The use of artificial habitat during surveys of small, terrestrial vertebrates at three sites in Victoria

Artificial refuges can be used to determine the presence of terrestrial fauna and to replace or enhance lost or degraded natural habitat. Concrete pavers, roof tiles, sheets of galvanised iron and old fence posts were used at three sites in southern and western Victoria to determine the presence of small terrestrial vertebrates and to provide artificial habitat. Twenty species were recorded comprising two mammals, 12 reptiles and six amphibians. Fat-tailed Dunnart Sminthopsis crassicaudata was recorded on eight occasions using roof tiles in a lightly grazed, grassland site on the Victorian Volcanic Plain. Growling Grass Frog Litoria raniformis was found under old fence posts beside a restored wetland. Little Whip Snake Parasuta flagellum was recorded under artificial refuges from areas with thick grass or tussock cover. Spotted Marsh Frog Limnodynastes tasmaniensis was found in large numbers under all forms of artificial habitat. Concrete pavers and old fence posts returned the highest diversity of species and the greatest number of individuals. The usefulness of artificial terrestrial habitat as a survey method is compared with other survey methods. The value of artificial habitat as a management tool and associated problems are discussed