Surge in population of native frogs in outback Queensland thanks to big rain

[depakid]

Scientists say there are about 40 frog species living in the Lake Eyre Basin but they are hoping to uncover new species in the wet conditions. A spokesman for natural resource management group Desert Channels Queensland, Steve Wilson, says frogs are an excellent indicator of the health of the environment.

"Seventy per cent of their respiration occurs not only through their lungs but also through their skin so they are great environmental indicators because they are absorbing any contaminants a lot earlier than a lot of other species are," Mr Wilson said. "So if your landscapes are still holding good healthy frog populations it's a fair indication of the health of your ecosystems."

Mr Wilson says the native tree and burrowing frogs are all breeding in the current wet conditions. "We've had all these successive floods which have put anything from up to half a metre of water over the landscape which is just ideal for frogs because you've got shallow, warm water and the frogs can lay their eggs against the floating vegetation," he said. "It's a really interesting system because you've got these boom-bust cycles and frogs make use of those short windows of opportunity."

More: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/02/18/2823086.htm

[phantom power]

1. Breed quickly, amphibious ones!