Herpetological Inventories

Project Goals

Gather baseline data on:

• Number/diversity of species at BNL (click here for our herpetological findings)
• Relative abundance
• Distributions (range & habitats)
• Map all wetlands that can provide potential amphibian breeding habitat
• Develop GIS database of all species distributions with point-specific information on each and every documented observation

An example of our wetland mapping efforts. Colored buffers indicate different levels of usage of amphibian breeding habitat. Click on thumbnail to enlarge image.

 

Example of Herp Database GIS map (click on thumbnail to enlarge image)

Habitats

• Vernal Pools (approximately 157 pools and coast plane ponds)
• Peconic River
• Canals/Wet Ditches (created during WWI & II)
• Grasslands
• Pitch Pine/Oak Barrens & Forest
• Red Maple Swamps/Sedge Marshes/Bogs
• Agriculture Fields/Dirt Roads

     

   

   

Gathering Data and Marking Animals

• All captures (SVL, time, habitat, weather)
• Large snakes receive PIT tags
• Turtles receive shell notches
• Toe clipping for amphibians

Image of the PIT (Passively Integrated Transponder) tags we use for permanently marking our larger snakes. Click on thumbnail to enlarge image.

Big Finds

• Northern Redbelly Snake
• Eastern Worm Snake
• Four-toed Salamander
• Spadefoot Toad
• Hognose Snake
• Marbled Salamander
• Substantial use and exploitation of anthropogenically altered habitats by many species

 

For questions or comments please contact: Jeremy Feinberg or Tim Green.