BRISBANE TIMES (Australia) 04 October 09 Frog numbers take a dive (Jon Pierik)

Kermit the frog once lamented: "It's not easy being green".

While Kermit was just a lovable television muppet, it seems his real-life amphibian mates can concur.

Through an unseasonably dry Victorian autumn, the number of frog calls recorded by Melbourne Water fell.

Melbourne Water's manager of waterways Chris Chesterfield said the habitats of some frogs had been destroyed.

"In the first eight months of this year, rainfalls have been the lowest on record. That obviously reduces stream flows and has led to the drying out of wetlands," he told AAP on Sunday.

"Many volunteers reported fewer frogs calling at their usual sites during autumn.

"I suppose it's not surprising that frog numbers during the early part of the year may appear down or the frogs haven't been as active or calling as much."

But Mr Chesterfield said he expects the numbers to be up when Melbourne Water begins its 2009 frog census.

"We have had some very good September rains and the frogs are out and about," he said.

The annual census, now in its ninth year, was launched at Werribee Open Range Zoo in Melbourne's south-west on Sunday.

The census is used to plot where frogs live.

"If the habitat area is reduced, you would expect frog numbers to be less," Mr Chesterfield said.

"We are not concerned but particularly in this region, there is the pressure of population growth and urban expansion on top of climate change.

"We have to be very alert to those changes."

Mr Chesterfield said Melbourne Water was determined to increase the numbers of platypus, native fish and frogs in its 9,000km of waterways and wetlands.

"Frogs are an important part of the ecosystem," he said.

"They are an animal that appeal to people and they are an indicator of the health of systems."

He said 16 frog species could be found in the Melbourne Water region, from the common froglet to the large growling grass frog.

Anyone interested in participating in the census can register at www.melbournewater.com.au.
Frog numbers take a dive

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• AUS Press: Frog numbers take a dive - W von Papineäu, Wed Oct 14 16:59:57 2009