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Evolutionary, molecular and comparative zoology
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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 56(3)

Spatial ecology of the giant burrowing frog (Heleioporus australiacus): implications for conservation prescriptions

Trent D. Penman A B C , Frank L. Lemckert A B and Michael J. Mahony A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia.

B Forest Biodiversity, Forests NSW, PO Box 100, Beecroft, NSW 2119, Australia.

C Corresponding author. Email: trent.penman@dpi.nsw.gov.au

Australian Journal of Zoology 56(3) 179-186 https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO08077
Submitted: 29 April 2008  Accepted: 5 August 2008   Published: 27 November 2008

Abstract

Management of threatened anurans requires an understanding of a species’ behaviour and habitat requirements in both the breeding and non-breeding environments. The giant burrowing frog (Heleioporus australiacus) is a threatened species in south-eastern Australia. Little is known about its habitat requirements, creating difficulties in developing management strategies for the species. We radio-tracked 33 individual H. australiacus in order to determine their habitat use and behaviour. Data from 33 frogs followed for between 5 and 599 days show that individuals spend little time near (<15 m) their breeding sites (mean 4.7 days for males and 6.3 days for females annually). Most time is spent in distinct non-breeding activity areas 20–250 m from the breeding sites. Activity areas of females were further from the breeding site (mean 143 m) than those of males (mean 99 m), but were not significantly different in size (overall mean 500 m2; males 553 m2; females 307 m2). Within activity areas, each frog used 1–14 burrows repeatedly, which we term home burrows. Existing prescriptions are inappropriate for this species and we propose protection of key populations in the landscape as a more appropriate means of protecting this species.


Acknowledgements

This study has been funded primarily by an Australian Postgraduate Industry Award supported by State Forests of NSW, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and the University of Newcastle. Additional funding was provided by the Peter Rankin Trust Fund for Herpetology. Approval was granted from the animal care and ethics committees of the University of Newcastle (IACUC # 759 1004) and State Forests of NSW (IACUC # 27/03). This research was carried out under a scientific investigator’s licence provided by NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (A3016). Chris Slade, Neil Hampshire, Fiona Powell and Alison Towerton provided assistance with collection of the data. Discussions with Chris Slade aided the development of this manuscript. Rod Kavanagh, Hal Cogger, Will Osborne, Jean-Marc Hero and two anonymous referees provided useful comments on earlier drafts of this manuscript.


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