All traps are checked each morning after the end of the nocturnal activity period and before heat or cold stress due to time in trap becomes a problem. Seven traplines are run simultaneously, one in each treatment, followed by the setting of the next series of traplines. Censuses are not conducted during the five day period encompassing full moon conditions. This method of marking allows an investigator to count an individual only once within a census line without labor-intensive field and data management of individual identification numbers. Species, sex, reproductive condition, trap station, and any unusual features are recorded at each capture of an individual in each trapping period.
Live mass is recorded during the first capture of an individual on a trapline.
Reproductive information recorded for males is the presence or absence of scrotal testes. Presence or absence of conspicuous mammae is also recorded. The total number of mammals captured by species by line forms the data base CSM04. Shifts in treatment boundaries were made by the Konza Prairie management during winter 1981-1982, and so two new traplines were established in new treatment N20B in spring 1982. The experimental designation for N01D also was changed to N01B at this time.