SOUTHERN AFRICAN FROG ATLAS PROJECT Annual Report - March 2001

Photo Marius Burger Hyperolius marmoratus taeniatus Painted Reed Frog

MR MARIUS BURGER, AVIAN DEMOGRAPHY UNIT, UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN, RONDEBOSCH 7701
Tel: (021) 650-2330
Fax: (021) 650-3434
E-mail: marius@adu.uct.ac.za

MR JAMES ADRIAAN HARRISON, AVIAN DEMOGRAPHY UNIT, UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN, RONDEBOSCH 7701
Tel: (021) 650-2564
Fax: (021) 650-3434
E-mail: batlas@adu.uct.ac.za

and

MR LES MINTER, DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL SCIENCES, UNIVERSITY OF THE NORTH, PVT BAG X1106, SOVENGA, 0727
Tel: 015 – 2682275
Fax: 015 – 2682275
E-mail: minter@unin.unorth.ac.za

PROFESSOR LESLIE GORDON UNDERHILL, AVIAN DEMOGRAPHY UNIT, UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN, RONDEBOSCH 7700
Tel: 021 – 650-3227
Fax: 021 – 689-7578 or 650-3434 or 650-3918
E-mail: lgu@adu.uct.ac.za

DURATION OF PROJECT: From: NOVEMBER 1995 To: DECEMBER 2002

DATE OF SUBMISSIONMARCH 2001

OBJECTIVES:

Photo Marius Burger Bufo robinsoni Paradise Toad

Amphibians are an important component of South Africa's exceptional biodiversity (Siegfried 1989) and as such are worthy of both research and conservation effort. This need is made additionally relevant by international concern over globally declining amphibian populations, a phenomenon currently undergoing intense investigation but as yet still poorly understood (Wyman 1990; Wake 1991). Their skin permeability makes amphibians sensitive to chemical pollution, therefore they are an important taxon for monitoring the health of wetlands. The Southern African Frog Atlas Project has the potential to make a key contribution to the conservation of amphibians and the wetlands they inhabit. As happened for birds with the bird atlas project, the frog atlas will increase community awareness and appreciation of frogs and their habitats.

The objectives of SAFAP are to:

1. Compile a list of all species occurring in each quarter degree grid cell (QDGC) in South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland.
2. Using the information from (1), create a distribution map for each species.
3. Compile a list of all species occurring in each publicly owned protected area in South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland.
4. Include as much historical data as possible in the SAFAP database, provided that it is reliable and verifiable.
5. Using the information from (1), (2) and (3), assess the conservation status of each species.
6. Publish The Atlas of Frogs in South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland in the year 2002.

Photo Marius Burger Bufo vertebralis Southern Pygmy Toad

The following key questions constitute the basis of SAFAP's approach to data collection and analysis:

1. Do the atlas data suggest the presence of undescribed taxa?
2. What does the distribution of each species tell us about its conservation status?
3. Which species display adaptability to disturbed and altered habitats and which species apparently require pristine habitats for survival?
4. Does comparison of current data with historical data indicate population declines? If so, are such declines patterned in any way and do the patterns suggest particular causative factors?
5. Which species are currently not adequately protected within the existing network of protected areas?
6. Are there areas and wetlands which are of particular significance for the conservation of threatened species?
7. Does the Red Data status of any species require revision? Which species require urgent conservation action?

SAFAP’s progress is best measured by comparing the increase in numbers of records over the past few years. By March 1999, an estimated total of 6510 records were in the database. The next year’s figure of 18950 was an increase of 190%. In March 2001 it is 31900, a further increase of 68% on the previous year. A regional breakdown of this progress is presented in Table 1. Since records arrive in big and small batches throughout the year, and data capture is a multi-phase process, the SAFAP database is never 100% up to date, therefore the figures below are not precise, but near estimations.

Another measure of progress is comparisons of quarter-degree grid cell coverage. The first coverage analysis was done in August 1998 at which stage the tally stood at c. 700 grid cells (35%). That was already more than double that of Poynton’s coverage map of 1964. The next assessment was compiled for the June 1999 AGM, by which time the total had increased to a little over 1000 (52%) of the c. 2000 grid cells in the atlas region. By March 2000 it was up to c. 1250 grid cells (63%), and now a year later it stands at 1527 (77%).

Photo Marius Burger Heleophryne purcelli orientalis Cape Ghost Frog

The Northern Province, Free State, Mpumalanga and Swaziland have achieved 100% coverage since the inception of SAFAP. Credit for these achievements goes primarily to the respective Regional Organisers (ROs): Les Minter, Louis du Preez, Jerry Theron and Richard Boycott, and also two employed fieldworkers Harold Braack (ex-National Parks Board) and Ché Weldon (University of the Orange Free State). Although our database also show 100% coverage for Gauteng, this is because of the inclusion of historical data and not because it has received comprehensive coverage since the SAFAP surveys started. For years the arid Northern Cape Province has steadfastly resisted being surveyed, but the picture is now looking much better after the records collected by Ché Weldon and Harold Braack during the exceptionally good summer rains of 1999/2000.

The efforts required to achieve this progress were substantial. In addition to records submitted from the public, the Project Coordinator, ROs and employed fieldworkers undertook fieldtrips to priority areas and clocked up c. 40 000 km in doing so. Consider the ever-increasing fuel prices and it is clear that substantial monetary investment was also necessary to attain these results.

Fieldtrips by ROs, employed fieldworkers and the general public since the previous reporting period include:

• six weeks in KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape (M. Burger);
• seven weeks in Mpumalanga and two weeks in KwaZulu-Natal (H. Braack and J. Theron);
• a number of shorter trips in the North-West Province (C. Weldon), Northern Province (L. Minter), Gauteng (C. Cook and H. Braack), Mpumalanga (M. Burger, R. Boycott), Western Cape (M. Burger, A. de Villiers, J. Harrison, A. Channing and A. Turner), Northern Cape (M. Burger, L. du Preez, J. Harrison and C. Weldon), Kwa-Zulu-Natal (L. Minter, L. du Preez and C. Weldon), Free State (L. du Preez and C. Weldon), Lesotho (M. Bates) and Swaziland (R. Boycott);
• contributions from various public participants, but these form a relatively small part of the whole. (Nevertheless, some people are fairly regular participants and many important records have come from this source.)

A number of sources of pre-atlas data were identified in the previous annual report and have subsequently been incorporated in the SAFAP database. These include:

• Transvaal Museum (c. 4500 records)
• Port Elizabeth Museum (c. 380 records, with more to follow)
• John Ellerman Museum (75 records)
• Nico Smith collection (55 records)

Photo Marius Burger Ptychadena anchietae Plain Grass Frog

The inclusion of the Transvaal Museum records is a particularly important layer for viewing historical distribution patterns. It contains the results of an important survey that was conducted in the former Transvaal Province (Jacobsen 1989); these were used in a regional analysis which provided a benchmark against which SAFAP contributions could be evaluated (see Minter et al. 2000). The next important batch of historical data, that of the Durban Museum, is about to be added to the SAFAP database, and plans are underway to obtain the records of the Natal Museum too. A batch of sight records, contained in the database of the KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Service, was made available for SAFAP use, but these must still be screened prior to incorporation.

The SAFAP AGM was held in Cape Town on 23 July 2000 and was attended by 15 persons. Points of discussion included financial matters, publication details such as authorship of genus and species accounts, content of the various chapters, publication costs and project deadlines. Thereafter the ROs reported on the progress in their respective regions. An update on the current status of the SAFAP database was presented and full set of revised interim distribution maps was distributed. Data-collecting strategies were discussed. The final part of the AGM was concerned with preparing for the workshop that started the next day.

Following the AGM, the next few days were spent on the most important frog-related event of the year. A Conservation Assessment and Management Plan (CAMP) for Southern African frogs was held in Cape Town on 24–27 July 2000. This interactive workshop was attended by a group of 20 experts and the meeting was steered by Susie Ellis of the IUCN Species Survival Commission. The main goals of the CAMP workshop were:

• to review the population status and demographic trends for southern African frogs and to apply the newest IUCN Red List criteria for threat;
• to provide recommendations for conservation management, research and information-gathering;
• to produce a Conservation Assessment and Management Plan to guide further conservation action and research.

The consensus amongst all those who attended the workshop was that it was very constructive and that it was well-timed in terms of being able to benefit from SAFAP data, while also providing a platform for improving the conservation-related content of the atlas publication itself. Since then a lot of work has gone into preparing and editing the CAMP report. The final report is expected to be ready by June 2001.

SAFAP-related tasks of the ROs are varied and include processing of tapes and data sheets submitted by the public, feedback to these volunteers, lectures and presentations to promote SAFAP, fieldtrips to priority areas, tadpole identifications, and so forth. Some highlights of the year include:

• 12 SAFAP lectures on various occasions, mainly at schools, universities and natural history clubs;

• Les Minter and Marius Burger liaised with KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Service on issues regarding threatened frogs;

• Les Minter initiated a long-term frog monitoring site at Hans Merensky in Northern Province, with the assistance of nature conservation students;
• Les Minter was the consultant for a television documentation about South African frogs; the movie, Frogs – the whole story, will be screened this year by the Discovery Channel;
• Louis du Preez and Ché Weldon assisted the BBC with frog footage in the Kalahari;
• Clayton Cook was instrumental in establishing a protected area for Giant Bullfrogs in the Kyalami-Fourways area;
• Les Minter collected important field data which show the occurrence of an undescribed species of rain frog (Breviceps) in KwaZulu-Natal;
• Richard Boycott, Atherton de Villiers and Elizabeth Scott submitted a paper describing a new species of Cacosternum from the Karoo;
• Abida Dawood and Alan Channing described a new species of moss frog (Arthroleptella) from the south-western Cape.

The authors of the atlas publication have made a start at writing their species accounts. The task of editing these accounts will commence shortly. The atlas manuscript is scheduled for completion by the end of 2002.

Data collection will continue until about mid-2002, i.e., about one more year. With fieldwork on the final lap, we have to adjust our strategies accordingly. As mentioned earlier, the merging of Jacobsen’s (1989) records with SAFAP’s data from the Northern Province, enabled us to evaluate the progress made since the launch of the atlas project (Minter et al. 2000). It emerged from that analysis that we have done well in respect of overall coverage, but to improve on depth of coverage (records of all species present, per grid cell) would require a much greater effort than the current one. To quote from the paper: "While SAFAP’s goal of 100% coverage (i.e., a sample from every grid cell) is achievable, it is clearly impossible, given the limited resources, time and expertise available, to record all species present in every quarter-degree grid cell." The results also showed that, although the addition of the SAFAP data to those of Jacobsen almost doubled the number of species per cell, the combined data may represent as little as 40% of the real species richness of those cells.

These results suggest that many repeat visits to grid cells are necessary, especially to target the more cryptic species. Because time and money are very limited, the SAFAP leadership has planned a limited programme to target the species which have the least adequate atlas coverage. Most of these target species are also species with high conservation priority, making them doubly important. The species-oriented fieldwork will proceed in tandem with basic grid cell coverage.

Photo Marius Burger Ptychadena mossambica Broad-banded Grass Frog

The most important step towards achieving our coverage objectives will be the full-time employment of Harold Braack for a period of five months (July–November 2001) in which he will survey priority species and localities. It is estimated that this will cost the project about R50 000.

A second funding application to the Dutch government was not successful, neither were ones made to the Lincoln Park Zoo and the Chicago Zoological Society. However, a second application to the Declining Amphibian Populations Task Force (DAPTF) was met with success and c. R20 000. An application to the National Research Foundation (NRF), via Prof. Les Underhill, was also successful and yielded R16 000 for SAFAP as well as R28 000 for two post-graduate students to do frog- and atlas-related projects. Marius Burger, the SAFAP Project Coordinator, has registered with the University of the Western Cape to do a two-year MSc degree on Cacosternum accoustics. This project should prove invaluable in sorting out the confused taxonomy and distributions of the various species in KwaZulu-Natal. A second student candidate is still being sought.

The combined DAPTF and NRF monies effectively solves the problem of the shortfall for the 2000-01 financial year. A similar shortfall on the budget is predicted for 2001-02, and no provision has yet been made for the last nine months of 2002, so substantial additional funding will be sought. We appeal to our sponsors to view SAFAP’s needs sympathetically.

DEA&T and WWF-SA continued to provide core funding through their five-year contracts with the University of Cape Town. WWF-SA secured support for SAFAP from Total South Africa. As was the case in the previous two years, Mazda Wildlife Fund pledged R40 000 towards SAFAP travelling expenses, as well as extending a long-term loan of a vehicle to the ADU. The Mazda bakkie was used on several fieldtrips. Mazda Wildlife Fund also twice provided an additional vehicle on short loan for frog atlas fieldwork. The ADU warmly thanks all these sponsors, and the University of Cape Town, for their support of SAFAP.

The SAFAP database now has c. 31900 records from 77% of the grid cells which cover South Africa, Swaziland and Lesotho. Compared with March 2000, these figures represent a 68% and 14% increase in the number of records and coverage respectively. Four regions, i.e. Swaziland, Northern Province, Mpumalanga and Free State have attained 100% coverage since the start of the project. Gauteng also has 100% coverage, but this is in part due to the inclusion of historical data. The surveys undertaken by various ROs, the Project Coordinator (Marius Burger) and commissioned fieldworkers, totaled c. 40 000 km for the reporting period. In addition, records were obtained from volunteers, academic researchers, and pre-existing databases. Harold Braack will be employed on a full-time basis for a period of five months (July–November 2001) to survey priority species and localities. It is estimated that this will cost the project about R50 000.

An AGM was held in July 2000. The main points of discussion were around financial matters, publication details such as authorship of genus and species accounts, content of the various chapters, publication costs and project deadline.

A Conservation Assessment and Management Plan (CAMP) workshop for Southern African frogs, held in Cape Town on 24–27 July 2000, was attended by a group of 20 experts. The main aim was to review the conservation status of this region’s frogs. To this end it was a very successful and productive meeting, and it was well-timed in respect of benefiting the forthcoming atlas publication. A draft of the CAMP document is currently being edited and is expected to be ready by June 2001.

Photo Marius Burger Cacosternum boettgeri Common Caco

SAFAP received positive publicity in the form of lectures and in the printed media.

In addition to regular funding from SAFAP’s primary sponsors, viz. DEA&T, Mazda Wildlife Fund and WWF-SA (for Total South Africa), funding was also obtained from the Declining Amphibians Task Force and the South African National Research Foundation. Funding is required to cover the shortfall on the 2001-02 budget, as well as for the last nine months of 2002 and the production of the atlas publication.

A total of 17 SAFAP related references which were not listed in the previous report have been added to the list below. Copies of these are enclosed with this report.

• Harrison, J.A. & Burger, M. 1998. The Southern African Frog Atlas Project: Progress to date – Fifth Symp. of the Herpetological Association of Africa.
• Minter, L., Burger, M. & Harrison, J.A. 1999. Progress and interim results of the Southern African Frog Atlas Project. 10th Meeting of African Amphibian Working Group.
• Harrison, J.A., Burger, M. and Ellis, S. 2000. Conservation Assessment and Management Plan for Southern African Frogs. Draft Report. IUCN/SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group, Apple Valley, MN.

• Anon 199?. The Silencing of the Frogs – Ancient Timesharers Under Threat.
• Anon 1995. Frog’s Song - New Scientist Nov. 1995: 11.
• Anon 1996. When a frog croaks… Eco-Care 32-33.
• Anon 1996/97. Frog Identification Evening. Mbuluzi Game Reserve Newsletter 4.
• Anon 1997. Why are frogs croaking? Keeping Track Feb./March 1997: 23.
• Anon 1998. The Frog Atlas Project. Research News – University of the North. Feb: 2-4.
• Anon 1999. The Arum Lily Frog. Cape Envirolink Nov./Dec. 1999: 14.
• Anon 2000. Frogging frenzy. Under African Skies Issue 3.
• Anon 2000. UCT scientists join project to save SA’s endangered frogs. Monday Paper 19(26): 5.
• Bishop P. 1996. Friends in low places. Arena 3(8): 6-9.
• Burger M. 1995. South African Frog Atlas Project. P.E. Herp Club News Letter 33: 4.
• Burger M. 1996. The SA Frog Atlas Project – Latest Update. The Naturalist 40(3): 10-12.
• Burger 1997. Eastern Cape Frogs: Part 1 – The Toads. The Naturalist 41(1): 9-12.
• Burger M. 1997. Eastern Cape Frogs: Part 2. The Naturalist 41(3): 35-41.
• Burger M. & Harrison J.A. 1998. Southern African Frog Atlas Project (SAFAP): Mapping Frogs. Bird Numbers 7(2): 24-27.
• Burger M. & Harrison J.A. 2000. The Frog Atlas leaps forward. Bird Numbers 9(2): 31-33.
• Harrison J.A. 1995. Southern African Frog Atlas Project. Bird Numbers 4: 11.
• Harrison J.A. 1995. Southern African Frog Atlas Project. Bird Numbers 5: 16-17.
• Harrison J.A. 1998. Southern African Frog Atlas Project (SAFAP). Bird Numbers 7(1): 16-17.
• Higgs, G. 2001. Walks with Gerry Higgs. Friends of Tokay Forest 18: 4.
• Minter, L.R., Burger, M. & Harrison, J.A. 2000. Progress and interim results of the Southern African Frog Atlas Project. Afr. J. Herpetol. 49(1): 3-8.
• Minter, L.R., Harrison, J.A. & Burger, M. 2000. Progress Report of the Southern African Frog Atlas Project. Froglog 39: 4-5.
• Nixon A. 1996. The Frog Atlas. The Naturalist 40(2): 14-15.
• Turkington K. 1996. Frogs for Africa. Ilanga Feb. 1996: 8-10.

• Harrison J.A. 1995. SAFAP Information Sheet No. 1: Getting Started. ADU, Cape Town.
• Harrison J.A. 1995. SAFAP Information Sheet No. 2: Maps, Grid Cells and Coordinates. ADU, Cape Town.
• Harrison J.A. 1995. SAFAP Information Sheet No. 3: Regional Organizers. ADU, Cape Town.
• Harrison J.A. 1995. SAFAP Information Sheet No. 4: Condensed Report Form. ADU, Cape Town.
• Harrison J.A. & Burger M. (eds) 1998. Frogs and Frog Atlasing in Southern Africa. ADU Guide 4. ADU, Cape Town.
• 1998 September: SAFAP Newsletter No. 1. ADU, Cape Town.
• 1998 December: SAFAP Newsletter No. 2. ADU, Cape Town.
• 1999 July: SAFAP Newsletter No. 3. ADU, Cape Town.
• Harrison J.A. & Burger M. (eds) 1999. Frogs and Frog Atlasing in Southern Africa. ADU Guide 4 (Second edition). ADU, Cape Town.
• 2000 November: SAFAP Newsletter No. 4. ADU, Cape Town.

• 199? : Croaking frogs are interesting too - ??
• 199? : Project launched to help save those slimy amphibians - ??
• 1996 November: Jumping Jack Flash - Grocott’s Mail.
• 1996 November: Frog Atlas Project - Grocott’s Mail.
• 1997 January: Frog atlas will be a giant leap for all kind - SundayTribune.
• 1997 February: Atlasing project leapfrogs from birds to amphibians - New Nation.
• 1997 February: Cape Town’s bird atlasing project leapfrogs amphibians - The Sunday Independent.
• 1998 December: Wanted - "Frogmen". Or is it "Frogpersons"? - The Sentinel.
• 2000 September: Navorsers maak ‘n SA ‘paddakaart’. Die Burger.
• 2000 October: Frog deaths: Sign of things to come? Cape Argus.
• 2001 March: Toads of Frogmore Estate under threat from Ring Road. Cape Argus.
• Anon 1996. Southern African Frog Atlas Project. Africa Environment & Wildlife 4(2): 92.
• Anon 1988. Southern African Frog Atlas Project. African Wildlife 52(5): 52.
• Anon. 1999. SASOL Frog Atlassing CD. African Wildlife 53(3): 33.
• Anon 1999. Mapping South Africa’s biodiversity. Our Living World. Oct. 1999: 10-11.
• Gay A. Get Frogging - SA Country Life April 1996: 58-61.
• Hilton-Barber B. 1996. Froggy would a-wooing go. Style March 1996: 114.
• Redgment, F. 1999. Book review: Frogs of Gauteng and Nort-West Province. African Wildlife 53(4): 47.
• Sanderson, L. 2000. Chrissiesmeer Frog Festival. S.A. Country Life 52: 28-31.
• Smillie S. 1998. Why are frogs checking out? Out There May 1998: 19-20.

• Channing, A. & van Dijk, D.E. 1995. Amphibia. In: Cowan, G.I. (Ed.) Wetlands of South Africa, 193-206. Pretoria: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism.
• Jacobsen, N.H.G. 1989. A herpetological survey of the Transvaal. Unpublished Ph.D. thesis, University of Natal, Durban.
• Minter, L.R., Burger, M. & Harrison, J.A. 2000. Progress and interim results of the Southern African Frog Atlas Project. Afr. J. Herpetol. 49(1): 3-8.
• Siegfried, W.R. 1989. Preservation of species in southern African nature reserves. In: Huntley, B.J. (Ed.) Biotic Diversity in Southern Africa, 186-201. Cape Town: Oxford University Press.
• Wake, D.B. 1991. Declining amphibian populations. Science 253: 860.
• Wyman, R.L. 1990. What's happening to amphibians? Conservation Biology 4: 350-352.

DEA&T and WWF-SA continued to provide core funding through their five-year contracts with the University of Cape Town. Through WW-SA, Total South Africa has become a key supporter of the project. Mazda Wildlife Fund provided essential funding for transport, as well as the vitally important vehicle. The Declining Amphibians Task Force and the South African National Research Foundation have provided important top-up funds. The University of Cape Town provided serviced accommodation to the Project Coordinator in the Avian Demography Unit. All of these sponsors are warmly thanked for their contributions.