Arboreal x Appropriate method for gliders. Survey trapping design dependent on site characteristics. Set 5–7m above ground. Bait as for traps. Clear daily, at or before sunrise. Should only be used where absolutely necessary. Pitfall x x x x Typically use no than five 20L buckets, traps 5m apart along each transect. Use drift fencing (30cm high) to direct animal movement toward traps with bottom of netting buried in ground. Bury buckets flush with the ground. Some debris (e.g. leaves, twigs) placed in bucket to provide shelter and protection for trapped fauna. Clear at sunrise, midday and sunset. Elliott x x Place traps at least 5m apart. Place cage traps and Elliott traps (Type B) at each end of (types A transect. and B), Bait typically with either rolled oats, peanut cage butter, honey and vanilla essence or with traps sweet potato soaked in linseed oil. Set traps late afternoon and check at or just before sunrise. Alcohol pit x Particularly useful for surveying ant and soil falls invertebrate species. Small clear glass/plastic jars one- quarter filled with preserving alcohol. Bury jars so that rim is flush with ground. Electronic Specialised survey technique. Only to be bat undertaken by a suitably detector qualified/experienced person. Accurate ultrasonic call analysis is critical. Record ultrasonic calls by walking a transect and stopping to record calls or by remote recording at specific locations (e.g. stag trees). Duration dependent on bat activity (generally minimum 20 minutes). Harp net x x Specialised survey technique. Only to be undertaken by a suitably qualified/experienced person. Specialised netting set up in front of bat cave exit or in known flight path. Bats hit net and drop into trap below, then released after identification and assessment complete. Duration dependent on bat activity (generally minimum 20 minutes). x x Do not use this technique in conjunction with playback/ spotlighting with mammals and other prey call species especially after broadcasting – recording predator calls (e.g. owls). Note that failure to attract an answering call to a recording does not prove absence of a species.
Arboreal trapping x Appropriate method for gliders. Survey design dependent on site characteristics. Set 5–7m above ground. Bait as for traps. Clear daily, at or before sunrise. Should only be used where absolutely necessary. Pitfall traps x x x x Typically use no than five 20L buckets, 5m apart along each transect. Use drift fencing (30cm high) to direct animal movement toward traps with bottom of netting buried in ground. Bury buckets flush with the ground. Some debris (e.g. leaves, twigs) placed in bucket to provide shelter and protection for trapped fauna. Clear at sunrise, midday and sunset. Elliott traps (types A and B), cage traps x x Place traps at least 5m apart. Place cage and Elliott traps (Type B) at each end of transect. Bait typically with either rolled oats, peanut butter, honey and vanilla essence or with sweet potato soaked in linseed oil. Set traps late afternoon and check at or just before sunrise. Alcohol pit falls x Particularly useful for surveying ant and soil invertebrate species. Small clear glass/plastic jars one- quarter filled with preserving alcohol. Bury jars so that rim is flush with ground. Electronic bat detector Specialised survey technique. Only to be undertaken by a suitably qualified/experienced person. Accurate ultrasonic call analysis is critical. Record ultrasonic calls by walking a transect and stopping to record calls or by remote recording at specific locations (e.g. stag trees). Duration dependent on bat activity (generally minimum 20 minutes). Harp net x x Specialised survey technique. Only to be undertaken by a suitably qualified/experienced person. Specialised netting set up in front of bat cave exit or in known flight path. Bats hit net and drop into trap below, then released after identification and assessment complete. Duration dependent on bat activity (generally minimum 20 minutes). playback/ call recording x x Do not use this technique in conjunction with spotlighting with mammals and other prey species – especially after broadcasting predator calls (e.g. owls). Note that failure to attract an answering call to a recording does not prove absence of a species.
BiodiversityPSP.docx