Assessment of glue traps in subtropical maquis shrubland: applications for the study of the new caledonian leopard skink (lacertoides pardalis)

Among the endemic skinks of New Caledonia, the Leopard Skink is one of the species best adapted to Maquis shrublands on ultramafic surfaces. These habitats, particularly those exposed to mining activities and bushfires, are regularly surveyed for herpetofauna; however, capture techniques available for such surveys are limited. Glue traps (GTs) are the most commonly used method, but are criticized for the risk they pose to wildlife. We propose here an evaluation through a review of research conducted on the Leopard Skink. We evaluate, for the first time, the efficiency of baiting GTs with canned fruits. We also test two alternative techniques: artificial refuges and funnel traps. Their very low capture rates lead us to favour the use of GTs. The use of fruit baiting allows on average to double the daily catches of Leopard Skinks. Mortality may be reduced by installing traps under cover and frequent checks. Glue traps are currently the most effective technique for surveying the herpetofauna of New Caledonian maquis shrublands. However, recaptures are very rare, which limits the prospects for population monitoring using mark-recapture methods. This issue remains a challenge for future conservation measures in these specific habitats facing high levels of threats.