Edited by Laura Monti. For some amphibian species, netting, trapping, and leaf bag studies of their aquatic stage is the most appropriate technique for monitoring. This is especially true for many salamanders. America have aquatic stages during which they can be netted or trapped. However, as outlined in the report from the western amphibians group, many of the relatively quiet western species, as well as explosive breeders like Scaphiopus spp. , cannot be sampled by calling surveys.
Aquatic surveys are often the only or most convenient sampling technique available.
Trapping efficiency and suitability will have to be determined for each species. What hasn't yet been demonstrated for any species is the existence of a relationship between captures and total population size. Also, no group has ever used within and among year variances in trap captures to estimate the number of traps that must be set and water bodies sampled to achieve a given level of sampling precision. Trap type needs further investigation. Net bags of leaves are placed in streams and ponds where they are colonized by salamander larvae.