Abstract Context. Advancements in camera-trap technology have provided wildlife researchers with a new technique to better understand their study species. This improved method may be especially useful for many conservation-reliant snake species that can be difficult to detect because of rarity and life histories with secretive behaviours. Aims. Here, we report the results of a 6-month camera-trapping study using time lapse-triggered camera traps to detect snakes, in particular the federally listed Louisiana pinesnake (Pituophis ruthveni) in eastern Texas upland forests in the USA. Methods. So as to evaluate the efficacy of this method of snake detection, we compared camera-trap data with traditional box-trapping data collected over the same time period across a similar habitat type, and with the same goal of detecting P. ruthveni. Key results. No differences in focal snake species richness were detected across the trap methods, although the snake-detection rate was nearly three times higher with camera traps than with the box traps. Detection rates of individual snake species varied with the trapping method for all but two species, but temporal trends in detection rates were similar across the trap methods for all but two species. Neither trap method detected P. ruthveni in the present study, but the species has been detected with both trap methods at other sites. Conclusions. The higher snake-detection rate of the camera-trap method suggests that pairing this method with traditional box traps could increase the detection of P. ruthveni where it occurs. For future monitoring and research on P. ruthveni, and other similarly rare and secretive species of conservation concern, we believe these methods could be used interchangeably by saturating potentially occupied habitats with camera traps initially and then replacing cameras with box traps when the target species is detected. Implications. There are financial and logistical limits to monitoring and researching rare and secretive species with box traps, and those limits are far less restrictive with camera traps. The ability to use camera-trap technologies interchangeably with box-trap methods to collect similar data more efficiently and effectively will have a significant impact on snake conservation.

中文翻译：

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寻找稀有和神秘的蛇：相机陷阱和盒子陷阱方法可以互换吗？

摘要上下文。相机陷阱技术的进步为野生动物研究人员提供了一种新技术，可以更好地了解他们的研究物种。这种改进的方法可能对许多依赖保护的蛇类特别有用，这些蛇类由于稀有和具有隐秘行为的生活史而难以被发现。目标。在这里，我们报告了一项为期 6 个月的相机捕捉研究的结果，该研究使用延时触发的相机陷阱来检测蛇，特别是美国德克萨斯州东部高地森林中联邦列出的路易斯安那州松蛇 (Pituophis rut​​hveni)。方法。为了评估这种蛇检测方法的有效性，我们将相机陷阱数据与在同一时间段内在类似栖息地类型中收集的传统盒子陷阱数据进行了比较，并且具有检测 P. ruthveni 的相同目标。关键结果。尽管相机陷阱的蛇检测率比盒子陷阱高出近三倍，但在各种陷阱方法中没有检测到焦点蛇物种丰富度的差异。个别蛇种的检出率随诱捕方法的不同而不同，但两种蛇除外，但除两种外，所有蛇种的诱捕方法的检出率时间趋势相似。在本研究中，两种诱捕方法均未检测到 P. ruthveni，但已在其他地点使用两种诱捕方法检测到该物种。结论。相机陷阱方法较高的蛇检测率表明，将此方法与传统的盒子陷阱配对可以增加对 P. ruthveni 发生位置的检测。为了未来对 P. ruthveni 和其他类似的稀有和秘密保护物种进行监测和研究，我们相信这些方法可以互换使用，首先用相机陷阱使潜在的栖息地饱和，然后在检测到目标物种时用盒子陷阱替换相机。影响。使用盒子陷阱监测和研究稀有和秘密物种存在财务和后勤限制，而相机陷阱的限制要小得多。将相机陷阱技术与盒子陷阱方法交替使用以更有效地收集类似数据的能力将对蛇保护产生重大影响。使用盒子陷阱监测和研究稀有和秘密物种存在财务和后勤限制，而相机陷阱的限制要小得多。将相机陷阱技术与盒子陷阱方法交替使用以更有效地收集类似数据的能力将对蛇保护产生重大影响。使用盒子陷阱监测和研究稀有和秘密物种存在财务和后勤限制，而相机陷阱的限制要小得多。将相机陷阱技术与盒子陷阱方法交替使用以更有效地收集类似数据的能力将对蛇保护产生重大影响。