TAS: Mating calls of amorous frogs used to survey species

AAP General News (Australia)
12-12-2003
TAS: Mating calls of amorous frogs used to survey species

By Libby Sutherland

HOBART, Dec 12 AAP - The unique pick-up lines of amorous frogs are being used in a
"Summer Lovin'" survey of two declining Tasmanian species.

World Wide Fund for Nature ecologist Dr Karyl (Karyl) Michaels and a squad of volunteers
have embarked on a statewide head-count of the vulnerable green and golden frog and rare
striped marsh frog.

Dr Michaels said information collected during the two-week roadtrip would be used to
update Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife records, which were at least a decade old.

The project will also assess the effect of land-use changes on frog habitat and assist
in determining the national conservation status of both species.

Visiting areas known to be frequented by frogs, project participants are using recordings
of frog mating calls to track the species - which are both engrossed in breeding season.

"Every frog has a unique call," Dr Michaels said.

"It's basically a male's pick-up line.

"When you play it, they call madly."

An army of community volunteers has also been recruited through a series of workshops
around Tasmania, charged with carrying out surveys on their own patch.

"It's going to give us a really good idea of how well these frogs are doing," Dr Michaels said.

A report on the survey results will be issued early next year.

AAP las/drp/jlw

KEYWORD: FROGS

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