This spring leap onto frog monitoring

The data collected from this project is important for providing a snapshot of the distribution of frogs in the waterways of South Australia. This is a collaborative initiative between Green Adelaide and the Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board.

Why frogs, you might ask?

Here’s a few reasons why they’re important:

• Frogs are an integral element within food webs.
• Frogs are useful biological indicators because they respond quickly to changes in the environment, such as habitat decline, climate change and pollution. They also provide a crucial natural pest control service by eating insects.
• Frogs are the highest form of life to lay naked eggs (eggs that are not protected by a hard shell) in water and require a habitat free of environmental pollutants to complete their life cycle successfully.
• Every species of frog has a unique mating call allowing a frog to be accurately and easily identified.
• By protecting frogs and their habitats, we are preserving individual species and protecting their ecosystems.

Frogs within the Murraylands and Riverland

There are 12 frogs within the Murraylands and Riverlands region including two threatened species:

• the southern bell frog (or growling grass frog) - Litoria ranformis, listed as nationally venerable under the Environmental Protections and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
• Bibron’s toadlet - Pseudophyrine bibroni, listed as rare in South Australia under the National Parks and Wildlife Act.

South Australia has only 31 known frog species out of more than 240 nationwide due to the state’s dryness. There’s an increasing importance for conservation efforts and improving our understanding of these species which makes data collection and monitoring critical to provide greater insight into frog distribution and relative abundance.

Where can you find them?

Frogs can be found in all regions but they particularly love humid and damp environments. They enjoy hiding in places, such as in logs, pot plants and under leaf litter.

Taking an evening stroll near a water source is your best chance of hearing and maybe even spotting a frog!

Results from the winter frog census 2024

This year we kicked off our seasonal frog census in the first week of winter where 34 participants and groups successfully recorded 125 surveys, identifying a total of 7 species. This is an astonishing amount compared to the same period in 2023 when there were only 19 surveys from 5 participants and groups.

How can you help?

We encourage people to participate in the spring frog census from 1 to 8 September 2024. It’s fun and easy to do by downloading the FrogSpotter app. It’s even easier if you were involved in the winter census, you’re all set up and ready to go.

You can come along to the launch of the spring Frog Seasonal Census at Paiwalla Wetland on Sunday 1 September 2024. This special event will feature frog expert Steve Walker who will share his insights into our local frog species. Explore the wetland on a guided walk, learn about the frogs in our region, and get hands-on experience using the FrogSpotter app.

The more surveys we collect, the more we’ll help ecologists to understand how frogs are tracking and what this might mean for the ecosystems they inhabit. There’s a chance we may find new species if more people collect more surveys!

Exciting news!

We’re thrilled to announce that FrogWatch SA won the South Australian Citizen Science Award presented by Inspiring South Australia, the Department for Environment and Water and the South Australian Chapter of the Australian Citizen Science Association (ACSA). The first-place prize of $5,000, announced during national science week, will help to support the FrogWatch project and future monitoring events.

We’re proud to be partners on this project that promotes and increases community participation in science, engagement and education. It is now up to you to help record more frog calls during the spring census!