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A Comparison of Herpetofaunal Sampling Effectiveness of Pitfall, Single-ended, and Double-ended Funnel Traps Used with Drift Fences

Informally Refereed

Abstract

We assessed the relative effectiveness of pitfalls, single-ended, and double-ended funnel traps at 12 replicate sites in sand pine scrub using drift fence arrays. Pitfalls captured fewer species but yielded more individuals of many species and higher average species richness than funnel traps. Pitfalls and funnel traps exhibited differential capture bias probably due to differences in behavior or morphology. More surface-active lizards, frogs, and small semifossoriai herpetofaunal species were captured in pitfalls whereas captures of large snake species were restricted to funnel traps. Double-ended funnel traps captured twice as many large snakes as single-ended funnel traps. All three trap types yielded similar estimates of relative abundance of lizards and frogs but not snakes. Estimates of relative abundance of large snakes were higher for double-ended funnel traps than pitfalls or single-ended funnel traps. Pitfall and funnel traps yield complementary results, and choice of type(s) depends on target species and sampling goals.

Citation

Greenberg, Cathryn H.; Neary, Daniel G.; Harris, Larry D. 1994. A Comparison of Herpetofaunal Sampling Effectiveness of Pitfall, Single-ended, and Double-ended Funnel Traps Used with Drift Fences. Journal of Herpetology, Vol. 28, No. 3, pp. 319-324, 1994
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/5362