Alex Menez wrote:
>
> In difficult terrain, it's near impossible to sample safely in the dark. Even with a good torch, you can't map the area in your mind to make it safe.
* I haven't done much specifically malacological collecting at night,
but I've never thought of it as different from nocturnal herpetology,
which I've done all across Canada, and often in near-wilderness
situations. With Amphibians, as with many Gastropods, everything of
interest happens at night, and if you don't consiously navigate,
remember landmarks, and (now) carry a GPS, you may get lost. As much as
possible, follow linear features such as a road, path, shoreline,
stream, or scarp, so you just have to follow it back to retrace your
steps. If it's a clear night, and you're in the open, frequently check
the stars, so you maintain your geographic orientation - in settled
areas the lights and sound of traffic on roads can serve the same
purpose. Also, use a headlamp instead of a torch, so your hands are free
to pick up specimens or to write notes.
> However, these dangers don't apply to your garden, or easy to access sites (such as grass fields etc.).
* and Aleta has just put up an account of such from across the street:
http://www.pinicola.ca/cepaea1.htm
fred.
------------------------------------------------------------
Bishops Mills Natural History Centre
Frederick W. Schueler, Aleta Karstad, Jennifer Helene Schueler
RR#2 Bishops Mills, Ontario, Canada K0G 1T0
on the Smiths Falls Limestone Plain 44* 52'N 75* 42'W
(613)258-3107 <[log in to unmask]> http://pinicola.ca
------------------------------------------------------------
subscribe to the Eastern Ontario Natural History list-serve at
http://mail.thenaturejournal.com/mailman/listinfo/naturelist_thenaturejournal.com
------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------
[log in to unmask] - a forum for informal discussions on molluscs
To leave this list, click on the following web link:
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=conch-l&A=1
Type your email address and name in the appropriate box and
click leave the list.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
|