biodiversity gradient in the upper section of the Murrumbidgee River (Murray-Darling Basin, Australia). An eDNA metabarcoding survey was used to determine the local fish biodiversity and evaluate the influence of sampling intensity and spatial sampling replication on the biodiversity estimates. The results show that optimal eDNA sampling strategies varied between sites and indicate that river morphology, species richness and species abundance affect the optimal sampling intensity and spatial sampling replication needed to accurately assess the fish biodiversity. While the generality of the patterns will need to be confirmed through future studies, these findings provide a basis to guide future eDNA metabarcoding surveys in river systems.

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Evaluating monitoring methods to guide adaptive management of a threatened amphibian (Litoria aurea)

Cited by 14 publications

References 22 publications

We Made Your Bed, Why Won’t You Lie in It? Food Availability and Disease May Affect Reproductive Output of Reintroduced Frogs

We Made Your Bed, Why Won’t You Lie in It? Food Availability and Disease May Affect Reproductive Output of Reintroduced Frogs

Microhabitat selection varies by sex and age class in the endangered green and golden bell frog Litoria aurea

Monitoring riverine fish communities through eDNA metabarcoding: determining optimal sampling strategies along an altitudinal and biodiversity gradient

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