Australian Frogs (2023)

Proud Chipmunk
Shane Lee, Sarah Lee, Sophia Escalante

2026-03-05

Introduction

  • Dataset from the FrogID Citizen Science Initiative
  • Volunteers record frog calls across Australia using a mobile app
  • Recordings are verified by experts and used for ecological research
  • Frogs are important indicators of environmental health

Our project analyzes frog call recordings from 2023 to explore patterns in when and where frogs, and which frogs, are most active across Australia.

Question 1

How does frog calling activity vary by season and species?

  • Focus on the 10 most frequently recorded frog species
  • Compare recordings across four Australian seasons
  • Investigate how seasonal environmental changes influence frog calling activity

Question 1: Findings

  • Most frog species show higher recording counts in spring and summer
  • Winter has significantly fewer recordings across nearly all species
  • These seasonal patterns align with frog breeding cycles and warmer weather conditions

Question 2

Australia’s East Coast Anomaly: Where and when are frogs most active?

  • Focus on Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria
  • These states show higher recording density and species diversity
  • Explore frog activity across the 24-hour daily cycle

Question 2: Findings

  • The east coast states — Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria — show the highest concentration of frog recordings.
  • Recording activity appears relatively consistent across seasons, suggesting stable frog populations and favorable environmental conditions in these regions.
  • Frog calls are reported most frequently during the evening and nighttime hours, which aligns with typical nocturnal frog behavior.

Summarizing Key Insights

  • Frog calling activity follows clear seasonal patterns, with the highest activity occurring in spring and summer.

  • The east coast of Australia shows the greatest concentration and diversity of frog recordings.

  • Most frog calls occur during nighttime hours, reflecting natural amphibian behavior.

  • Citizen science projects like FrogID provide valuable large-scale data that can reveal ecological patterns across time and geography.