Observations on felt and corrugated roof sheeting as materials for constructing coverboards to assess slow worm (Anguis fragilis) and common lizard (Zootoca vivipara) populations

摘要

An eight-week study in open areas of Collyweston Great Wood and Eastern Hornstocks NNR utilised 120 coverboards laid in groups of 20 with alternating felt and black corrugated roof sheeting construction materials. Adult slow-worms (Anguis fragilis) showed no significant preference for lying beneath coverboards of either material, but juvenile slow-worms were significantly more likely to be found beneath felt and common lizards (Zootoca vivipara) were significantly more likely to be found basking on corrugated roof sheeting. Numbers of A. fragilis fluctuated significantly week on week, and more slow-worms were found during the afternoon than during mornings. The significance of these results is discussed with particular reference to the importance of considering construction materials, time of sampling and weather conditions when planning surveys of reptiles utilising coverboards.