Frogs prefer 'concrete flats' to forest shelters - study

It's about an unusual choice of habitat.

Details

In the rainforests of Australia, researchers have built two types of "housing" for the frogs:

• wooden shelters - like fallen trees
• concrete blocks with chambers - a kind of "multi-room flat"

Frogs actively inhabited both options, but more often chose concrete.

In total, scientists recorded more than 800 observations, and in some cases in one "house" found up to 45 individuals.

The reason was simple: concrete retains heat better and creates a stable microclimate.

This is especially important in the cool season, when "concrete flats" become more attractive.

Over time, frogs began not only to live in them, but also to reproduce: eggs and nests were found inside.

Why it matters

The study shows how you can help animals without interfering with their environment too much.

The scientists point out:

• such "shelter-apartments" allow the entire life cycle to be observed
• the risk of damaging the natural environment is reduced
• the method can be used for rare species

This could be a new tool for amphibian conservation.

Background

These frogs live in the forest floor and usually hide under rocks and logs, so they are difficult to study.

Artificial "houses" allow you to literally "attract" them for observation.

Source

The study is based on field observations of frogs in Australian rainforests using artificial shelters made of wood and concrete. The work is published in Ecology and Evolution (2026).