Inadvertent translocation of amphibians in the shipment of agricultural produce into New South Wales: its extent and conservation implications

Abstract

The recent global decline of amphibians has been as pronounced in Australia as anywhere else on earth. Although the exact causes of this decline are uncertain, the translocation of individuals between populations is likely to exacerbate the problem. Translocation has the potential to adversely affect recipient populations through increased competition, predation, the introduction of diseases and parasites, and by disruption to the integrity of local gene pools through hybridization. One avenue for human-assisted translocation of amphibians is through their inadvertent transportation in shipments of agricultural produce. It was found that at least 7 130 frogs per annum are translocated into New South Wales in shipments of bananas. Of these, no fewer than 5 044 are subsequently liberated at the point of destination, often deliberately into natural environments where local frog populations already exist. This broad-scale and widespread liberation of translocated frogs has the potential to adversely affect frog populations in New South Wales. We propose several strategies for reducing the conservation problems associated with the inadvertent translocation of wildlife in shipment of agricultural produce.