Biodiversity refers to the variety of life on planet earth. However more often than not varying human impacts can effect different organisms in different ways. An organism that is severely affected due to human impacts is the Corroboree Frog which is an indigenous species of frog that inhabits now only a small region of Kosciuszko National Park, in New South Whales. This particular organism is currently the worlds most endangered frog species with the Lehmann’s poison frog coming a close second in which is an animal native to Columbia. The corroboree frog is broken into the northern and southern corroboree frogs, however due to the changing climate and new environmental pressures that humans have highly contributed to, now reside within 50 kilometres of one another. The Scientific names for the two frogs are Pseudophryne Corroboree (southern) and the Pseudophyrne Pengilleyeis (northern).
These frogs inhabit numerous sections of the Kosciuszko National Park, However mainly occur in the Snowy Mountain regions and nearby state forests. This is between 950 and 1750 meters above sea level. It is usual for the frogs to reside in cavities In vegetation and soil that have dominant substrates. Corroboree frogs during breeding season live in pools within sphagnum bogs wet tussock grasslands and wet heaths. As a whole they generally prefer shallow pools with low water flow and large surface area. However around mid-summer these pools dry up, which puts the tadpoles at risk during drought season. Due to the pools drying up it allows for the tadpoles to have little predators such as fish as there isn’t enough water left to sustain much larger life. Sadly, based on current climate models of their ecosystem, winter and spring precipitation and snow fall are likely to decrease reducing the water table resulting in earlier pool drying in future summers and springs (Hennessey et al. 2003). While the cause of the species decline is not yet apparent to scientists, there are many probable contributing factors that have. The 3 main impacts that are known of have been; the increase in deceases related to a fungal species by the name of Amphibian Chytrid fungus or scientifically known as Batrachochytrium Dendrobatidis; human development has also taken a toll on their environment reducing the areas that suit the frogs accordingly and historic cattle grazing has greatly reduced and compromised the peat-bog systems which they use to breed (costin et al. 2000). The main problem that face the species over is all the diseases that have been contracted from the Chytrid fungus. This has been a major problem since the early 1980’s overall the species has declined by 98% and is estimated that if this disease is not resolved they will be extinct within a period of 5 years. Currently there are attempts being made to preserve and increase the population of these unique frogs. A plan was put in place by a group of ecologists based in New South Whales involving the ideals of adding a small number of adult lab bread Corroboree Frogs into the National park in an attempt to boost the current numbers of adult frogs that are of a mature age with a capability to breed as well as developing a resistance to the Amphibian Chytrid fungus. Another strategy put in place was the breeding of tadpoles in artificial pools placed in the wild aimed to allow the tadpoles to mature in a safe environment. However the strategies that the ecologists have put in place are found to be somewhat flawed as that inevitability of the frogs contracting the disease is prone to the frogs exposed. A solution that may have some controversy is the idea of relocating the frogs to an environment similar to that of the Kosciuszko National Park however will not expose them to the Amphibian Chytrid fungus that is decimating the population of this already critically endangered species.
In conclusion with this speech, the Corroboree frog is a national icon for the Amphibians of Australia that is renowned around the world for its beauty. Due to the lack of inhabitable areas in which encompasses the species current environment, they have been unable to migrate to a safer environment which would suit them and present them with minimal risks to their survival as a whole. This is an issue that must be realised and addressed immediately as their current population is on the brink of extinction. I hope this has shed some light on the imminent potential for a lost species that is not just indigenous to Australia but a symbol of its beauty.
