Exam Prep

Question 1

What are the most commonly used survey methods for terrestrial herpetofauna?

Answer 1

• Time constrained search
• Area constrained (transect and quadrats)
• Coverboards

Question 2

How do coverboards work as a survey method, and what species are they most effective for?

Answer 2

• Animals use them for protection, thermoregulation and resting
• Best for amphibians and reptiles

Question 3

Pros of time constrained search

Answer 3

• No specialized gear
• Great for preliminary surveys
• Fast and accurate way to search areas

Question 4

Cons of time constrained searches

Answer 4

• Hard to standardize across observers
• Can damage natural cover with repeated surveys
• Can’t reliably estimate density

Question 5

Pros of area constrained searches

Answer 5

• Life history info
• Habitat info
• Crude estimate of denisty

Question 6

Cons of area constrained searches

Answer 6

• Less flexible
• More repeatable
• Difficult to stay in designated areas

Question 7

Pros of quadrat sampling

Answer 7

• Good for density abundance estimates quadrat
• Minimal gear
• CPUE lower than time constrained

Question 8

Cons of quadrat sampling

Answer 8

• Time consuming
• Potential bias
• Habitat disturbance

Question 9

What are differences in habitat use/selection?

Answer 9

• Moisture
• Temperature
• Substrate
• Physiological, behavioural and ecological needs

Question 10

How to decide on the appropriate method for a given project?

Answer 10

• understand target species
• consider the habitat
• evaluate time and budget

Question 11

What are the ethical concerns associated with handling herpetofauna during surveys?

Answer 11

• cause harm to the animal
• habitat disruption
• exposure to predators

Question 12

What are the 3 herpetology ethics?

Answer 12

1. Minimize general impact (place things back to their original positions)
2. Do not handle unnecessarily
3. If you handle (minimize duration, put back in original position, never leave them exposed)

Question 13

What are the 3 major orders of extant amphibians, and how ate they phylogenetically related?

Answer 13

1. Anura
2. Caudata
3. Gymnophiona

They all have a common ancestor: Lissamphibia

Question 14

What is a crown group?

Answer 14

The smallest clade that includes all living members of a group and any fossils nested within it

Question 15

What is a stem group?

Answer 15

Set of extinct taxa not in the crown group but are more closely related to the crown group than to any other

Question 16

This has ~250 species

Answer 16

Gynnophiona

Question 17

This has ~620 species

Answer 17

Caudata

Question 18

This has ~ 6200 species

Answer 18

Anura

Question 19

Name the 4 major clades of reptiles

Answer 19

1. Crocodilia
2. Testudines
3. Squamata
4. Sphenodontida

Question 20

What are the defining characteristics of the clade Lepidosauria?

Answer 20

• Overlapping scales
• Males have a hemipenis
• Autotomize tails
• tuataras, snakes, lizards

Question 21

What evidence supports the grouping of crocodilians and birds as sister taxa?

Answer 21

• Molecular evidence (DNA)
• Morphological evidence (skull structure)
• Reproductive/developmental evidence

Question 22

Key synapomorphies of caudata

Answer 22

• ossification and sequence of the skull
• Absence of a middle ear
• origin of jaw abductor muscles
• gill slits and external gills in larvae