Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Box 6.6.
Are frogs really good indicators?
Many people assume that the presence of frogs indicates a healthy environment. As
wonderful as it is to have populations of frogs on a farm, the fact is that frogs are not
always good indicators of a healthy environment. Some species readily use mud
puddles and tyre tracks on the roadside and others exist in quite polluted areas. An
example is the Common Eastern Froglet, which inhabits virtually any type of water
body throughout south-eastern Australia.
Rather than incorrectly assuming that the occurrence of a given species of frog
is an indicator species, more useful environmental information may be gained by
asking questions such as: How many frog species are present? Which species are
present? How many species have been lost from the area since European settle-
ment? Are they breeding successfully? Do they show signs of environmental stress
such as extra, missing or misshapen limbs?
watercourse. Therefore, it is important to choose products carefully. New, more
frog-friendly 'knockdown' herbicides are being
developed and several brands have already been
registered for use in aquatic areas, making them
suitable for use on channel banks and close to rivers,
dams and creeks. Landholders should speak to their
chemical supplier for more information.
A well-managed farm dam
is one that has surrounding
native vegetation as well
as vegetation at the water
margins and in the water body
Figure 6.15:
Common Eastern Froglet. (Photo by Suzi Bond)
