STANDARDIZED PROTOCOL FOR SAMPLING ANURANS, LIZARDS AND SNAKES IN RAPELD MODULES

Abstract

The RAPELD protocol aims to optimize sampling efficiency and ensure the standardization of collected data, thus allowing confident comparisons of herpetofauna studies conducted in different regions of Brazil. We describe standardized sampling protocols designed to collect high quality data for anurans and squamates at RAPELD modules implemented at PPBio sites. We developed a single protocol for anurans and snakes because each of these taxa can be sampled simultaneously during the rainy season using nocturnal monitoring. A separate protocol was developed for lizards because they are typically sampled during the daytime in the dry season and only occasionally at night. Ideally, each plot should be sampled three times per season. In comparatively more remote areas, where monitoring at different times of the year is not feasible, sampling should be conducted over three consecutive days during the appropriate season for the focal group. Active sampling methods should be applied at the plots, including active searching, auditory recording, and litter turning. Using a standardized method for monitoring terrestrial herpetofauna is essential for obtaining data on a large scale and over long periods. It enables comparisons between different ecosystems and environments with varying levels of human influence, while also allowing continuous and replicable studies to be conducted across various locations and periods. Our methods using RAPELD result in data that can be compared between biomes within Brazil and between Brazilian biomes and ecosystems on other continents.