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Conservation of the Southern Corroboree Frog (Pseudophryne corroboree) 480384533 Species Southern Corroboree Frog (Pseudophryne corroboree) Taxonomic Status The Corroboree frog was first described by Moore (1953) and was initially considered a single species. Further investigation led to distinction of a Southern and Northern species (Pseudophryne corroboree and Pseudophryne pengilleyi respectively), which exist as allopatric forms in their range, being separated by multiple geographic barriers. (6) Pseudophryne corroboree is endemic to Australia, thus it is an important component of our natural heritage. Although this species belongs to the largest Anuran family in Australia (Myobatrachidae, sub-family Myobatrachinae), and is not the sole representative of its genus (Pseudophryne), it is considered one of Australia’s most endangered species. Its entire global distribution is restricted to the sub-alpine Snowy Mountain Regions of Kosciusko National Park in NSW, thus its conservation is vitally important for Australian biodiversity and global amphibian diversity. (1) IUCN Status ‘Critically Endangered’. (1) Key Threats A plethora of threats have been identified in driving declines of this species to the ‘Critically Endangered’ status, however the primary threatening process is infection by the non-native Amphibian Chytrid Fungus, resulting in the virulent disease chytridiomycosis. (2) This highly infectious disease impacts many Australian frog species and has been listed as a key threatening process at both a state and national level. (1) Habitat degradation is also known to threaten P. corroboree persistence, especially due to actions of invasive species like the feral pig (Sus scrofa), which are known to damage P. corroboree breeding sites. (3) Other factors that have historically or continue to impact on corroboree frogs include; climate change, weed invasion and historic cattle grazing. (1)

How well has knowledge of the biology of the species been incorporated into the species recovery plan and conservation actions, and has this influenced the conservation outcomes? 537 Historically, P. corroboree was thought to be abundant within its limited geographic range, with high numbers recorded in suitable breeding sites between 1955 and 1970. (3,10) However, Osborne (1989) illuminated that the species began experiencing a steady decline in abundance across their range, and this was later confirmed by a thirteen-year study (19861999) with populations disappearing from 70% of the previously inhabited sites. (4,8,9) Without appropriate intervention, this decline would have undoubtedly led to the extinction of P. corroboree. (4) This sobering information influenced a recovery program, beginning in 1996, which has now successfully achieved a number of recovery actions. (1) Success? The Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act) 1999 and the NSW Government Threatened Species Conservation Act (TSC Act) 1995 listed P. corroboree as ‘Endangered’, and legislative framework was established to protect and encourage recovery of the species through the 2001 ‘Recovery Plan for the Southern Corroboree Frog’. (3) The overall aim of this recovery plan is to establish self-sustaining wild populations across a broad area. (3) Although some research on P. corroboree biology had been available since the mid-1960’s, informing initial management actions, the magnitude of success in conservation efforts would not have been achieved without additional research into their biology. (7) Every action in this recovery plan has been based on biological knowledge, and in instances where research was insufficient or new ideas proposed, the plan accommodated for these to be answered in future revisions. (3) For example, the plan set the objective to identify the main threat driving P. corroboree decline. Hunter (2000) discovered that this demographic failure was strongly associated with increased mortality during the terrestrial frog life stage, and this was consistent with the hypothesis that the Amphibian Chytrid Fungus was the primary driver of their decline. (1,11) This threat identification allowed the pursuit of its mitigation through the ‘Threat Abatement Plan for infection of amphibians with chytrid fungus resulting in chytridiomycosis (2016)’. (13) A recommendation outlined in this plan was to initiate an ex-situ captive breeding and reintroduction program for P. corroboree populations. Thus, captive husbandry research commenced in 1997 and was later compiled into the 2007 ‘Husbandry Manual for Southern Corroboree Frog’. (12) This, along with additional, recent research (e.g. hormonal induced gamete release for in-vitro fertilisation of P. corroboree) has allowed large numbers of P. corroboree to be reared in captivity across five husbandry institutions (Amphibian Research Centre, Tippenbella Nature Reserve, Healesville Sanctuary, and Melbourne and Taronga Zoo). (1,14) There has now been release of over 2000 eggs into artificial pools in Kosciusko National Park, and results have been promising (Figure 1). (1,15,16) The recovery plan is now targeting selective breeding of resistance to chytridiomycosis into these captive populations, an action that could not be implemented without further biological knowledge of the species. (4) Overall, biological knowledge of P. corroboree has been integrated into all areas of conservation and this is likely the reason for the successful outcomes.

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Figure 1: Population Monitoring of P. corroboree in sites within Kosciusko National Park (Courtesy of the University of Sydney).

References (1) OEH NSW (2012). National Recovery Plan for the Southern Corroboree Frog, Pseudophryne corroboree, and the Northern Corroboree Frog, Pseudophryne pengilleyi, Office of Environment and Heritage (NSW), Hurstville. (2) Hunter DA, Speare R, Marantelli G, Mendez D, Pietsch R, Osborne W. Presence of the amphibian chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in threatened corroboree frog populations in the Australian Alps. Dis Aquat Organ. 2010 Nov;92(2-3):209-16. (3) NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (2001) Approved Recovery Plan for the Southern Corroboree Frog (Pseudophryne corroboree). NSW NPWS, Hurstville NSW. (4) Osborne WS (1989) Distribution, relative abundance and conservation status of corroboree frogs, Pseudophryne corroboree Moore (Anura: Myobatrachidae). Wildl Res 16: 537–547 (5) Richards N (2007), Husbandry Manual for Southern Corroboree Frog Pseudophryne corroboree (Amphibia: Myobatrachidae), Western Sydney Institute of TAFE, Richmond Captive Animal Management 1068 Lecturers Graeme Phipps and Jacki Salkeld (6) NSW Scientific Committee (2008) Southern Corroboree Frog Pseudophryne corroboree. Review of current information in NSW. August 2008. Unpublished report arising from the Review of the Schedules of the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995. NSW Scientific Committee, Hurstville. (7) Pengilley, R.K. (1966). The biology of the genus Pseudophryne (Anura: Leptodactylidae). M.Sc. thesis, Australian National University, Canberra. (8) Hunter, D., Osborne, W. S. and Smith, M. J. (1997). Distribution and abundance of the Alpine Tree Frog (Litoria Verreauxii alpina) in the Australian Alps National Parks: Report on the first seasons survey (1996-97). Report to NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Snowy Mountains Region. Applied Ecology Research Group, University of Canberra. (9) Osborne, W. D. and Davis, M. S. (1997). Long-term variability in temperature, precipitation and snow cover in the Snowy Mountains: Is there a link with the decline of the Southern Corroboree Frog (Pseudophryne corroboree). Report to NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Snowy Mountains Region. Applied Ecology Research Group, University of Canberra. (10) Osborne, W.S. (1988). A survey of the distribution and habitats of Corroboree Frogs, Pseudophryne corroboree in Kosciusko National Park: with a reference to ski resort development. Report prepared for NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. (11) Hunter, D. and Osborne, W. (2000). Recovery plan actions completed by the University of Canberra for the Southern Corroboree Frog, Pseudophryne corroboree: Annual Report. Unpublished report to the National Parks and Wildlife Service. (12) Husbandry (13) Threat Abatement Plan for infection of amphibians with chytrid fungus resulting in chytridiomycosis (2016) (14) McFadden MA, Hobbs R, Marantelli G, Harlow P, Banks C, Hunter DA (2013) Captive management and breeding of the Critically Endangered Southern Corroboree Frog (Pseudophryne corroboree) (Moore 1953) at Taronga and Melbourne Zoos. Amphibian and Reptile Conservation 5(3), 70-87. (15) Corroboree Frog (2016) Captive Breeding viewed 10 November 2020, https://www.corroboreefrog.org.au/conservation/captive-breeding/ (16) Byrne, P.G., Silla, A.J. Hormonal induction of gamete release, and invitro fertilisation, in the critically endangered Southern Corroboree

Frog, Pseudophryne corroboree. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 8, 144 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-7827-8-144....