Movements and habitat use of the endangered giant barred river frog ( Mixophyes iteratus) and the implications for its conservation in timber production forests

• Published in: Biological conservation Vol. 96; no. 2; pp. 177 - 184
• Main Authors: Lemckert, Francis, Brassil, Traecey
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01-12-2000; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife; Freshwater; Frog; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Logging; Mixophyes iteratus; Movement; Parks, reserves, wildlife conservation. Endangered species: population survey and restocking; Protection; Tracking; Australia; New South Wales; Oceania; Logging; Tracking; Movement; Frog; Protection; Breeding season; Autumn; Endangered species; Forest zone; Amphibia; Environmental factor; Daily variation; Salientia; Animal active movement; Vertebrata; Animal activity; Forestry; Stream; Habitat; Animal conservation; Distance
• ISSN: 0006-3207; 1873-2917
• DOI: 10.1016/S0006-3207(00)00066-5

Movements of the endangered giant barred river frog (
Mixophyes iteratus) were followed over 2 to 5 day periods using radio-transmitters and nylon spools. Thirty-one nights of data were obtained from 10 radio-tracked frogs and 45 nights from 22 frogs using spool-tracking. Nightly movements varied from 0 to over 100 m, with a mean of 8.3 m for radio-tracked frogs and 13.2 m for spool tracked frogs. Individuals were found to occupy two distinct daytime shelter positions — inactive under leaf litter or alert but sheltered under vegetation where frogs could avoid predators by jumping away. All frogs were captured and recorded moving within a 20 m wide band either side of streams. Unlogged buffer zones of 30 m width along each side of streams are currently used to protect the breeding habitat of this species from the possible effects of logging operations. The data indicates that these buffers should be effective in protecting the habitat generally used by giant barred river frogs. Further work is required to determine if the over-wintering habitat used differs from the spring–autumn patterns observed in this study.