Australian Museum Study Uses Citizen Science to Distinguish Similar Frog Species by Their Calls

A recent scientific study examined the advertisement calls of five species of whistling tree frogs found in Southeastern Australia, focusing on species that appear and sound remarkably similar. The research utilized data from the Australian Museum's FrogID citizen science app, analyzing approximately 20,000 recordings submitted by the public. The species investigated include the Brown Tree Frog (Litoria ewingii), the Whistling Tree Frog (Litoria verreauxii), and the Victorian Tree Frog (Litoria paraewingi), which have overlapping geographic ranges, along with two newly identified species: the South Australian Tree Frog (Litoria calliscelis) and the Kangaroo Island Tree Frog (Litoria sibilus). The study aimed to develop a practical identification guide by analyzing variations in call characteristics, such as the number of notes, amplitude patterns, and the positioning of the longest and shortest notes within a call. Researchers found that these acoustic features serve as reliable indicators for distinguishing between the species. Additionally, the analysis revealed geographic variation in the calls of Brown Tree Frogs and Whistling Tree Frogs, suggesting regional differences akin to accents. The research underscores the importance of accurate species identification for conservation efforts, enabling better monitoring of distribution and population changes. This large-scale study highlights the transformative role of citizen science projects like FrogID in advancing ecological research and supporting the preservation of frog species in Australia. The work was conducted by Jessica Elliot-Tate, a former honours student affiliated with the Australian Museum Research Institute and UNSW Sydney.