Cover

COVER PHOTO: A newly metamorphosed Growling Grass Frog (Ranoidea raniformis) among reeds at the Merri Creek, Melbourne, Australia. In a study published in Ecological Applications (https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.70217), Geoffrey Heard and colleagues draw together over 3000 surveys to show that site occupancy by this species across northern Melbourne has declined by 38% over two decades. Using occupancy modelling and simulations, they show that synergies between urbanization and the disease chytridiomycosis have driven these declines; an example of the risk interacting threats pose for wildlife conservation. This photo captures a key life stage. With high adult mortality from chytridiomycosis, consistent recruitment is vital. Yet, urbanization reduces recruitment by polluting streams and wetlands with stormwater, which increases inflows and turbidity, and reduces the cover of aquatic vegetation. This metamorph, photographed in 2016, metamorphosed from a section of the Merri Creek that is now heavily stormwater impacted, and where local Growling Grass Frog populations are only just clinging to existence. Photo credit: Geoffrey Heard.