SMALL MAMMAL SAMPLING PROTOCOL IN RAPELD PLOTS

Abstract

Protocols are foundational documents to ensure the standardization of services, containing rules and instructions that allow replicability, thus ensuring the quality of a service or product. RAPELD is a standardized method for various ecological samplings at different scales, which allows for comparison between different studies. However, merely using the RAPELD modules does not guarantee sufficient standardization for comparisons or study integration. The variation in techniques used in different samplings makes comparison and integration of studies difficult. For the synthesis of quality data, it is desirable that sampling protocols be implemented to ensure minimal standardization of data collection. To this end, we present a sampling design that can be used as a protocol for capturing small mammals in RAPELD plots; we also present data organization spreadsheets aimed at management efficiency in the integration process. We recommend the use of 26 live capture traps, alternating between type and soil stratum and understory (when available), as well as the use of canopy traps, aquatic plot traps, and pitfalls.