OUR NATURE: FROGS - City of Gold Coast · BACKYARD BIODIVERSITY: Our Nature – Frogs 7 About frogs Frogs are the only amphibians native to Australia. Like all amphibians, most (but

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BACKYARD BIODIVERSITY

OUR NATURE: FROGS

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Backyard BiodiversityThe Gold Coast is one of the most biodiverse cities in Australia.

Our native plants and wildlife are essential to our environmental, social and economic health and wellbeing.

Backyards are an important part of the Gold Coast’s natural landscape with more than half of the city’s native vegetation on private properties.

If you have a backyard, courtyard or a balcony you have the opportunity to support our native plants and animals by providing habitat for our diverse native wildlife.

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BACKYARD BIODIVERSITY: Our Nature – Frogs 3

Biodiversity is reduced when species become extinct. Plant and animal species which are at risk of extinction are known as threatened species.

Threatened species can be identified by their conservation status which is specified under both Federal [Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act)] and State [Nature Conservation Act 1992 (NC Act)] legislation.

A range of factors is used to assess a species’ conservation status including:

• the number of individuals remaining

• the overall increase or decrease in the population over time

• breeding success rates and known threats.

Threatened speciesWhile the categories and specific definitions used differs between State and Federal legislation, in both cases the status indicates whether a species still exists and how likely it is to become extinct.

Gold Coast

On the Gold Coast, species which are locally significant are known as City-wide significant (CWS) species. These species are important because they may be threatened, restricted to the Gold Coast, or at the edge of their geographic range.

You and your backyard can contribute to supporting threatened and CWS species by creating and restoring habitat in your backyard.

Throughout this booklet, Threatened, Near threatened and CWS species are identified using the symbols shown below. They are accurate at the time of printing.

CWS

MOST LIKELY TO BECOME EXTINCT

LEAST LIKELY TO BECOME EXTINCT

EXTINCT

Ex Wx CE E V CD

EPE V NT LC

EPBC Act

NC Act

Extinct Extinct in the wild

Presumed extinct in the wild

Critically endangered

Endangered

Endangered

Vulnerable

Vulnerable

Conservation dependant

Near threatened

Least concern

Threatened species


OUR NATURE: FROGS

Frogs are a valuable part of our environment. Frogs and

tadpoles are an important link in the food chain of many

ecosystems. They do a great job in helping control pest

insect populations.

There are 39 species of local native frogs recorded on the

Gold Coast. Frogs have very specific habitat and breeding

requirements, and are very sensitive to pollution.

Many frogs are at risk of extinction due to loss of habitat.

They are also impacted by changing local conditions (such

as the amount of moisture in their environment) and by

infectious diseases such as chytridiomycosis. Due to their

specific requirements and sensitivity, they are good biological

indicators of the health of ecosystems.

Take action in your backyard• Grow local native plants.

• Build a frog pond.

• Create or enhance moist areas.

• Make your garden structurally diverse – grow a

variety of plant types, use mulch, include rocks.

• Reduce mown areas of lawn by planting local

native species.

• Be a responsible pet owner and protect wildlife.

• Avoid using pesticides.

7,975Number of

frog species GLOBALLY

39 Number of

frog species on the GOLD COAST

CALL OR CROAK of each

frog species is unique

Frogs frequently shed their

SKIN most don’t leave

it behind – they eat it

Frogs don’t drinkWATER

they absorb it through their skin

240 Number of

frog species in AUSTALIA



About frogsFrogs are the only amphibians native to Australia. Like all amphibians, most (but not all) frogs start their life as an egg in freshwater. From these eggs hatch tadpoles which change through metamorphosis into small frogs which grow into adult frogs.

While tadpoles are usually herbivores (eat plants), most adult frogs are carnivores (eat other animals). Frogs feed mostly on invertebrates (animals without backbones): predominantly insects. Some larger species of adult frogs can eat larger prey such as small birds and mammals. Adult frogs will only eat food that is moving. Frogs are cold blooded and regulate their body temperature through behaviours such as moving into sunny areas when they are cold and retreating to the shade when hot.

The word amphibian means two lives. Amphibians spend part of their lives living in water and part of their lives living on land. All amphibians need water or a moist environment in which to live.

Did you know?

Life cycle - Green-thighed Frog (Litoria brevipalmata)

Male and female in amplexus

Adult frog

Egg mass

Tadpoles


Special skin

Frog skin is very thin and permeable. They absorb oxygen and release carbon dioxide through their skin. They can also absorb water through their skin so frogs rarely drink water. Their skin can also change colour to help camouflage them. All frogs regularly shed their skin. Most eat their shed skin but some ground dwelling frogs in dry environments use their shed skin as a cocoon to retain water. Due to their permeable skin, frogs require very specific living conditions. They can easily lose water through their skin, so they need to stay in moist environments. It also makes them very susceptible to pollution and substances such as pesticides used in gardens and chlorine in treated water.

Frog (Cyclorana alboguttata) shedding its skin

Types of frogsThere are two types of frogs on the Gold Coast – tree frogs and ground frogs.

Tree frogsAs their name suggests, most (but not all) tree frogs spend much of their adult life in trees. They are all members of the Hylidae family. Adapted to living in trees, they have toe pads, long legs and the last bone in the toes is shaped like a claw to help them climb.

Many tree frogs have webbed feet to help them swim. The amount of webbing on their feet depends on how much time they spend in the water as adults.

There are approximately 19 species of tree frog found on the Gold Coast.


COMMON TREE FROGSSPECIES LIKELY TO BE ENCOUNTERED IN SUITABLE HABITAT WITHIN THE GOLD COAST.

Emerald-spotted Tree FrogLitoria peronii

Southern-laughing Tree FrogLitoria tyleri

Stony Creek FrogLitoria wilcoxii

Striped Rocket FrogLitoria nasuta

Green Tree FrogLitoria caerulea

Graceful Tree FrogLitoria gracilenta

Eastern Sedge FrogLitoria fallax

Broad-palmed Rocket FrogLitoria latopalmata


Southern Orange-eyed Tree FrogLitoria chloris

Ruby Tree FrogLitoria rubella

Bleating Tree FrogLitoria dentata

Whistling Tree FrogLitoria verreauxii

UNCOMMON TREE FROGSSPECIES LIKELY TO BE ENCOUNTERED IRREGULARLY IN SUITABLE HABITAT WITHIN THE GOLD COAST.

CWSSome good news

The Cascade Tree Frog was in decline in the 1980s and 90s. It is now wide spread and secure on the Gold Coast. In Queensland its conservation status has been revised from endangered to vulnerable.

V

Cascade Tree FrogLitoria pearsoniana


Olongburra FrogLitoria olongburensis

Wallum Rocket FrogLitoria freycineti

Green-thighed FrogLitoria brevipalmata

Whirring Tree FrogLitoria revelata

RARE TREE FROGSSPECIES RARELY ENCOUNTERED ON THE GOLD COAST. MAY INCLUDE SPECIES THAT ARE LOCALLY COMMON BUT ONLY WITHIN A RESTRICTED AREA.

CWS

CWS CWSV V

V

Ground frogsGround frogs live on the ground or in water. They are members of the Limnodynastidae and Myobatrachidae families and are only found in Australia and New Guinea. They don’t climb trees so they have smaller toe pads than tree frogs. They also often have very little webbing or no webbing on their feet. Many ground frogs burrow into the ground or under leaf litter. There are approximately 20 species of ground frogs found on the Gold Coast.

A unique local frog, the Wallum Froglet (Crinia tinnula) is a small ground frog (up to 20mm in length).

It is only found within coastal areas of southern Qld and northern NSW. Within this area, it is restricted to freshwater swamps in sandy, lowland areas.

It has very specific habitat requirements and only breeds in acidic ephemeral (short lived) swamps.

On the Gold Coast, these types of swamps are found in coastal vegetation communities including heathlands, wallum banksia woodlands and melaleuca woodlands.

Local species spotlight – Wallum Froglet

CWS V


COMMON GROUND FROGSSPECIES LIKELY TO BE ENCOUNTERED IN SUITABLE HABITAT WITHIN THE GOLD COAST.

Beeping FrogletCrinia parinsignifera

Clicking FrogletCrinia signifera

Ornate Burrowing FrogPlatyplectrum ornatum

Copper-backed Brood FrogPseudophryne raveni

Striped MarshfrogLimnodynastes peronii

Great Barred FrogMixophyes fasciolatus

Great Brown Brood FrogPseudophryne major

Tusked FrogAdelotus brevis

VCWS


UNCOMMON GROUND FROGSSPECIES LIKELY TO BE ENCOUNTERED IRREGULARLY IN SUITABLE HABITAT WITHIN THE GOLD COAST.

Black-soled FrogLechriodus fletcheri

Sandy GunganUperoleia fusca

Marsupial FrogAssa darlingtoni

CWS

RARE GROUND FROGSSPECIES RARELY ENCOUNTED ON THE GOLD COAST. MAY INCLUDE SPECIES THAT ARE LOCALLY COMMON, BUT ONLY WITHIN A RESTRICTED AREA.

Fleay’s Barred FrogMixophyes fleayi

Spotted Grass FrogLimnodynastes tasmaniensis

Scarlet–sided Pobblebonk Limnodynastes terraereginae

Wallum FrogletCrinia tinnula

CWS CWSEE

VCWS


RARE GROUND FROGS /continued

SPECIES RARELY ENCOUNTED ON THE GOLD COAST. MAY INCLUDE SPECIES THAT ARE LOCALLY COMMON, BUT ONLY WITHIN A RESTRICTED AREA.

Masked Mountain FrogPhiloria loveridgei

Wrinkled GunganUperoleia rugosa

Eastern GunganUperoleia laevigata

Red-backed Brood FrogPseudophryne coriacea

CWS

CWS

CWS EE

Giant Barred FrogMixophyes iteratus


Cane toadsOne type of amphibian which is not so welcome in your backyard is the cane toad (Rhinella marina). Introduced into Queensland in the 1930s with the aim of controlling pest beetles in sugar cane, they are now a well-established pest which is continuing to expand across northern Australia.

Not only do they displace frogs and other native species by out competing them for food and other resources, but they are also voracious feeders that prey on small reptiles, mammals, birds and frogs.

They are also poisonous in all stages of their lifecycle – eggs, tadpoles, toadlets (young toads) and adult toads – so they kill many native animals which try to eat them.

Cane toads walk instead of hopping so they have stubby bodies and short hind legs with webbed toes. Their hands are not webbed. They have dry warty skin which can vary in colour from grey, yellowish, red-brown, to olive-brown. Their most distinguishing features are bony ridges above the eyes and large poison (paratoid) glands behind each eye.

Cane toad eggs: Unlike native frogs, cane toads lay eggs in

long strings.Cane Toad Rhinella marina

Identifying frogsIdentifying species of frogs can be a difficult task. Many look very similar to each other. Some even look similar to cane toads. They stay hidden under logs, in mulch and amongst leaves. Most are nocturnal and only appear at night.

To make it even more difficult, frogs of the same species can vary in colour and appearance. There can also be big differences between male and female frogs.

There is however, one reliable way to identify frogs. The call or croak of each species is unique. You can use the Australian Museum’s Frog ID Mobile App to identify the frogs using their call or croak and discover which ones live around you.

You can also become a citizen scientist and use the App to help count Australia’s frogs.


Take action – frog friendly backyardsBuild it and they will come! If you would like frogs in your backyard you will need to maintain or create the right environment to encourage them to come and live there. Frog friendly backyards have five main features – a moist environment, places for frogs to shelter, water to breed in, insects to eat and minimal threats. To create a garden with these features:

• Grow a variety of local native plants and make your backyard structurally diverse. Backyards with a variety of local native plant types including trees, shrubs and ground covers as well as features such as mulch, leaf litter, logs and rocks provide a range of habitats and shelter for frogs. They also provide habitat for insects which are their main food source.

• Build a frog pond. Frogs need water to breed, so if you want frogs in your garden then a frog pond is one of the best ways to attract them. Ponds provide a reliable water source as well as shelter in surrounding plants and aquatic plants.

• Create or enhance moist areas in your garden. All frogs need a moist environment. Layers of vegetation with dense ground covers and mulch help to retain moisture in your garden.

• Minimise areas of lawn. Frogs need shelter and protection from predators and so are unlikely to venture onto lawns. Cane toads on the other hand, love lawns.

• Manage your pets. Domestic animals such as cats and dogs may not eat frogs for food, but even the best trained pet will more often than not instinctively chase and catch them. This will usually result in the death of the frog. Leaving uneaten pet food out, will attract toads.

• Don’t use pesticides. The porous skin of frogs makes them very susceptible to any pesticides used in your garden.

In Queensland, it is illegal to take any native animal, including frogs and tadpoles, from the wild. Taking frogs from the wild reduces the number of native frogs and can spread disease such as chytrid fungus - Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis.

Did you know?

Barred Frog (Mixophyes sp.) in its is preferred habitat


Which local native plants should I grow?Local native plants are those that occur naturally in a location. Native vegetation grows in groups of local native plants and these groups vary depending on local conditions such soil, landform, aspect and climatic features such as rainfall.

It is useful to understand the native vegetation group which grows on your property, or has grown in the past. These can provide a guide to selecting the most suitable local native plants for your backyard.

This map shows the historic location of vegetation groups found on the Gold Coast.

Find the vegetation group that grows where you live. You can then choose local native plants from this group to grow in your backyard by looking for the matching colour code in the local native plant list on pages 31 to 43.

When you plant the right local native plant in the right place, you save time, money, effort, energy and you do less maintenance. You also create the most appropriate habitat for local wildlife.

See key on pages 28 – 29


COASTAL

C

SWAMP FOREST

SF

DUNES

D

TIDAL WETLANDS

TW

FW

EUCALYPT

E

FRESHWATER WETLANDS

RIVERINE & ALLUVIAL

RA

WET EUCALYPT

WE

RAINFOREST

RF

MONTANE

MT

31BACKYARD BIODIVERSITY: Our Nature – Frogs

Grow these local native plants Most adult frogs spend much of their time out of the water, so they need places nearby to shelter. Making your backyard structurally diverse by including a range of plant types and species, as well as features such as rocks, fallen logs and leaf litter will provide a variety of habitats for a wide range of frogs. Vegetation will also attract insects to your garden for frogs to eat.

Local native plant species which provide habitat for local native frogs are listed below. While some of these plants will grow in moist to boggy conditions and will tolerate occasional flooding, they are not aquatic plants and should not be planted in ponds or in areas of standing water (see next section for aquatic plants for ponds). For best results, follow the growing instructions provided by the plant supplier.

Not all plants species listed will be available from specialist/native plant nurseries, but the range of local native plants available is growing. Asking your local garden centre or native nursery to stock specific local native species that you would like to grow will encourage them to increase the range of species available. For more information about buying local native plants see the Find Out More! section on page 56.

Tall SedgeCarex appressa

Tassel SedgeCarex fascicularis

SEDGES AND RUSHESGROW WELL IN MOST ENVIRONMENTS, PROVIDE SHELTER FOR GROUND FROGS AND PLACES TO PERCH FOR TREE FROGS.

SED

GES AND RUSHES

Tufted SedgeCarex gaudichaudiana

Knobby Club-rushFicinia nodosa

SF

SF

SF FW

FW

FW

C

C


Mat RushLomandra hystrix

Long-leaved Mat-rushLomandra longifolia

Lomandra confertifolia subsp. pallida

Settler’s FLaxGymnostachys anceps

GRASSLIKE PLANTSPROVIDE SHELTER FOR GROUND FROGS AND PLACES TO PERCH FOR TREE FROGS.

SFSF C

WEWE

WE

RF

RF RARA

E

E

Blue Flax-lilyDianella brevipedunculata

Blue Berry Flax-lilyDianella caerulea

Suckering Flax LilyDianella congesta Dianella longifolia

GR

ASSLIKE PLANT

SF

SFSF

CC

C

WE

WE

RF

RF

RA

RARA

EE

E


GRASSESPROVIDE SHELTER FOR GROUND FROGS AND HELP MAINTAIN MOISTURE.

GR

ASS

Kangaroo GrassThemeda triandra

Graceful GrassOttochloa gracillima

Tussock GrassPoa labillardierei var.

labillardierei

Barbed wire grassCymbopogon refractus

SFC WERA EE

GROUND COVERS AND SCRAMBLERSPROVIDE SHELTER FOR GROUND FROGS AND HELP MAINTAIN MOISTURE.

Native VioletViola hederacea

Scambling LillyGeitonoplesium cymosum

Round Leaved GoodeniaGoodenia rotundifolia

GR

O

UND COVER

SF

SF

C

C

WE

WE

RFRA

RA

E

EE E

Snake VineHibbertia scandens

D RFRF M


HERBS AND FORBS PROVIDE SHELTER FOR GROUND FROGS AND HELP MAINTAIN MOISTURE.

LobeliaLobelia anceps

Yellow ButtonsChrysocephalum apiculatum

Sweet LobeiliaLobelia alata

Forest DaisyBrachyscome microcarpa

HER

B

SF C

FERNSGROW WELL IN MOIST AREAS, PROVIDE SHELTER FOR GROUND FROGS AND SUPPORT FOR TREE FROGS.

Gristle FernBlechnum cartilagineum

Bungwall FernBlechnum indicum

FERN

Hard Water-fernBlechnum wattsii

SFSF CC WE

RF

RFRA E

E E

Bat’s Wing FernHistiopteris incisa

WEE


EPIPHYTESGROW ON TREES OR ROCKS.CREATE MICRO HABITATS WHICH ARE MOIST AND SHELTERED, AND THEREFORE WELL SUITED TO MANY TREE FROGS.

StaghornPlatycerium superbum

ElkhornPlatycerium bifurcatum

Birds Nest FernAsplenium australasicum

Necklace FernAsplenium harmanii

EPI

PHYTE

RF RF

RFWE RF

CWS

Lilly PillyAcmena smithii

Cunjevoi

Alocasia brisbanensis

Native GingerAlpinia caerulea

Narrow-leaved Native GingerAlpinia arundelliana

SHRUBSCREATE SHELTER AND PROVIDE PROTECTION.

SF

SF

WE

WE

RFRF

RFRF

RA E

E

SH

RUB


Twiggy MyrtleSannantha similis

Grey MyrtleBackhousia myrtifolia

Swamp BanksiaBanksia robur

Broad Leaved Plam LilyCordyline petiolaris

SFC WE RF

RFE

SHRUBS

SH

RUB

River LilyCrinum pedunculatum

Field LilyCrinum angustifolium

Giant Spear Lily Doryanthes palmeri

Snow in SummerMelaleuca linariifolia

SF

SF E

M

CWS


Wallum Bottle BrushMelaleuca pachyphylla

Thyme Honey MyrtleMelaleuca thymifolia

Native RosellaHibiscus heterophyllus

Blue TongueMelastoma malabathricum

SF

SF SFC C

WE RFE

SHRUBS

SH

RUB

Cabbage-Tree PalmLivistona australis

Bangalow PalmArchontophoenix cunninghamiana

PALM

SF WE SF WE RFRA

PALMSCREATE SHELTER AND PROVIDE PROTECTION.


Build a frog pondFrogs need water to breed so a frog pond is the best way to attract them. Ponds need careful planning and preparation. They also require ongoing maintenance. The ecosystem of the pond involves the interaction of factors such as the water, gases, minerals, sunshine, plants and animals. These factors need to be well balanced to ensure your pond is healthy. Other factors you need to consider when building a pond:

• Safety - A pond must be safe for small children and fenced if necessary.

• Mosquitoes – Mosquitoes will lay eggs in still bodies of water including ponds. Some types of native fish are frog-friendly and help control mosquitoes. Goldfish and Mosquito Fish are poisonous to frogs or eat their tadpoles. Go to the City of Gold Coast website to learn more about mosquitoes before making your frog pond.

• Toads – Like frogs, cane toads need water to breed. Unlike frogs, cane toads don’t climb very well or jump very high. You can prevent toads from using your pond by having sides higher than 50 cm. You should also regularly check your pond for toad eggs and remove them (wear gloves) as necessary. See the Find Out More section to find out where you can learn more about cane toads and how to manage them in your backyard.

Select the right spot

Choose a partly shady, part sunny area. Also remember that frogs can be noisy at night, especially during breeding season. So consider whether the noise will impact on any rooms or buildings close to your pond.

Frogs need water to breed


Create a pond

Different frogs have different requirements. You can cater for a range of species by providing a variety of density of vegetation, different depths of water as well as rocks and logs to provide shelter, places to bask in the sun and a means for getting in and out of the water.

The best types of ponds for frogs are spoon-shaped with shallow, sloping walls. You can buy ready-made ponds but you can also make them from household items such as styrofoam boxes, old children’s pools, bath tubs or laundry tubs. In small spaces and on balconies, you can modify large pots to create a pond.

No matter what type of pond you are creating, if the sides are steep, build a ramp using sand, gravel, rocks, logs or tree branches. You can even dig your own pond. Ideally the hole for the pond should have gentle slopes and be about 50 centimetres deep in at least one spot.

Use a sheet of thick, black plastic to line the pond to prevent water from escaping. This type of plastic can be purchased from many pond product suppliers or a hardware store.

Fill the pond with tap water (not from a metal tank) and let it stand for at least a week before introducing native fish species such as Pacific Blue Eyes (Pseudomugil signifier). Don’t use non-native fish in your pond, they can escape into the local waterways and affect the ecosystem balance through competition for food resources. Frogs will come to the pond of their own accord. It is illegal under State and Federal legislation to collect or remove frogs from their natural habitat without a permit.

Grow local native wetland plants in your pond

Plants are an important part of your pond’s ecosystem. They produce oxygen through photosynthesis, absorb nutrients that can otherwise fuel algal blooms and provide food and shelter for frogs, tadpoles and fish. Many native frogs attach their eggs to plants.

Wetland plants grow in water or need a waterlogged environment for at least part of their lifecycle. There are a number of different types of wetland plants, which have different requirements and provide different habitat features for frogs:

Most small native fish will eat mosquito larvae. However, some are better than others for frog ponds. Crimson-Spotted Rainbow Fish (Melanotaenia duboulayi) and Firetail Gudgeons (Hypseliotris galii) are capable of eating hundreds of mosquito larvae per day. In ornamental ponds with native frog tadpoles, Pacific Blue Eyes (Pseudomugil signifier) are recommended.

Local native fish for frog ponds

Pacific Blue Eyes Pseudomugil signifier


1. Emergent

Plants such as rushes, sedges and reeds grow in water logged and shallow areas of wetlands, but many will also tolerate dry periods. Therefore, they grow well in damp and shallow areas around the edge of ponds. They have stiff stems so a large portion of the plant extends out above the water. As well as being an attractive feature for your pond, they can also be used to create a barrier around the edge to discourage toads and protect frogs from other predators. Some of these plants can be very large and may spread into your pond so consider the size of your pond when selecting them.

2. Free Floating

A number of aquatic plants are not rooted in soil. They float on the surface of the water and get nutrients directly from roots which hang in the water.

3. Submerged

Submerged plants are rooted in soil but unlike emergent plants their stems are soft or limp, so most of the plant is suspended in the water. Some are fully submerged, others have leaves that float on the surface of the water, such as water lilies.

Be patientRemember, it is illegal to take frogs from the wild, so you will have to wait for them to find your pond on their own. Depending on where you live and how close natural populations of frogs are, it may take up to two years for frogs to begin to live in your pond. In the meantime, keep your pond healthy and control mosquitoes by keeping frog-friendly, local native fish.

EMERGENTDAMP TO SHALLOW AREAS OF POND.

FrogsmouthPhilydrum lanuginosum

Soft Twig-rushBaumea rubiginosa

Bare Twig-rushBaumea juncea

Triangular ClubrushSchoenoplectus mucronatus


Rusty SedgeFimbristylis ferruginea

Bunch SedgeCyperus polystachyos var.

polystachyos

Common RushJuncus usitatus

EMERGENT

Tall Spike-rushEleocharis sphacelata

FLOATINGFLOAT ON SURFACE.

Ferny Azolla

Azolla pinnata

Thin DuckweedSpirodela punctata

SUBMERGEDDEEP AREAS.

Perfoliate PondweedPotamogeton perfoliatus

Queensland Lace PlantAponogeton elongatus subsp.

elongatus


SUBMERGED (WITH FLOATING LEAVES)POSITION IN POND WILL VARY FOR EACH PLANT. FOLLOW DIRECTIONS OF SUPPLIER.

Smooth NardooMarsilea mutica

Water SnowflakeNymphoides indica

Swamp LilyOttelia ovalifolia

Giant Water LilyNymphaea gigantea

Growing pond plants

Emergent and submerged wetland plants can be grown in pots.

Depending on their growth rate they may need repotting every two to three years.

Normal potting mixes are not suitable for wetland plants as they are too high in fertilisers that will cause algae. Potting mix designed especially for aquatic plants should be used.

To ensure that it stays secure when the plant is lowered in to the water, place small pebbles or gravel on the surface of the potting mix.

Other local native pond plants include:

Emergent

• Jointed Twig-rush Baumea articulata

• Rusty Sedge Fimbristylis ferruginea

• Chinese Water Chestnut Eleocharis dulcis

Floating

• Yellow Bladderwort Utricularia aurea

Submerged

• Water Ribbons Triglochin procerum

• Water Thyme Hydrilla verticillata


Avoid aquatic weedsNot just any aquatic plants should be used in your pond. Invasive aquatic plants – aquatic weeds - have the potential to destroy native habitats by outcompeting aquatic ecosystems, restricting water flow, depleting oxygen in water bodies, and degrading the waterways to the point that fish kills result.

Aquatic weeds can spread easily so they should not be used in ponds. For example, they can be carried downstream or spread by birds and humans in the form of seeds or reshoot from broken or torn pieces of the weed.

Parts of aquatic plants that have broken off often regrow in a new location. The majority of aquatic weeds in the Gold Coast are aquarium or ornamental plants dumped into the waterways.

Alligator WeedAlternanthera philoxeroides

Local waterway chocked with aquatic weeds

CabombaCabomba caroliniana

Senegal tea plantGymnocoronis

spilanthoides

Water HyacinthEichornia crassipes

SalviniaSalvinia molesta

Water LettucePristia stratiotes

Giant Water Lily or Mexican Water Lily

Nymphaea mexicanaBlue Water Lily

Nymphaea caerulea

Parrot’s FeathersMyriophyllum

aquaticum

Other common aquatic plants which are weedy, not-native and should be avoided include:

The following aquatic plants are biosecurity matter weeds and must not be used in ponds.


Find out morePurchasing plants that are local provenance is an important contribution you can make to the environment. Local provenance means that the plant is grown from local, naturally occurring specimens. Planting these, rather than plants sourced from far afield, preserves the local genepool of that species. It also supports local native plant nurseries, which play a vital role in contributing to the greening of the city and support the local economy.

Where to buy local native plants

Use the GroNative App to find nurseries in South East Queensland who stock plants listed in the app.

Search for suppliers and native plant sale events online:

• Native Plants Queensland has autumn and spring plant sales which are a great way to buy interesting and hard to find native plants. Nurseries are listed on their website.

• The Australian Native Plants Society website provides a list of native plant nurseries.

• Gardening events and shows are held regularly on the Gold Coast and across south east Queensland.

• There are a number of online plant suppliers which you can find by searching for plants by species names.

Visit the Friends of the Gardens nursery at the Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens. The nursery stocks a wide range of local native plants and is open from 8-11am on the first Friday of each month.

Opportunities to explore and learn more

NaturallyGC

A variety of free and low cost nature based workshops, activities and events are available across the Gold Coast including many which are about local fauna – check out the City of Gold Coast website for further information.

Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens

Visit Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens in Benowa or the website cityofgoldcoast.com.au/botanicgardens to see frog habitat and for more information on which native plants to grow in your garden. Friends of the Gardens volunteers are on site every day to provide advice.

Books and resources Available from City Libraries

• Field guide to the frogs of Queensland (2002) E. Vanderduys, CSIRO

• Frogs of the Gold Coast (2016) Damian White, Jean-Marc Hero, Narelle Power, Doug White, Jeannie White

• Grow Natives on the Gold Coast: A practical guide for gardeners (2004) Graham McDonald

• Wildlife of the Gold Coast (2014) Damian White, Doug White; editor, Narelle Power; photographer Narelle Power; Jeannie White.


Digital and websites

SEARCH FOR:

• Gold Coast Flora and Fauna Database – search for frogs recorded in your local area.

• Queensland Museum – Frog Friendly Gardens – more information on frog friendly gardens.

• Frogs of Australia - Guide to the frogs of Australia – povides descriptions, distributions, images, breeding calls, and more.

• Australian Museum – Frogs: More about frogs and how to conserve them, including images and factsheets.

• Queensland Frog Society: Information and education on frog conservation.

• Frog ID Mobile App: Discover which frogs live around you and help the Australian Museum count Australia’s frogs. Download from the App store or Google Play

• GroNATIVE App: Information on more than 400 local natives you can use in your garden including where to buy them. Download from the App store or Google Play

• Pest Plants and Animals: City of Gold Coast Webpage

• Mosquito control in ornamental ponds and dams: City of Gold Coast Factsheet

• Aquatic Weeds: City of Gold Coast Webpage

• Cane Toads: Biosecurity Queensland Fact Sheet

• The difference between Cane Toads and native frogs : Australian Museum webpage

• Growing Native Plants: Australian National Herbarium

• Cane Toad Challenge Gold Coast: Gold Coast Catchment Association

Reference List(1) Frogs of the Gold Coast (2016) Damian White, Jean-Marc Hero, Narelle Power, Doug White,

Jeannie White(2) Gold Coast Flora and Fauna Database http://www.goldcoastflorafauna.com.au (3) Wildlife of the Gold Coast (2014) Damian White, Doug White; editor, Narelle Power;

photographer Narelle Power; Jeannie White.(4) Australian Museum: Frogs https://australianmuseum.net.au/learn/animals/frogs/ (5) Amphibian Survival Alliance: http://www.amphibians.org/news/science-zone/ (6) GroNative App: https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/gronative/id1173365552(7) National recovery plan for the wallum sedgefrog and other wallum-dependent frog species

(2006) State of Queensland, Environmental Protection Agency http://environment.gov.au/system/files/resources/9f40ec86-f7c6-476a-9712-7676a2f43da6/files/wallum-frogs.pdf

(8) Wetlands Info: Wallum froglet – Crinia tinnula https://wetlandinfo.des.qld.gov.au/wetlands/ecology/components/species/?crinia-tinnula


Photo credits

Cover page Litoria caerulea – Todd Burrows

Frog photos (Page 7 – 24 )UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED BELOW PHOTOS ARE BY STEVE WILSON

Page 7Litoria brevipalmata (lifecycle), – DDW Fauna

Page 8Cyclorana alboguttata - DDW Fauna

Page 10 Litoria tyleri, Litoria wilcoxii, Litoria nasuta – Todd Burrows

Page 11Litoria fallax – Corinna Byrne, Litoria gracilenta – Todd Burrows

Page 12Litoria rubella – Todd Burrows

Page 14Litoria freycineti, Litoria revelata – Todd Burrows

Page 16Crinia parinsignifera, Platyplectrum ornatum – Todd Burrows

Page 19Mixophyes fleayi – Todd Burrows

Page 20Philoria loveridgei – Todd Burrows

Page 22Rhinella marina – Lui Weber,

Page 24Mixophyes sp. − Cheree Fenton

Vegetation group photos (pages 28 – 29)Lui Weber

Plant photos (Page 31 – 43)UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED BELOW, PHOTOS ARE BY GLENN LEIPER

Page 35Dianella longifolia – Uncredited

Page 36Lobelia anceps – Friends of the Gardens, Lobelia alata – Uncredited

Page 37Blechnum indicum – Uncredited, Histiopteris incisa – Lui Weber

Pond and pond plant photos (Page 45 – 53)UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED BELOW, PHOTOS ARE BY GLENN LEIPER

Page 45Pond photo – Uncredited

Page 47Pseudomugil signifier – Uncredited

Page 49 Philydrum lanuginosum, Baumea rubiginosa – Friends of the Gardens

Page 50 Juncus usitatus – Jason Searle, Eleocharis sphacelata – Lui Weber

Page 51 Aponogeton elongatus subsp. elongatus – Gunther Schmida

Page 52Nymphaea gigantea – Friends of the Gardens

Aquatic weed photos (Page 54 – 55 ) UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED BELOW PHOTOS ARE UNCREDITED

Page 55Nymphaea caerulea – Glenn Leiper

Published November 2019

BACKYARD BIODIVERSITY: Our Nature – Frogs

P 1300 GOLDCOAST (1300 465 326) W cityofgoldcoast.com.au

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OUR NATURE: FROGS - City of Gold Coast · BACKYARD BIODIVERSITY: Our Nature – Frogs 7 About frogs Frogs are the only amphibians native to Australia. Like all amphibians, most (but