11th February 2015
Our
Ref:
3961
Giant Barred Frog
(Mixophyes iteratus)
Surveys 2014
Report No. 6
Bruce Highway (Cooroy to
Curra) Upgrade
Section A – (Cooroy
southern interchange to
Sankeys Road)
Department of Transport and Main Roads
Future-Plus Environmental Sunshine Coast
90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs QLD 4556
Future-Plus Environmental Brisbane
84 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006
p: 07 5450 2688
e: [email protected]
PO Box 1250, Buddina Q 4575
f: 07 5450 2686
www.future-plus.com.au
ABN 23 658 506 336
FPE Ref: 3961-141217-1.0
DOCUMENT CONTROL INFORMATION
File Number: 3961-141217-1.0
Project Manager: Paul Wood
Client: QLD Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR)
Project Title: Giant Barred Frog (Mixophyes iteratus) Monitoring, Bruce Highway (Cooroy to
Curra) Upgrade Section A (Cooroy southern interchange to Sankeys Road)
Project Author: Kieran Aland, Paul Wood
Project Summary: 2014 monitoring surveys of the Giant Barred Frog (Mixophyes iteratus)
within and adjacent to the alignment of the proposed Bruce Highway (Cooroy to Curra)
Upgrade Section A (Cooroy southern interchange to Sankeys Road).
Document Review and Issue Approval
Document Version
Document Status
Author
Reviewed By
Approved By
3961-141217-0.1
Draft
Kieran Aland
Kaine Pritchard
Paul Wood
3961-141217-1.0
Final
Kieran Aland
Kaine Pritchard
Paul Wood
Destination
Document Version
Date Dispatched
Client Copy - digital
3961-141217-0.1
18th December 2014
Client Copy - digital
3961-141217-1.0
11th February 2015
February 2015
Mixophyes iteratus Survey Report No. 6
Bruce Highway (Cooroy to Curra) Upgrade
Section A (Cooroy southern interchange to Sankeys Road)
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FPE Ref: 3961-141217-1.0
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Signed on behalf of
Future-Plus Environmental
Date: 11th February 2015
Paul Wood
Director
February 2015
Mixophyes iteratus Survey Report No. 6
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Section A (Cooroy southern interchange to Sankeys Road)
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................... 1
1.0 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................. 2
1.1
PROJECT DESCRIPTION ......................................................................................... 2
1.2
SPECIES DESCRIPTION - GIANT BARRED FROG ................................................. 2
1.3 SURVEY AND MONITORING OVERVIEW ..................................................................... 4
2.0 METHODOLOGY ................................................................................................................. 5
2.1 SURVEY METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................. 5
2.2 MONITORING TRANSECT LOCATION & SURVEY TIMING.......................................... 8
3.0 RESULTS ...........................................................................................................................12
3.1 GENERAL.......................................................................................................................12
4.0 DISCUSSION ......................................................................................................................18
4.1 GENERAL.......................................................................................................................18
4.1.1 Cooroy Creek ..........................................................................................................18
4.1.2 Six Mile Creek .........................................................................................................19
4.1.3 Skyring Creek ..........................................................................................................19
4.2 ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS AND IMPACTS TO GBF SURVEYS ........................19
5.0 RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION .....................................................................21
5.1 RECOMMENDATIONS RELEVANT TO PROPOSED WORKS .....................................21
5.2 CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................22
5.2.1 Cooroy Creek ..........................................................................................................22
5.2.2 Six Mile Creek .........................................................................................................22
5.2.3 Skyring Creek ..........................................................................................................22
6.0 REFERENCES & ASSOCIATED DOCUMENTS. ...............................................................23
LIST OF TABLES
TABLE 1
LOCATONS OF ONGOING MONITORING AND REFERENCE TRANSECTS AND
STATUS OF GIANT BARRED FROG POPULATIONS AT BASELINE STUDY (20112012). SECTION A C2C
TABLE 2
SURVEY EVENTS THIS 2014 MONITORING STUDY. C2C SECTION A
TABLE 3
RESULTS OF 2014 GIANT BARRED FROG MONITORING. SECTION A C2C
TABLE 4
INCIDENTAL FROG RECORDS. SECTION A C2C
LIST OF APPENDICES
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APPENDIX 1
MAP OF STUDY AREA NTH & STH
APPENDIX 2
FROG HANDLING CONSIDERATIONS
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
C2C
DEHP
TMR
EPBC Act
FPE
IUCN
M.iteratus
NC Act
SEWPaC
SVL
February 2015
Cooroy to Curra Bruce Highway Upgrade
Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage Protection
Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads
Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
Future-Plus Environmental
International Union for Conservation of Nature
Mixophyes iteratus (Giant Barred Frog)
Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992
Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities
Snout to Vent Length
Mixophyes iteratus Survey Report No. 6
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This reports addresses Condition 1d of the approval of EPBC referral 2011/6024,
provided 4th November, 2011 by the Department of Environment (formally SEWPaC).
This approval, subject to conditions, allows the Department of Transport & Main Roads
(TMR) to undertake works to upgrade sections of the Bruce Highway that are in close
proximity to populations of the Giant Barred Frog (Mixophyes iteratus). Condition 1d
of this approval is specifically concerned with the monitoring of these populations of
the Giant Barred Frog.
Baseline monitoring surveys (conducted during 2011, 2012) and ongoing monitoring
surveys confirm that populations of GBF occur on several sections of Cooroy Creek
and Six Mile Creek. Additional GBF have also been detected on Skyring Creek in close
proximity to, and within the works corridor. The GBF detected on Skyring Creek did
not appear to be present during the 2011- 2012 baseline study or 2013 monitoring
surveys. The results of these surveys are previously reported (Giant Barred Frog
(Mixophyes iteratus Baseline Survey Report No. 3). The populations of Giant Barred
Frog, along Cooroy and Six Mile Creek and in remnant habitat immediately upstream
and downstream of proposed works, are viable populations. Recruitment within these
populations during baseline and ongoing monitoring surveys is evidenced by the
detection of tadpoles, recent metamorph frogs, juvenile and subadult frogs and
reproductively active (calling males) adult frogs. These populations of M.iteratus are
associated with sections of stream with riparian vegetation that provided a closed
canopy and leaf-litter cover of the forest floor. Although juvenile frogs were present in
early 2014, it is unclear if the small numbers of GBF detected during early 2014 along
Skyring Creek constitute a viable population. GBF continue to be present at the
upstream and downstream monitoring transects of Six Mile Creek and Cooroy Creek.
Evidence of recent recruitment (tadpole and juvenile frog stages) was detected within
these populations. This report discusses the results of monitoring surveys conducted
during 2014.
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Mixophyes iteratus Survey Report No.6
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1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The Giant Barred Frog (Mixophyes iteratus) is an endangered species, as listed under
the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, Nature
Conservation (Wildlife Management) Regulation 2006, and the IUCN Red List
(International Union for Conservation of Nature). The species is known to occur along
streams traversing Section A of the Bruce Highway (Cooroy to Curra) upgrade.
The activities reported in this document specifically address Condition 1d of the
approval of EPBC referral 2011/6024, provided 4th November, 2011 by the Department
of Environment. This approval, granted to TMR, provides permission to undertake
works to upgrade sections of the Bruce Highway that are in close proximity to
populations of the Giant Barred Frog. Condition 1d of this approval is specifically
concerned with the monitoring of these populations of the Giant Barred Frog. This
report contains the results of 2014 monitoring surveys for this frog. This work follows
a series of baseline investigations conducted through 2011 and 2012 and monitoring
surveys during 2013 (FPE Reference: 3961-120301-1.0 M. iteratus Baseline Survey,
3961-121214-1.0 M. iteratus Baseline Survey 2011-2012 and 3961-131217-0.2 M.
iteratus Surveys 2013).
The following information is relevant to Section A of the Cooroy to Curra upgrade of
the Bruce Highway. Other conditions of the Department of Environment approval,
considered to be relevant to this report, are 1b and 1c. Detail addressing these conditions
is also provided below.
1.2 SPECIES DESCRIPTION - GIANT BARRED FROG
The Giant Barred Frog, Mixophyes iteratus (Straughan, 1968) is a large forest-dwelling
native frog. It is strongly associated with permanent streams and once occurred over a
wide altitudinal range through south-eastern Queensland and north-eastern New South
Wales. Along with many species of stream-dwelling frogs, Giant Barred Frog
populations in south-eastern Queensland suffered decline through the 1970’s and
1980’s. The Amphibian Chytrid Fungus Disease, caused by Batrachochytrium
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dendrobatidis has been implicated as the cause of these declines. Chytrid Fungus is
known to infect GBF (Hines, 2012). Although the relationship between the current
distribution of these frogs and Amphibian Chytrid Fungus Disease is unknown, the
continued absence of GBF from many of the higher altitude areas from which it was
formerly known indicates that this disease may still exert a limiting influence on
populations of this frog. Populations of Giant Barred Frog persist at lower altitudes
along several streams in south-eastern Queensland. This pattern of disappearance at
higher altitude sites and persistence at lower altitude is:
a) Shared with a number of other Queensland frog species; and
b) Consistent with certain aspects of the biology of the Chytrid Fungus.
Unfortunately, many suitable streams at low altitude are heavily impacted by
agricultural and urban activity and the Giant Barred Frog is now restricted to isolated
pockets of suitable streamside forest.
A summary of relevant biological information concerning GBF is provided below:

Juveniles, sub-adult and adult M. iteratus are typically found along permanent
streams (usually within 20 metres of the bank) with good quality riparian
vegetation, preferably with closed canopy;

Home range size for M. iteratus adults is unknown, as are dispersal mechanisms
or dispersal-related behaviour;

Recruitment is probably seasonal. Calling, amplexus and egg-laying occurs
through the warmer months and is heavily influenced by weather events.
Tadpoles are large (largest specimen found this study total length of 107mm)
and development is slow. Hines (2012) & Anstis (2002) indicate that
metamorphosis may be occurring through late summer and autumn. Our
observations during this work seem to indicate that the metamorphosis of
tadpoles resulting from a summer breeding event may occur during early-midsummer of the following year. Tadpoles resulting from an autumn breeding
event may be metamorphosing late in the following summer. Two tadpole
cohorts (differing in size/stage) were detected during the 2013 and 2014
monitoring surveys. The implication of these observations is that tadpole stages
may potentially be present all year.
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
The aquatic tadpoles live in-stream and within associated backwaters and feed
on a range of organic matter such as algae and fallen fruit.
1.3 SURVEY AND MONITORING OVERVIEW
A series of baseline surveys were conducted from December 2011 to December 2012.
Surveys were conducted in accordance with the Department of Environment ‘Survey
Guidelines for Australia’s threatened frogs’ (hereafter referred to as ‘The Survey
Guidelines’) and additional investigations explored suitable aquatic habitat for the
tadpole stages of GBF. Many of the sites examined were comprised of habitat fragments
that were separated by areas of unsuitable habitat (e.g. road surface, riparian vegetation
of cleared pasture). Areas of suitable habitat that were smaller than suggested transect
size in ‘The Survey Guidelines’ were surveyed in-toto. Larger areas were surveyed to
exceed the minimum of 200 metres of stream-side transect.
These surveys were conducted to examine any habitat that:
a) Was deemed suitable for GBF; and
b) Fell within the construction corridor and is subject to direct impact from
construction activity associated with Section A of the Cooroy to Curra Bruce
Highway upgrade project.
A series of stream sections upstream and downstream of the project corridor were
identified as suitable for on-going monitoring of GBF for the duration of the Cooroy to
Curra Bruce Highway upgrade project (section A). An additional series of stream
sections were also identified as suitable reference transects. The location of these
monitoring and reference transects are identified in Table 1 of this report. These
monitoring and reference transects will be surveyed for GBF on an annual basis till two
years beyond the completion of works. Each annual monitoring survey series will assess
Giant Barred Frog populations at each transect on four separate occasions, twice in
early summer and twice later in the same summer.
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2.0 METHODOLOGY
2.1 SURVEY METHODOLOGY
Detection of tadpole, juvenile, sub-adult and adult GBF is best achieved by active
search along selected transects. This active search technique incorporates the following
elements:

Eye-shine spotlighting during active search. Field experience with this species
(and several other species of Mixophyes) has shown that active specimens can
be readily detected by a specialised spotlight technique that allows the field
biologist to locate specimens by eye-shine. For the purposes of this document
we shall refer to the technique as eyeshine-spotlighting. The advantage of this
technique is that it allows non-calling individuals to be found. On any night
suitable for frog activity, a significant proportion of the adult and sub-adult
population is not calling, cannot be detected by call and cannot be stimulated to
call by call-playback. This non-calling subset of the population includes all
females (sub-adult and adult), all sub-adult males, and non-calling males.
Eyeshine-spotlighting is very well suited to the detection of terrestrial
amphibian specimens that are active and cannot be detected by more
conventional means (location by call);

Call recognition and triangulation to locate the calling individual (if necessary);

Call playback, when deemed useful as an aid to triangulation; and

Larval (tadpole) detection by bottom trawling with scoop net and combined use
of dip net and spotlight.
The active search techniques described above are applied to stream transects during
suitable conditions for frog activity (moderate to warm temperatures and preferably
following rain events). GBF (and the other amphibian species of interest in this area)
are best detected after nightfall and only during suitable conditions as specified earlier.
Tadpoles are best detected at periods of low stream levels and this component of the
monitoring work is only conducted during pre-wet season monitoring surveys. Giant
Barred Frog tadpoles also appear to be approaching later stages of development at this
time of year, this factor also facilitates correct identification to species.
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By necessity, survey events are determined by frog biology. Frogs must be active
(calling, feeding etc.) if they are to be found. Inactive frogs hide below leaf litter or
loose soil and cannot be detected by practical means. It should be noted that moisture
levels and other factors (e.g. temperature and moon phase) can influence activity levels
and are considered before each survey effort. Survey events were conducted during
periods suitable for frog activity.
Limited environmental data is collected at the commencement of each transect survey
and survey events were chosen post rainfall and flood information was reviewed
(Bureau of Meteorology Rainfall data: Cooroy Composite station Flood data: Lake
Macdonald Drive AL.). The following environmental data is recorded at the
commencement of each survey event at each transect:

Temperature;

Relative humidity;

Percentage cloud cover;

Wind (approximate);

Moon phase;

Light pollution; and

Substrate condition and moisture.
This data is not reported here but is retained to potentially inform discussions regarding
comparisons of perceived abundance through the monitoring phase of this project.
The following data is recorded with each Giant Barred Frog find:

Location by GPS (Garmin etrex) and photographed when practical; and

Age/size notes. Frogs are recorded as ‘juvenile’ up to approx. 50mm SVL
(snout-vent length), ‘subadult’ to approx. 70mm SVL (calling males at SVL of
77mm have been located in this study), ‘adult’ above 70mmSVL.
Sex determination in adults is based on several features but is best regarded as reliable
if the individual was observed to call; in which case, it is male. Adult females tend to
be heavier-bodied than males and coloured in shades of grey or brown. Adult males are
leaner-bodied, tend to display more prominent pattern and may have shades of russet
and yellow in the body colour. The back, face and leg markings tend to be more
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pronounced on adult male frogs and juvenile and sub adult frogs of both sexes (refer to
Photo Plates 1, 2, 3 and 4 in Section 3.0 of this Report).
It is important to note that it remains difficult to accurately assess abundance of
individuals of a highly cryptic species like the Giant Barred Frog. For the purposes of
this project, the detection and monitoring of evidence of recruitment provides the best
assessment of population health. The detection of juvenile and/or subadult frogs or
tadpoles (refer Photo Plate 5) is taken as evidence of recruitment. The detection of
juveniles, subadult and adult frogs is predominately achieved by eye shine. Tadpole
detection is achieved by direct observation (tadpoles often surface to breathe) and by
hand-held net trawls of pools at periods of low water levels. This is a longitudinal study
and comparative comment on adult frog abundance may be able to be made at each site
as work progresses through Construction and Post-Construction phases of the upgrade
project.
All monitoring has been conducted under the following permits:

Scientific User Registration 434 (Biosecurity Qld);

Animal Ethics proposal ref. number CA 2012/01/580 (DPI); and

Scientific purposes permit WISP10732512 (DEHP).
Field work reported here has been conducted by the senior author, Kieran Aland
(B.ScHons). Kieran has in excess of 20 years field experience as a field biologist and
herpetologist. Relevant recent projects include:

CSIRO frog survey Wenlock River, Cape York Peninsula (2009);

Remote area herpetology surveys. Cape York Peninsula (2006, 2008, 2009 &
2010) resulting in a significant range extension for Litoria longirostris and the
discovery and description of two new species of frog, Cophixalus kulakula
(Hoskin & Aland, 2011)and Cophixalus pakayakulangun (Hoskin & Aland,
2011). see Hoskin C. & Aland K.(2011) Zootaxa 3027 pp39-51;

Fauna inventory and land management advice to traditional owners Angkum
Lands, Cape York Peninsula. 2012- ongoing ; and

Herpetology surveys (various locations) in conjunction with Dr. Conrad
Hoskin, James Cook University. See recent popular media, Cape Melville and
National Geographic “Lost World”.
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The following equipment was used during nocturnal surveys:

Clipboard with field data sheets and map of site (orthophoto);

First aid kit;

Mobile phone (Next G coverage);

Personal GPS EPIRB;

Garmin etrex GPS;

Canon G11 compact camera with speedlight 270EX flash;

Compact binoculars;

Vernier caliper (plastic)/Stainless steel rule;

Head-mounted spotlight (purpose built);

Spare torch; and

Spray bottle with Chytrid sterilising agent (F10 or Sodium Hypochlorite).
Tadpole searches were conducted with scoop and dip net, sterilised with bucket
solutions of Sodium Hypochlorite. To further minimise risk of chytrid transport
between catchments, as far as logistically possible, single catchments were surveyed
each evening.
2.2 MONITORING TRANSECT LOCATION & SURVEY TIMING
The monitoring and reference transects that are examined in this on-going monitoring
work were identified during extensive baseline work conducted during 2011 and 2012.
These sections of stream were selected on the basis of:
a) Presence of suitable habitat, sufficient to satisfy the ‘survey guidelines’;
b) Practical access and suitability for eye-shine spotlighting; and
c) Continued access through the project.
Decisions regarding transect selection also considers proximity to residential dwellings,
especially those properties with dogs.
Table 1 describes the location of these
monitoring and reference transects and their Giant Barred Frog populations.
Table 1. Locations of ongoing monitoring and reference transects and status of Giant
Barred Frog populations. Section A C2C.
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Transect ID
Watercourse
& Transect
1
Cooroy Ck. A
reference
2
Cooroy Ck. B
monitoring
3
Cooroy Ck. C
monitoring
4
Cooroy Ck. D
reference
7
Six Mile Ck. A
reference
8
Six Mile Ck. B
monitoring
9
Six Mile Ck. C
monitoring
10
Six Mile Ck. D
reference
14
Skyring Ck. A
reference
15
Skyring Ck. B
monitoring
16
17
Skyring Ck. C
monitoring
Skyring Ck. D
reference
M. iteratus status
(Baseline study)
Present
Recruitment
evident
Present
Recruitment
evident
Present
Recruitment
evident
Present
Present
Recruitment
evident
Present
Recruitment
evident
Present
Recruitment
evident
Present
Recruitment
evident
Nil detected in
baseline
See results 3.1
Nil detected in
baseline
See results 3.1
Nil detected in
baseline
Nil detected in
baseline
Coordinates
Upstream
End of transect
Coordinates
Downstream
End of transect
0489433 E
7076097 S
0489421 E
7076177 S
0490118
7077017
0490093
7077215
0490193
7077452
0490146
7077542
0490676
7078168
0490830
7078233
0488117
7077179
0488291
7077157
0489309
7077962
0489169
7077804
0489439
7078203
0489427
7078354
0489888
7079236
0489864
7079417
0484957
7080458
0484825
7080581
0484055
7080877
0483944
7081054
0483454
7081437
0482656
7080997
0483640
7081421
0482462
7081076
Coordinates: UTM Datum: WGS 84 Grid 56L
The monitoring surveys were conducted under conditions deemed suitable for frog and
tadpole detection. The best conditions for detection of surface-active GBF are; elevated
temperatures (18 degrees C or warmer) and high relative humidity (following rain
events). Ideal conditions follow a significant rain event and are provided by continued
occasional light rainfall, overcast conditions and warm temperatures. A significant rain
event is needed to saturate topsoil and leaf litter, which results in high levels of frog
activity. Frogs have also been found to be surface active and detectable during periods
of dry weather conditions as long as temperatures and relative humidity are high and
light levels are low (no moon or overcast conditions). The disadvantage of ideal
conditions after/during rain is the high likelihood of a flooding event that often
accompanies significant rain. The best conditions for detection of tadpoles are when
stream levels are at their lowest (late dry season). Mid-late stage tadpoles can often be
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easily observed when they surface for air. Increased stream levels make tadpole
detection by hand net trawls practically impossible. If a flooding event occurs during a
survey it is terminated because the substantial increase in stream flow decreases
effectiveness. During the course of a stream transect survey, the stream itself may be
crossed up to eight times.
Difficulty with survey timing and execution was caused by the extended dry weather
through the 2013-2014 summer and early in the 2014-2015 summer. During early 2014,
very few rain events occurred before the onset of cooler weather and no flow was
observed in all Creeks until the final survey event on the 3rd April 2014. The late 2014
surveys were conducted under similar conditions. In particular, the upstream reference
transect on Six Mile Creek (transect 7) remained dry through 2014. These conditions
can be expected to have a profound effect on frog behaviour and therefore detectability.
Table 2 summarises survey timing.
Table 2. Survey events this 2014 monitoring study, C2C section A.
Transect ID
1
2
Cooroy Ck. B
Upstream monitoring
3
Cooroy Ck. C
Downstream monitoring
Cooroy Ck. D
Downstream reference
Six Mile Ck. A
Upstream reference
4
7
8
Six Mile Ck. B
Upstream monitoring
9
Six Mile Ck. C
Downstream monitoring
10
14
15
February 2015
Watercourse
& Transect
Cooroy Ck. A
Upstream reference
Six Mile Ck. D
Downstream reference
Skyring Ck. A
Upstream reference
Skyring Ck. B
Upstream monitoring
M. iteratus survey
events
10/2/14, 4/4/14,
3/12/14, 7/12/14
10/2/14, 4/4/14,
12/8/14 (tadpole
obs), 3/12/14,
7/12/14, 13/12/14
10/2/14, 4/4/14,
12/8/14 (tadpole
obs), 3/12/14,
7/12/14, 13/12/14
10/2/14, 4/4/14,
3/12/14, 7/12/14
11/3/14, 3/4/14,
1/12/14
11/3/14, 3/4/14,
12/8/14 (tadpole
obs), 1/12/14,
13/12/14, 7/12/14
11/3/14, 3/4/14,
12/8/14 (tadpole
obs), 1/12/14,
13/12/14
11/3/14, 3/4/14,
1/12/14
11/2/14, 11/3/14,
30/11/14, 12/12/14
11/2/14, 11/3/14,
12/8/14 (tadpole
Mixophyes iteratus Survey Report No. 6
Bruce Highway (Cooroy to Curra) Upgrade
Section A (Cooroy southern interchange to Sankeys Road)
10
FPE Ref: 3961-141217-1.0
February 2015
Transect ID
Watercourse
& Transect
16
Skyring Ck. C
Downstream monitoring
17
Skyring Ck. D
Downstream reference
M. iteratus survey
events
obs), 30/11/14,
12/12/14
11/2/14, 11/3/14,
12/8/14 (tadpole
obs), 30/11/14,
12/12/14
11/2/14, 11/3/14,
30/11/14, 12/12/14
Mixophyes iteratus Survey Report No. 6
Bruce Highway (Cooroy to Curra) Upgrade
Section A (Cooroy southern interchange to Sankeys Road)
11
FPE Ref: 3961-141217-1.0
3.0 RESULTS
3.1 GENERAL
Results of 2014 monitoring surveys for GBF are provided in Table 3 (below). The list
of other frog species recorded during these surveys identified in Table 4 are considered
opportunistic only and should not be considered a complete assessment in the study
area (i.e. the survey techniques is for the purpose of detecting GBF only).
These survey findings can be summarised as:
 Populations of GBF persist on sections of Cooroy Creek and Six Mile Creek
adjacent to the current and proposed alignment of the Bruce Highway;
 These populations occur in areas of good habitat and include frogs of different
age classes. Recent evidence of recruitment is supported by the detection of
tadpoles and/or juvenile and/or sub-adult frogs;
 These populations are all associated with sections of stream with riparian
vegetation that provided closed or closing canopy. Some portions of Cooroy
Creek immediately downstream of proposed works show evidence of recent
revegetation works (within last 7 years) involving Camphor Laurel
(Cinnamomum camphora) removal and replanting. These areas were included
within survey transects as they were found to contain GBF. Additional damage
to the remaining canopy occurred during severe storm events in 2012 and early
2013. In particular, the lower (downstream) monitoring and reference transects,
Cooroy Creek were heavily impacted. This has resulted in increased woody
weed and grass growth under the damaged canopy. GBF do not appear to favour
grass and woody weed ground cover. Despite increased survey effort in these
areas fewer frogs were detected in the lower (downstream) monitoring and
reference transects during 2013 monitoring surveys (pre-construction). The
numbers of GBF detected in these storm-damaged transect areas during the 2014
surveys continues to be lower than in the baseline surveys;
 Upper reaches of Skyring Creek including sections immediately upstream and
downstream of the crossing of the Bruce Highway, did not appear to support
populations of GBF during the baseline survey series. On the 11th February 2014
and during the early construction stage of the highway crossing at Skyring Creek
February 2015
Mixophyes iteratus Survey Report No. 6
Bruce Highway (Cooroy to Curra) Upgrade
Section A (Cooroy southern interchange to Sankeys Road)
12
FPE Ref: 3961-141217-1.0
adult and juvenile GBF were located adjacent to Skyring Creek within the
construction footprint. Advice was provided to the Construction Contractor
regarding best practice to minimise impact during construction activity. FPE
was not requested to perform pre-construction fauna clearance. The fate of
individual frogs within the construction footprint is not known to these authors.
We have detected no additional GBF in Skyring Creek Section A since February
2014.
 Photographic documentation of each specimen is recorded when the frog is in a
situation that allows close access for photography. Each photo record includes
GPS displaying location (refer Photo Plate 6).
Table 3. Results of monitoring surveys for GBF 2014. Section A C2C.
Transect ID
1
2
3
4
7
8
9
10
14
15
16
17
February 2015
Watercourse
& Transect
Cooroy Ck. A
reference
Cooroy Ck. B
monitoring
Cooroy Ck. C
monitoring
Cooroy Ck. D
reference
Six Mile Ck. A
reference
Six Mile Ck. B
monitoring
Six Mile Ck. C
monitoring
Six Mile Ck. D
reference
Skyring Ck. A
reference
Skyring Ck. B
monitoring
Skyring Ck. C
monitoring
Skyring Ck. D
reference
M. iteratus status
(Baseline)
Present Recruitment
evident
Present Recruitment
evident
Present Recruitment
evident
Present
M. iteratus status
(2014 Monitoring)
Present Recruitment evident (juv)
Present Recruitment evident (tadpoles,
juv & adults)
Present (tadpoles, single adult located)
Nil detected
Present Recruitment
evident
Present Recruitment
evident
Present Recruitment
evident
Present Recruitment
evident
Present Recruitment evident (tadpoles,
juv, sub adult & adults)
Present
Recruitment evident (juv & sub adult)
Nil detected
Nil detected
Nil detected
Present
Nil detected
Present
Nil detected
Nil detected
Nil detected Stream dry
Present (tadpoles, adults)
Mixophyes iteratus Survey Report No. 6
Bruce Highway (Cooroy to Curra) Upgrade
Section A (Cooroy southern interchange to Sankeys Road)
13
FPE Ref: 3961-141217-1.0
Table 4. Incidental frog records. Section A C2C.
Transect ID
Watercourse
& Transect
1
Cooroy Ck. A
Upstream reference
2
Cooroy Ck. B
Upstream monitoring
3
Cooroy Ck. C
Downstream
monitoring
4
7
8
9
Cooroy Ck. D
Downstream
reference
Six Mile Ck. A
Upstream reference
Six Mile Ck. B
Upstream monitoring
Six Mile Ck. C
Downstream
monitoring
10
Six Mile Ck. D
Downstream
reference
14
Skyring Ck. A
Upstream reference
15
Skyring Ck. B
Upstream monitoring
16
Skyring Ck. C
Downstream
monitoring
17
Skyring Ck. D
Downstream
reference
February 2015
Incidental frog records
Other species
(Baseline inc. 2013 data)
L. pearsoniana, A. brevis,
L. wilcoxii, R. marina, Litoria
latopalmata
L. pearsoniana, A. brevis,
M.fasciolatus, L. wilcoxii, R.
marina, Litoria peronii
Limnodynastes peronii
A. brevis, L. gracilenta,
Litoria fallax, L. wilcoxii,
R. marina, L. pearsoniana,
Limnodynastes peronii, R. marina
A. brevis, L. wilcoxii, R. marina, L.
pearsoniana, L. fallax, L. gracilenta,
Limnodynastes peronii
L. pearsoniana, A. brevis, L.
wilcoxii, M. fasciolatus, R. marina
Litoria peronii, R. marina, L.
wilcoxii, A. brevis
L. wilcoxii, L. pearsoniana, Crinia
signifera, A. brevis, L. gracilenta, R.
marina
L. pearsoniana, A. brevis,
M.fasciolatus, L. wilcoxii, R.
marina, Litoria peronii, L.chloris,
Limnodynastes peronii
L. wilcoxii, A.brevis
L. fallax, L. gracilenta, R. marina,
Limnodynastes peronii, Litoria
peronii, L. latopalmata, M.
fasciolatus
L. wilcoxii, A.brevis
L. fallax, Limnodynastes peronii, M.
fasciolatus
M.fasciolatus, L.gracilenta
L. wilcoxii, A.brevis
L. fallax, R. marina
Litoria peronii, L.tyleri
Limnodynastes peronii, L.
latopalmata
M.fasciolatus, L.gracilenta
L. wilcoxii, A.brevis
L. fallax, R. marina
Litoria peronii, Limnodynastes
peronii, R. marina
Incidental frog records
Other species
(2014 Monitoring)
Litoria wilcoxii, Litoria
pearsoniana, Adelotus brevis,
R. marina
R. marina, L. wilcoxii, A.brevis,
L. pearsoniana
L.pearsoniana, R. marina,
A.brevis, Limnodynastes peronii
R. marina, L. wilcoxii
R. marina
L. wilcoxii, R. marina
L.pearsoniana, L. wilcoxii, R.
marina
L. pearsoniana, A. brevis, R.
marina, L. tyleri
L. wilcoxii, R. marina, Litoria
peronii, L. fallax,
Limnodynastes peronii
L. wilcoxii, A. brevis
A. brevis, L. wilcoxii
R. marina, A.brevis,
Limnodynastes peronii, L. fallax
M.fasciolatus, L.gracilenta
L. wilcoxii, A.brevis, R. marina
Mixophyes iteratus Survey Report No. 6
Bruce Highway (Cooroy to Curra) Upgrade
Section A (Cooroy southern interchange to Sankeys Road)
14