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Pitfall trap designs to maximize invertebrate captures and minimize captures of nontarget vertebrates

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 April 2012

J.L. Pearce ,
D. Schuurman ,
K.N. Barber ,
M. Larrivée ,
L.A. Venier ,
J. McKee  and
D. McKenney
J.L. Pearce*
Affiliation:
Great Lakes Forestry Centre, Canadian Forest Service, 1219 Queen Street East, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada P6A 2E5
D. Schuurman
Affiliation:
Great Lakes Forestry Centre, Canadian Forest Service, 1219 Queen Street East, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada P6A 2E5
K.N. Barber
Affiliation:
Great Lakes Forestry Centre, Canadian Forest Service, 1219 Queen Street East, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada P6A 2E5
M. Larrivée
Affiliation:
Great Lakes Forestry Centre, Canadian Forest Service, 1219 Queen Street East, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada P6A 2E5
L.A. Venier
Affiliation:
Great Lakes Forestry Centre, Canadian Forest Service, 1219 Queen Street East, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada P6A 2E5
J. McKee
Affiliation:
Great Lakes Forestry Centre, Canadian Forest Service, 1219 Queen Street East, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada P6A 2E5
D. McKenney
Affiliation:
Great Lakes Forestry Centre, Canadian Forest Service, 1219 Queen Street East, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada P6A 2E5
*
1Corresponding author (e-mail: jlpearce@shaw.ca).
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Abstract

Pitfall traps containing a preservative have become the standard method of sampling for epigeal invertebrates such as carabid beetles and cursorial spiders. However, they often result in high levels of mortality for small mammals and amphibians. We compared the carabid, spider, and vertebrate captures within five pitfall trap types (conventional trap, funnel trap, shallow trap, Nordlander trap, and the ramp trap) to determine the trap type that would reduce vertebrate incidental catch without compromising the capture of invertebrates. We also examined the effect of a mesh screen over pitfall traps on carabid beetle and vertebrate catches. All modifications to the conventional trap design resulted in a reduction in both small mammal and amphibian captures. The shallow pitfall trap and the funnel trap captured a carabid beetle and spider fauna similar to that captured by the conventional trap. The species compositions of the ramp trap and the Nordlander trap were different from those of the other trap types, but these traps were more efficient, capturing more species per individual captured. The ramp trap appeared to be the method of choice for sampling epigeal spiders. Thus, the choice among trap designs for invertebrates depends on the objectives of the study. However, an alternative to the conventional trap design should always be considered to reduce small mammal mortality.

Résumé

Les pièges à fosse contenant un liquide de conservation constituent la méthode standard pour la récolte d'invertébrés épigées, tels que les coléoptères carabidés et les araignées coureuses. Cependant, leur usage entraîne souvent de fortes mortalités de petits mammifères et d'amphibiens. Nous avons comparé les récoltes de carabes, d'araignées et de vertébrés dans cinq types de pièges à fosse (modèle ordinaire, en entonnoir, à forme surbaissée, type Nordlander et à rampe) afin de déterminer le type de piège qui permette de réduire les captures accessoires, sans minimiser la récolte d'invertébrés. Nous avons aussi examiné l'effet d'un grillage au-dessus du piège sur les récoltes de carabes et de vertébrés. Toute modification du modèle ordinaire entraîne une réduction des captures de petits mammifères et d'amphibiens. Les pièges à forme surbaissée et en entonnoir récoltent une faune de carabes et d'araignées semblable à celle du piège ordinaire. La composition en espèces des récoltes au pièges de type Nordlander et à rampe diffère de celle des autres types, mais ces pièges sont plus efficaces et capturent un plus grand nombre d'espèces par individu. Le piège à rampe semble être la méthode privilégiée pour l'échantillonnage des araignées épigées. Le choix d'un type de piège pour la capture des invertébrés dépend donc des objectifs de l'étude. Cependant, on doit toujours envisager l'utilisation d'un modèle de rechange au piège ordinaire afin de réduire la mortalité des petits mammifères.

[Traduit par la Rédaction]

Type
Articles
Information
The Canadian Entomologist , Volume 137 , Issue 2 , April 2005 , pp. 233 - 250
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 2005

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