Return to Conservation Biology Research on Amphibians
Karns, D.R. 1986. Field herpetology: methods for the study of amphibians and reptiles in Minnesota. Final report submitted to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. 88 pp.
Excerpt from the Preface:
This booklet is a practical guide to the field study of amphibians and reptiles in Minnesota. The emphasis is on materials and methods, using a "how-to" approach. I wrote it with several audiences in mind: weekend naturalists interested in expanding their natural history horizons, teachers looking for field-oriented exercises, and individuals, agencies, or institutions wishing to assess the herpetofauna of an area but having little background in herpetology. In general, the booklet is intended for anyone wanting to know more about amphibians and reptiles in their natural environment. It is not a field guide to the amphibians and reptiles of Minnesota, and contains no keys or species descriptions. It should be used as a companion to existing field guides.
Furthermore, the booklet is not a comprehensive treatment of field techniques. I describe survey techniques for assessing the status of local amphibian and reptile populations, not more advanced topics such as methods of marking animals, diet analysis, or care of captive animals. This booklet will help you if you want to know the species present, their relative abundance, and their use of the available habitat. Appendix III lists books to consult on more sophisticated studies.