Every year in October, citizen scientists from around the ACT participate in the annual FrogCensus survey through the FrogWatch program. FrogWatch aims to create a continuous dataset to monitor frog populations in the ACT. This program is managed by the Ginninderra Catchment Group, which trains citizen scientists to survey 170 sites across the ACT. I, and my friend Caroline, surveyed 3 sites across the Australian National University in 2022.

Each site is surveyed on two separate days to increase the reliability and accuracy of the data and reduce the effect of any confounding variables. On each occasion, we visited each site during the day to record data on the abiotic environment. We recorded variables such as the weather, the emergent aquatic vegetation and the water depth and temperature.

Figure 1 – An image of one of the survey sites. Photo: Alyssa Lai [unable to upload]

Additionally, we surveyed our sites at least 30 minutes after sunset on the same day. During this survey, we identified the frogs at each location and their abundance based on their calls. This is because frog calls are the most accurate method of surveying frogs and calls are most abundant at night. We then recorded our surroundings for 3 minutes to verify our frog identifications against a recording.

As the weather significantly impacts the likelihood of observing frog calls, we were advised to be strategic about when we conducted our surveys. Days with warm days and still nights are ideal.

Surveying frogs – why we should hop to it!

Recording frog abundance gives policymakers and researchers access to data that would likely be inaccessible without citizen science. This data could inform management and be used to determine spatial and temporal trends in frog populations. At the same time, it engages the public in frog conservation, which can lead to better biodiversity outcomes.

Similarly, this data is useful because it can help us monitor threats to frog populations. Some of these threats include chytrid fungus, climate change and invasive species. Monitoring frog populations over time means that researchers can investigate the causes and implications of these threats, leading to better knowledge about how to minimise their effects.

Chytrid fungus is a disease that infects frog skin and is one of the most critical threats to frog populations globally. This disease can lead to frog mortality, with some frog species experiencing higher mortality rates than others.

Furthermore, frogs are vulnerable to climate change due to more extreme weather events. Frogs are incredibly reliant on the weather for mating activity and depend on having an adequate water supply to lay their eggs in. Therefore, more drought and fire events could significantly affect frog populations globally. Finally, predatory invasive species (like the cane toad and the spotted-thighed frog) that quickly adapt to their non-native regions can easily overpower native frog species.

Don’t frog-et my reflections!

As this was my first time contributing to a citizen science project, I learnt a lot. I greatly enjoyed learning how to identify frogs based on their calls and appreciate citizen science for its flaws and its benefits. Finally, this experience has given me a newfound appreciation for nature and the diversity around me – including some new personalities we found along the way (like the ducks below)!

Figure 2 – The classic ANU ducks and their ducklings. Photo: Alyssa Lai [unable to upload]