Altitudinal distribution and abundance of microhylid frogs (Cophixalus and Austrochaperina) of north-eastern Australia: baseline data for detecting biological responses to future climate change

Abstract

Extensive abundance surveys of microhylid frogs across altitudinal gradients within the Wet Tropics rainforests of north-eastern Australia were undertaken. Detailed patterns of abundance were resolved for nine microhylid species exhibiting differing associations within the altitudinal gradient. The position of altitudinal range boundaries was found to be largely consistent with previous accounts in the literature, providing confidence in established limits to species distributions. Microhylid frogs, in particular those species restricted to mountaintops, are considered among other endemic rainforest vertebrates within the region to be one of the groups most immediately threatened by climate change. The combined results establish important baseline data for assessing the impacts of climate change, including altitudinal shifts in distribution and localised declines in abundance, on microhylid frogs in the region.