Extensive range contraction predicted under climate warming for two endangered mountaintop frogs from the rainforests of subtropical Australia

Two endangered mountaintop frogs, Philoria kundagungan and Philoria richmondensis, endemic to the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area (GRAWHA), face severe range contraction due to climate warming. Under projected low and high warming scenarios by 2055, their habitats are expected to shrink by 64% to 91% for P. kundagungan and 50% to 85% for P. richmondensis, respectively. The study used the maximum entropy approach to model current and future distributions, validated against field data, revealing alarming declines that necessitate urgent conservation action. Proposed strategies include establishing ex-situ insurance populations and conservation translocations to ensure long-term survival amid ongoing threats such as wildfires.

Bolitho, L., & Newell, D. (2022). Extensive range contraction predicted under climate warming for two endangered mountaintop frogs from the rainforests of subtropical Australia. Scientific Reports, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-24551-5