An Effective Method For Increasing the Catch-Rate of Pitfall Traps

Abstract

Pitfall traps are widely used by researchers to survey a variety of terrestrial taxa. To test a method for improving the results of pitfall traps, we built a Y-shaped drift fence with six pitfall traps on each arm. We improved the pitfall traps by staking four pieces of aluminum flashing around each of the traps to increase their effective area. For experimental purposes, we used the aluminum flashing wings every other day. Traps without flashing caught a total of 395 reptiles and amphibians representing 15 species, and traps with the flashing caught a total of 624 reptiles and amphibians representing 20 species.

Department(s)

Biology

Document Type

Article

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1894/0038-4909-58.4.446

Publication Date

2013

Journal Title

The Southwestern Naturalist

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