Citizen Scientists In Action
Kuranda Envirocare community volunteers have teamed up with research scientists to carry out a pioneering, long-term frog monitoring program This exciting endeavour already has community scientists surveying local sites for Kuranda Tree Frogs, as well as recording other rainforest frog species found in these locations. By monitoring the numbers of rainforest frogs through time we will assess the health of the environment we live in.
Backing community actions with scientific research is a great way to make sure what we do is having a positive effect on the frogs, and will help us to understand and ensure the long-term survival of our unique neighbours.
Contact Kuranda Envirocare to get involved. It’s fun and easy and you’ll learn a lot about your neighbours. You too can become a community scientist and get involved in this exciting research. Contact Kuranda Envirocare for more information and keep an eye on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/KurandaEnvirocare) for upcoming seminars and guest speaker presentations.
Long-term monitoring of populations for ten years
Six breeding sites across the range of Litoria myola are being monitored for ten years. These sites have also been where other frogs are ‘missing’ within the last decade. Dr Conrad Hoskin, who is an evolutionary biologist, discovered Litoria myola amongst the other threatened frogs of this region. He has set up the best sites for monitoring and assisted volunteers at five of these sites and anyone is welcome to go out for 30 minutes whenever monitoring is being undertaken. The 6th site will be monitored by the local school (Kuranda High School) because that one occurs on school grounds.
Landholders bordering streams and seasonal creeks are being asked to increase habitat for frogs and establish a frog friendly property that provides benefits to the landholders. The health of the streams can be monitored regularly at identified sample points. Volunteers are trained on equipment usage and care, and recording methods. A survey and recording of land use changes adjacent to frog habitats are being correlated with frog abundance in the monitoring sites. Local communities are improving frog habitats by revegetating sites and educating the public about the issues.
Backing community actions with scientific research is a great way to make sure what we do is having a positive effect on the frogs, and will help us to understand and ensure the long-term survival of our unique neighbours.
Contact Kuranda Envirocare to get involved. It’s fun and easy and you’ll learn a lot about your neighbours. You too can become a community scientist and get involved in this exciting research. Contact Kuranda Envirocare for more information and keep an eye on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/KurandaEnvirocare) for upcoming seminars and guest speaker presentations.
Long-term monitoring of populations for ten years
Six breeding sites across the range of Litoria myola are being monitored for ten years. These sites have also been where other frogs are ‘missing’ within the last decade. Dr Conrad Hoskin, who is an evolutionary biologist, discovered Litoria myola amongst the other threatened frogs of this region. He has set up the best sites for monitoring and assisted volunteers at five of these sites and anyone is welcome to go out for 30 minutes whenever monitoring is being undertaken. The 6th site will be monitored by the local school (Kuranda High School) because that one occurs on school grounds.
Landholders bordering streams and seasonal creeks are being asked to increase habitat for frogs and establish a frog friendly property that provides benefits to the landholders. The health of the streams can be monitored regularly at identified sample points. Volunteers are trained on equipment usage and care, and recording methods. A survey and recording of land use changes adjacent to frog habitats are being correlated with frog abundance in the monitoring sites. Local communities are improving frog habitats by revegetating sites and educating the public about the issues.