Abstract for presentation at Biodiversity Extinction Crisis Conference - A Pacific Response

New Guinea has a diverse frog fauna with more than 320 species so far described; however, due to the islands extreme topography the montane frog fauna is poorly documented. We surveyed the montane frog fauna of Mt Michael in Eastern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea to determine species diversity, abundance, and conservation status. We surveyed four sites each for one night along an altitudinal gradient from 2300 to 3400 m a.s.l. (mid montane forest to alpine grassland at the summit). We used visual encounter surveys to detect frogs and recorded their advertisement calls. We documented 11 species from 7 genera in the families Hylidae (3 spp.), Microhylidae (7 spp.) and Ranidae (1 sp.). Two species of microhylids (Oreophryne spp.) likely represent new species. We rediscovered the rare microhylid frog Cophixalus nubicola first described from Mt Michael in 1962, which appears to be endemic to this massif and is listed as Vulnerable by IUCN. Cophixalus nubicola was abundant (1 frog per 13 m²) in forest from 2500 to 3100 m a.s.l., but was less common in the alpine grassland at 3400 m. The biggest threat to this species appears to be the uncontrolled burning of the grassland during the dry season, which then spreads into the surrounding forest destroying optimal habitat of this species near the summit. However, there were no obvious threats to the mid-montane forest population where this species was most abundant. In contrast, forests on the lower slopes of Mt Michael are under severe pressure from gardening, which is encroaching into forest and extending further up the mountain each year. We recommend further surveys to determine the distribution and ecology of Cophaxilus nubicola and other frogs endemic to Mt Michael, and promotion of conservation awareness among local communities who use the area for gardens, timber extraction, and hunting.