18 OGNZ WUG mine: assessment of potential ecological effects Project 2034 particularly where the scale of benefit achieved on the ground may become central to future conclusions over equivalent replacement or net-gain as a result of the WUG project. A draft monitoring programme for frogs has yet to be developed. For that to occur we believe that discussion should be undertaken with frog experts in DOC and Council so that a consensus on effective monitoring techniques can be agreed, and so that a programme that is realistic and which has cross-expert support can be prepared. The design of the pest animal control programme allows for a robust BACI (Before, After, Control, Impact) design comparison to be adopted for the frog monitoring programme. The levels of treatment comparisons that will be included are: 1. Within the >2 mm/ second vibration zone where frogs are also subject to intensive pest animal control; 2. In adjoining area where frogs are not subject to mine-related vibration, but are subject to intensive pest animal control; and 3. In an area to the west of the WUP intensive pest animal control area, where frogs are not subject to vibration or additional pest animal control as a result of this project. Three sites therefore allow the comparison of potential effects or benefits of vibration and pest animal control compared to a baseline of the existing level of pests and pest control applied to the southern Coromandel Peninsula. Replicate monitoring sites will be set up in each treatment area. The number of replicates will be determined to provide a known level of assurance that differences due to vibration and pest control effects can be reliably detected. Key frog population variables that will be measured (monitored) in each monitoring site are likely to include: · Frog abundance per unit area to provide an estimate of frog density; · Frog condition; · Frog size as an indicator of age and overall population age structure. OGZL’s intention is to start pest animal control around 2 years ahead of the WUG mine works commencing. That will provide an opportunity to collect baseline information on frog populations within each of the treatment comparison areas prior to any potential adverse effects from mining being expressed on these populations. In addition to the above key component of the monitoring programme, there are several other aspects that we have considered. We have not yet reached a consensus on how or whether these could be applied to the proposed pest control sites, although elements of some or all have potential. · Monitoring of artificial refuges on an annual basis as a proxy for population abundance. · Monitoring of egg broods to assess viability. · Analysis of scats for frog remains from pest trapping to detect relative abundance of predation events (molecular analysis) as a proxy for predation release. · Trials of less invasive/disturbance methods to assess abundance – such as distance sampling and markrecapture. The frog monitoring programme is currently being developed by the ecology team advising OGNZL. The programme will be presented by OGNZL in the next suite of technical documents regarding the management programmes proposed for Archey’s frogs.
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