Comparison of Pitfall and Conventional Traps for Sampling Small Mammal Populations

Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) associated with small terrestrial mammals in the state of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil

“…Small mammals were captured by different methods through the use of live traps (Tomahawk, Shermann) or pitfall stations, as previously described by Williams and Braun (1983). Taxonomic identification of small mammals was performed in the field with the aid of identification guides (Bonvicino et al 2008, Reis et al 2006.…”

Management of amphibians, reptiles, and small mammals in North America: Proceedings of the symposium

“…1979, Williams and Braun 1983. Pitfall cone traps were more effectfve than live-traps in samling srnall mammals, particularly shrews in sou them Finland (Pankakoski '1979).…”

“…&cause the models selected by STEPDISC are not necessarily the best possible models ( §AS Institute 9nc 1982), cross-validation was accomplished by using canonical analysis (CANDISC) or descriptive discriminant analysis (DDA) (Williams 1983). DDA attempts to establish optimal separation between groups using linear transformations of the independent variables based on variables selected by the stepwise prucedure.…”

“…Predictive discriminant analysis (PDA) (Williams 1983) (DISCRIM) was used to test the discriminatory power of the variables selected by DDA. We used chi-square analysis to compare cover i tern use (of the four classes) to availability and to compare aspects of transects with and r …”

Sampling methods for terrestrial amphibians and reptiles.

“…A small amount of water should be placed in traps when they are opened, but in wet weather, most traps will accumulate more water than is desired. It has previously been recommended that water be placed in pitfall traps Barrett 1981, Williams andBraun 1983), and this is probably the quickest, most humane way to kill small mammals. Current guidelines for using pitfall traps to kill trap small mammals (American Society of Mammalogists 1987) specify drowning as the only acceptable method.…”