RAUK - Archived Forum - reptile survey techniques

I am a degree student studying Wildlife management and am planning a reptile project for the summer. I will be surveying reptiles (both common lizards and slow-worms) on a site and comparing my findings to data recorded on another site.I will be looking for data that suggests the effect of grazing on reptile populations with the intention of using this to decide on future management techniques. As i am new to this i was hoping to get some helpful hints about the best methods to use. I have both roofing felt and "tins" at my disposal.

Firstly to get a true representative sample ( numbers of animals under each tin per lift compared with the same from the other site) would i be right to suggest gridding out my site on a map and randomly selecting places to put down the tins? How often should i lift the tins in a day?, i was planning to do the survey work from about mid july onward...does that sound right?

if anyone can help me with answers to these questions or links to helpful information i would be greatful.

brent

Brent,

Probably a couple of useful documents you could read.....

The Froglife Reptile Survey Pamphlet: http://www.froglife.org/FAS/FAS10%20-%20Reptile%20surveying.pdf

and,

Gent, T. and S. Gibson (eds.). 1998. Herpetofauna Worker's Manual. Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough, England. 152 pp.

I would suggest, that as described, this will be a difficult comparison, as you may have no control case. How would you know any differences were down to grazing alone ?

Thanks for the thoughts, i will go away and think about these questions and will no doubt be back on this forum with some more.

Brent