Boffa Miskell Ltd | Waihi North Project | Terrestrial Ecology Values and Effects of the WUG | 22 June 2022 17 4.5 Assessment and Survey of Native Frogs 4.5.1 Desktop Analysis Extensive native frog surveys have been undertaken within the Wharekirauponga catchment from 2017-2022 (106 sites, including potential exploration drill sites, pump sites and helipad sites) (BML 2018, 2019a, 2019b, 2021b, 2021c, Appendix 2). The findings of those surveys are that Archey’s frogs (Leiopelma archeyi) are widely, but not densely6 distributed throughout the catchment. Archey’s frogs have been detected as far south as Golden Cross / Komata Reefs. Archey’s frogs occupy a wide range of macrohabitats (forest types) provided there is sufficient groundcover and refuge habitat available. Similarly, Hochstetter’s frog (L. hochstetteri) surveys have been undertaken in suitable habitats in the Wharekirauponga catchment (BML 2019b, 2021c) and those records are reviewed in Section 5.3.1. We consider that the results of these surveys broadly inform this assessment where site-specific data is unavailable. 4.5.2 Habitat Assessments and Surveys Native frog surveys were carried out in suitable frog habitat at Willows Road farm, including potentially affected streams within the Project footprint that were assessed for prospective Hochstetter’s frog habitat and searched using systematic search methods (Hare, 2012). Native frog transect surveys and habitat assessments were carried out on the boundary of Coromandel Forest Park (outside of the Project Area) over two nights in May 2022. Native frog surveys were undertaken within 11 potential vent raise sites in CFP7 (Appendix 3). These surveys will be repeated as part of the vent raise site selection process. Archey’s frog surveys comprise systematic searching of all available habitats within a 20 x 20 m plot to assess frog presence. This method requires experienced observers scanning vegetation, ground cover and other potential habitats for emerged frogs and carefully lifting potential refuge materials to search underneath. Frog handling is kept to a minimum to avoid stress, and all handlers follow ‘Frog Hygiene Protocols’ (DOC, undated). Archey’s frog habitat assessments were carried out within the Project Area within Willows Road Farm, and in stands of native vegetation outside of the Project Area but within the farm property. 4.6 Assessment and Survey of Native Lizards 4.6.1 Desktop Analysis The Bioweb Herpetofauna database (administered by DOC) was analysed for records within 10 km of the Project Area to determine which native species are present in the wider area. The 6 Archey’s frogs can reach densities of up to 4.8 frogs per m2 (480 frogs per 100m2) in the Coromandel (Bell 1997) and emerged frogs are detected in densities of up to 0.77 frogs per m2 frogs (reported as 77 frogs per 100 m2) in Whareorino (Daglish 2010). Estimated density for Archey’s frogs studied at surveyed sites in Wharekirauponga surveys is 0- 0.25 frogs per m2 (or 0-25 frogs per 100 m2). 7 Native frogs are small, nocturnal and visually and behaviourally cryptic. Archey’s and Hochstetter’s frogs are terrestrial and semiaquatic, respectively. The principal field method for inventory and monitoring surveys of native frogs is systematic searches at night for emerged frogs, or searches during the day for non-emergent frogs in refugia (Lettink and Monks 2016). Frogs are more reliably active from September – April in weather conditions that are warm and moist – e.g. after rain when the vegetation and ground is still moist and temperatures are a minimum 12°C. A such, the survey window for native frogs is typically small in a given year.
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