Influence of artificial refuge type on the success of a presence/absence surveys for slow worms Anguis fragilis

HANNAH REGIS; CHANTAL HELM; ALLA MASHANOVA

The Herpetological Bulletin is a quarterly publication in English. It includes full-length papers, natural history notes, book reviews, and other items of general herpetological interest. Emphasis is placed on natural history and conservation as well as captive care that includes breeding, husbandry, veterinary, and behavioural aspects.

pdf 02. Influence of artificial refuge type on the success of a presence/absence surveys for slow worms Anguis fragilis

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https://doi.org/10.33256/hb175.813

AUTHORS: HANNAH REGIS, CHANTAL HELM & ALLA MASHANOVA

ABSTRACT: Artificial refuges are widely used to improve detection rates when surveying for reptiles. We compared the efficacy of refuges constructed from four different materials to detect slow worms Anguis fragilis. The refuges included two types that were flat - roofing felt (bitumen) and carpet tiles, and two types that were corrugated - one constructed of roofing felt (bitumen-soaked fibres) and the other of metal. The proportion of occupied refuges (i.e. sheltering at least one slow worm) varied greatly by month with the highest proportions in June. The effect of refuge type was not statistically significant on its own, but the interaction between the type and month was significant. The proportion of occupied refuges was most affected by refuge type in the months with intermediate slow worm occupancy rates (May & July). Flat roofing felt and the corrugated roofing felt appear to be the most different, the former higher in July and the latter higher in May and June. Using a mixture of refuge types simultaneously during surveys could potentially increase the detection rate of slow worms.