Step on it: can footprints from tracking tunnels be used to identify lizard species?

Abstract

There are few effective or efficient established methods for monitoring cryptic herpetofauna. Footprint tracking tunnels are routinely used to index small mammal populations, but also have potential for monitoring herpetofauna. We evaluated the utility of tracking tunnels for identification of New Zealand lizards using captive-and wild-sourced animals (four skink and eight gecko species). All skink prints that we obtained were indistinct or obscure, but we obtained relatively clear, measurable prints for all gecko species. We found that identification to species level was possible for the two gecko species for which we had a large sample-Naultinus gemmeus and Woodworthia 'Otago large'-using linear discriminant analysis (the best model correctly assigned 96.1% of individuals). Our findings suggest that footprints from tracking tunnels may be used to distinguish between species of geckos. Additional research is needed to assess the ability to further discriminate intra-and inter-genera lizard footprints from tracking tunnels, and the utility of the technique for surveying and monitoring lizard populations.

Evaluation of remote cameras for monitoring multiple invasive mammals in New Zealand

“…Despite the gradual decrease in equipment costs and the long periods of time that cameras can be active without requiring maintenance, the cost-efficiency of remote cameras compared to more traditional monitoring tools is still low, especially in the short term (Glen et al 2014). Another limitation is the inability that many commercially available cameras have to detect ectothermic animals, such as lizards and insects, whereas tracking tunnels can detect these species (Jarvie & Monks 2014). A further drawback of camera trapping is the responses that some mammals have shown to the cameras.…”

Population expansion by Cook Strait giant wētā, Deinacrida rugosa (Orthoptera: Anostostomatidae), following translocation to Matiu/Somes Island, New Zealand, and subsequent changes in abundance

“…Footprints of geckos and skinks are also clearly identifiable (Jarvie and Monks 2014). However, we used the tracking tunnel cards primarily for monitoring D. rugosa and we include data on gecko tracking to confirm our observations on their distribution.…”

Survey and monitoring methods for New Zealand lizards

“…However, there are some differences in their application, most notably the use of baited pitfall traps (Whitaker 1967a) instead of trapping arrays containing unbaited pitfall and/or funnel traps connected by drift fencing (reviewed by Fisher & Rochester 2012). In addition, detection of New Zealand lizards by their sign or presence is currently in an exploratory phase, with various researchers assessing the utility of footprint tracking tunnels (Siyam 2006; van Winkel 2008;Jarvie & Monks 2014), electronic sensor pads and remote cameras (Bogisch 2014;Johnston 2014). An additional detection method trialled in New Zealand (with some success) is the use of reptile (lizard and tuatara, Sphenodon punctatus) detector dogs (Browne et al 2006).…”