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Hyla arborea, green frogs and midwife toa: |
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FB knowles Member Joined: 17 Mar 2003 No. of posts: 5  View other posts by FB knowles |
Posted: 18 Jul 2003 Hi Folks Does anybody out there know the status of hyla arborea in the UK, is the colony in the New Forest still going strong. Also are the green frogs likely to be added to the British lists as they seem pretty fimly established, like wise with the midwife toad. Cheers, Fairbrass Fairbrass Knowles |
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GemmaJF Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 No. of posts: 2090  View other posts by GemmaJF |
Posted: 18 Jul 2003 The New Forest population of Hyla arborea is now thought to be extinct, possibly due to collection. This is stated in both Nick Arnolds second edition of A Field Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of Britain and Europe (2000) and also the Amphibians and Reptiles a Natural History of the British Herpetofauna (2000), Beebee, T and Griffiths, R. Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant |
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David Bird Forum Specialist Joined: 17 Feb 2003 No. of posts: 515 View other posts by David Bird |
Posted: 18 Jul 2003 The New Forest colony has always had specimens collected by the local children even when it was still reasonably stable. I believe that a more serious problem has been the Australian Stonecrop Crassula helmsii which has taken over the pond and has been there for about 15 years. The pond tends to dry out quite early in the summer in most summers not allowing enough time for metamorphosis. British Herpetological Society Librarian and member of B.H.S Conservation Committee. Self employed Herpetological Consultant and Field Worker. |
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GemmaJF Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 No. of posts: 2090 View other posts by GemmaJF |
Posted: 18 Jul 2003 Thanks David, I just checked the second reference I gave and Beebee/Griffiths give this also as a possible factor for the extinction along with the fact that a substantial population of crested newts in the pond may have contributed. Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant |
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David Bird Forum Specialist Joined: 17 Feb 2003 No. of posts: 515 View other posts by David Bird |
Posted: 18 Jul 2003 The Crested Newts have also suffered I used to see more when it was Rannunculus and many other aquatic plants with plenty of invertebrates that seem far less now as well British Herpetological Society Librarian and member of B.H.S Conservation Committee. Self employed Herpetological Consultant and Field Worker. |
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GemmaJF Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 No. of posts: 2090 View other posts by GemmaJF |
Posted: 18 Jul 2003 I can appreciate that after seeing the effects of Floating Pennywort for the first time this year at a Common Toad/Frog pond in Essex. Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant |
- Hyla arborea, green frogs and midwife toa |