The Action Plan for Australian Frogs
By
Michael J. Tyler
with the assistance of the Editorial Advisory Committee
Wildlife Australia, April 1997
ISBN 0 642 21400 X
Recovery Outline No. 26: Kroombit Tinker Frog
1. Family
Leptodactylidae
2. Scientific Name
Taudactylus pleione
3. English Name
Kroombit Tinker Frog, Pleione's Torrent Frog
4. Intraspecific taxa:
None.
5. Species survival status
Vulnerable. Concern about this species is based upon a combination of factors including its extremely limited geographic distribution, evidence of declines in four of five congeners, and hence, because of ecological similarities, assumptions that there is a high likelihood that this species is threatened.
6. Former distribution
Presumed to be similar to current distribution.
7. Current distribution
Kroombit Tops State Forest Scientific Area No 48, Kroombit Plateau in southern Queensland.
8. Habitat
Occurs along rocky permanent and semi-permanent streams in rainforest or wet sclerophyll/rainforest transition forest at an altitude of 800-850m. Known suitable habitat currently totals 47 ha (Cunningham and James 1994).
9. Reasons for decline
There is no evidence of decline, but see (5) above.
10. Conservation reserves on which species occurs
None.
11. Other public lands on which species occurs
Qld: Kroombit Tops State Forest Scientific Area No 48.
12. Other lands on which species occurs
Unknown.
13. Is knowledge about species adequate for objectives and actions to be defined accurately?
No. Little is known on this species.
14. Recovery Plan objectives
The draft recovery plan aims to significantly improve the long term conservation status of the species by:
14.1. Surveying and locating all populations of T. pleione.
14.2. Researching the ecology of the species, including reproductive biology, population dynamics, diet, and habitat use.
14.3. Ameliorating threatening processes, especially fire and livestock.
14.4. Monitoring population densities.
14.5. Ensuring that conservation of T. pleione is taken into account in all relevant land management decisions by all levels of government and the community.
15. Management actions completed or under way
15.1. An assessment of the distribution and conservation status of this species (Cunningham and James 1994) was carried out as part of a recovery program for threatened frogs of Qld and northern NSW (Co-ordinator: K.R. McDonald, Qld Department of Environment). Follow up surveys were conducted in 1994 and 1995.
15.2. A draft recovery plan has been prepared by
A. Borsboom (Qld Department of Natural Resources), J. Clarke (Qld Department of Environment) and
M. Cunningham (University of Queensland) for the threatened frogs of Qld and northern NSW Recovery Team.
15.3. A draft Species Management Profile has been prepared by A. Borsboom (Qld Department of Natural Resources) to provide Qld Department of Natural Resources forest managers with information about the species and current management requirements.
15.4. Scientific Area No. 48 has been fenced and removal of cattle and horses is underway.
16. Management actions required
The draft recovery plan includes the following actions:
16.1. Further distributional surveys.
16.2. Long-term population monitoring.
16.3. Research into ecology including, reproductive biology, population dynamics, diet and habitat use.
16.4. Research into identifying, quantifying and ameliorating threatening processes (livestock, fire, visitors, water quality).
16.5. Continue removal of livestock from Scientific Area No 48.
16.6. Dissemination of information to the public, government land managers and planners.
17. Organisations responsible for conservation of species
Qld Department of Environment.
18. Other organisations involved
Qld Department of Natural Resources, University of Queensland.
19. Can recovery be carried out with existing resources?
No.
Full costing for species recovery will be addressed in the final Recovery Plan. A preliminary estimate includes research (salary, travel and materials for 3 years) $150K; fire workshop $2.5K, water quality monitoring ($2.5 K for 5 years) $12.5K, survey and monitoring ($10K for 5 years) $50K.
Total $215K
References:
Cunningham, M. and James, C. 1994. Conservation status and distribution of Taudactylus pleione. Unpublished report to the Queensland Department of Environment, Australian Nature Conservation Agency and Queensland Department of Primary Industry - Forestry.
Herpetological authorities consulted:
A. Borsboom, J. Clarke, M. Cunningham, G.V. Czechura, J.-M. Hero, K.R. McDonald.