THE AUSTRALIAN Museum's FrogID Week is back and local residents are asked to get involved to help understand the impact of summer bushfires and drought on our fragile frog population.
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The event starts on Friday and runs through to November 15.
Now in its third year, FrogID is designed to collect audio recordings of frog calls across the nation - at a moment in time - to monitor frog populations and help save Australia's threatened frog species.
So far, FrogID has identified more than 240,000 frog calls and identified 199 of the known 241 Australian frog species.
During FrogID Week last year, Australians recorded more than 5400 frogs from 71 species.
FrogID Week aims to build on the critical data gathered over the past two years. This is a crucial year for FrogID Week, as the data collected will help scientists determine the impact of climate change, drought, and bushfires on the frog population.
Dr Jodi Rowley, lead scientist of FrogID and the curator of Amphibian & Reptile Conservation Biology at the Australian Museum, has been using FrogID data from bushfire ravaged areas of south eastern Australia to assess the impact on frogs and their habitat and has been encouraged by these findings, as well as observations of frogs in burnt habitats.
"I was expecting the bushfires to have wiped out many frog populations, so I've been stunned by some of the positive signs I've seen recently," she said.
"In one bushfire affected rainforest stream, not too long after the fires, I was excited to hear the endangered Southern Barred Frog (Mixophyes balbus) calling along the stream. A few months later, I returned to find the same stream, still full of ash, full of their tadpoles.
"We have so much more to understand about these amazing animals, but we can only do this with help from people across Australia."
Dr Rowley said calls recorded to date by people all around the country are helping scientists better understand how to keep our frogs safe.
"We need the help of people all around the nation to gather audio of frogs in city parks, suburban backyards, regional properties, remote locations - everywhere," she said.
"This year, the data is absolutely vital in helping us understand how frogs adapt to climate change and weather patterns like drought and the bushfires we have experienced over the last year.
"Get outside, listen for frogs and send us their calls - it's simple to do and you'll be helping to save Australia's frogs."
In less than three years, FrogID has produced more than 30 per cent of all the frog records in Australia over the past 240 years - crucial information which helps scientists learn more about our frogs in order to protect them.
HOW TO TAKE PART
Simply download the free FrogID app on your phone and, during FrogID Week November 6-15, head outside to listen for frogs. When you hear a frog, record the sound with the FrogID app and submit it to the FrogID program.
Thanks to the recent support from the Biodiversity Conservation Trust, FrogID users will now have access to more areas than ever to help record frog calls. Find out more at www.frogid.net.au
THE FrogID APP
Each frog species has a unique call, which is an accurate way to identify different frog species. Recording and uploading frog calls, via the FrogID app, will identify different frog species, along with time and location data, using GPS technology. A team of frog experts will verify calls submitted by the public. This data will help map frog populations across Australia and identify areas and species under threat.
WHY FROGS COUNT
Australia has 241 known species of native frogs, many of which are under threat. Hundreds of frog species have already disappeared worldwide and many more are on the edge of extinction.
Sir David Attenborough has described amphibians as "the lifeblood of many environments". As one of the first animal species to feel the impact of environmental changes, declining frog populations are a 'warning call' about the impacts of climate change and pollution on Australia's waterways, wildlife and ecosystems.
Frogs also play a critical role in the management of insect pests. Frog-skin secretions are also being explored in drugs to fight infection, release insulin, regulate the heart and cure diseases, such as cancer.
