Relative Efficiency of Different Pit-Trap Systems for Sampling Reptiles in Spinifex Grasslands

Abstract

Capture rates of reptiles in four pit-trap systems were compared in arid spinifex grasslands of the Northern Territory. Analysis showed that drift fences significantly increased capture rates, and that pit-traps of larger diameter captured more animals. Pit-traps with an additional drift fence at right angles to the main fence running along the line of traps tended to capture more animals than those with the single main fence. The results suggest that an optimal system for this habitat may be large pit-traps and drift fences arranged in the form of a cross.