Australian Frogs
Australian frogs, native to the country, account for around 216 species out of over 4,700 total species throughout the world. This news might be surprising for someone who is not familiar with Australia’s wildlife diversity. Frogs, like many other species of wildlife, have adapted to live in the country’s many varied ecosystems.
Australia is a wonderful country with many ecosystems. Rainforests thrive in the tropical Queensland region, the Southern Alps region offers up a chilly and glacial reception and the central region provides arid deserts, just to name a few. For Australian frogs, the breakdown is a bit different. There are 15 bioregions for frogs; each offering varying climates and vegetations particularly suited to the types of frogs that live there. Most surprising perhaps is that 15 varieties of the Australian amphibians are desert dwellers, some of which burrow underground to survive long dry periods. Even the Southern Alps region is the home of certain frog species of Australia.
All frogs have an important place in the food chain, and they provide an unusually beneficial part of every day life for humans. Australian frogs are no exception. Many predators feed upon the indigenous frogs of the “down under” country, threatening an equal balance within the ecosystem. Natural predators to the Australian frogs are few; most of the common predators have been introduced into the country over the years. Animals such as foxes and cats, which quickly became feral animals in Australia after being introduced in the 1800’s, prey upon and eat frogs. The Cane Toad is another; brought in initially to help reduce the population of Cane beetles in Queensland, the toad has included small frogs in its diet as well.
Frog populations have been declining all over the world, from many reasons. Some of the Australian frogs are even facing the threat of distinction. With the highest record of land clearing in the world, Australia is fast losing the original habitats for which they are renowned. The results of this land clearing, namely the eradication of trees and plants and changes in the water flow and quality create long lasting if not permanent changes to the frog environment, forever altering their food supply and living spaces.
Many community and conservation groups are making the survival of frogs their mission. Working together, government agencies, zoos, scientists and concerned citizens are developing programs and recovery plans. These recovery plans concentrate on research to determine the cause of diminishing numbers of the varied species, and what steps can be taken by all groups to prevent the Australian frogs from becoming extinct.
Everyone should have an interest in preserving frogs. Whether US, Equatorial or Australian frogs, these amphibians have, in some form or another, existed for millions of years and adapted to the many changes throughout history. It is important that the very people threatening their continued existence help them to survive.