The distribution of the Red-crowned Toadlet Pseudophryne australis in the Nepean-Burragorang region of the Sydney Basin

Abstract

Surveys were conducted for the Red-crowned Toadlet Pseudophryne australis in Burragorang State Conservation Area (SCA), Nattai National Park (NP), Thirlmere Lakes NP and the Upper Nepean SCA west of Sydney, New South Wales using a variety of methods. Scattered populations of Pseudophryne australis were detected by the presence of tadpoles and calling males in a range of vegetation communities. These communities included escarpment grey gum forest, exposed Burragorang sandstone shrub woodland, Nattai sandstone dry shrub forest, sheltered sandstone intermediate blue gum forest and Nepean gorge moist forest. All detections were within non-perennial creeks on Hawkesbury or Mittagong sandstones or enriched soils derived from these sandstones. The number of calling frogs at sites ranged from one to about 400. Nine 250 m transects were surveyed at night for 30 min each and 0–36 adult frogs were detected during these searches. Diurnal searches were conducted for tadpoles and adult frogs by using the ‘shout’ metho...