Citizen Science Data Reveals Private Lands as Key Habitats for Threatened Australian Frogs

A study analyzing nearly 500,000 frog records from the FrogID project in New South Wales, Australia, found that 86% of citizen science submissions originate from private properties. This data highlights that private lands, which constitute most of the state, host a greater diversity of frog species than public protected areas once environmental factors are considered. Notably, 20 out of 24 threatened frog species in NSW were documented on private land, with some, like Sloane's froglet and the green and golden bell frog, predominantly recorded there. The research, led by Grace Gillard and Jodi Rowley of the Australian Museum, demonstrates how public participation through smartphone apps is filling critical knowledge gaps in conservation efforts, especially in regions difficult for professional scientists to access due to logistical challenges.