Dani Wallace - Chytrid fungus and amphibian breeding displays - Mini-conference 2022

Danielle Wallace

University of Melbourne

Twitter: @that_frog_gorl Instagram: dani_k_wallace Danielle Wallace is a herpetologist and PhD candidate in the One Health Research Group at the University of Melbourne. Her current research focuses on the impact of the devastating disease, amphibian chytrid fungus, on reproduction and breeding display in Victorian frogs. She also works as a wildlife ecologist conducting surveys for threatened species in remote forest areas.

Lovesick? The effect of chytrid fungus infection on amphibian breeding display

The devastating amphibian chytrid fungus – caused by the fungal pathogen, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, (Bd) – has caused widespread amphibian declines and extirpations. Although the development of disease been examined in a range of species, little is known about its effect on reproduction. Here, we investigated how chytrid fungus affects male mating display in the critically endangered Alpine Tree Frog (Litoria verreauxii alpina). We collected call recordings of wild frogs in the field and used a spectrophotometer to analyse male breeding colouration, while swabbing all individuals for infection. We then analysed the call characteristics and colour profiles of infected and uninfected frogs to determine whether infection influenced calling performance and breeding colouration. We found that colouration in Alpine Tree Frogs was affected by chytrid fungus, with UV chroma increasing with infection status and load. These are the first results to show that chytrid fungus influences male breeding colouration. Calling performance was also closely linked to temperature variations within different amphibian microhabitats. The results that we present here are important but often overlooked aspects of disease ecology. We have shown that sublethal effects of disease can impact breeding behaviour and display. These changes in reproduction and breeding success in response to disease might have dramatic consequences on population trajectories and substantially influence population decline or recovery potential. It is therefore crucial that we investigate sublethal effects of infection and its influence on reproduction and recruitment, so that we can understand the impact of disease on populations.

Matt Clancy - Frogs of Borneo - Mini-conference 2022

Matt Clancy

Frogs Victoria

@MattClancy94 | @clancy_wildlife Matt is a zoologist and wildlife photographer with an interest in herpetology (especially frogs) and threatened species conservation.

Frogs of Borneo

From the Giant River Toad to impressive flying frogs and minuscule microhylids; Borneo is home to an incredible amphibian diversity! There are nearly 200 known species inhabiting a range of truly wild and ancient rainforest environments.

David De Angelis - Growling Grass Frogs - Mini-conference 2022

David De Angelis

Frogs Victoria

Dave is Frogs Victoria Treasurer, a naturalist, environmental educator and zoological consultant with a background in ecological land management. He is particularly interested in the conservation and ecology of frogs and reptiles.

Persistence of the Growling Grass Frog (Litoria raniformis) in the middle Yarra River catchment

The Growling Grass Frog (Litoria raniformis) was common across the greater Melbourne area before the start of the century, but has since become largely restricted to western and northern areas close to the urban fringe, and near-coastal habitats in the outer south-east. Calls thought to be those of the Growling Grass Frog were heard on a private property in Coldstream, the Yarra Valley, in October 2019. Auditory and visual surveys targeting the species were undertaken on the property over two nights in December of the same year. Multiple individuals were head calling during both surveys and 14 were seen on the second night, including a metamorph. The record is of significance as the species is not known to have been reported from the Shire of Yarra Ranges or wider middle to upper Yarra River catchment since 2006.