Here is some scientific literature on the use of Coverboards:

• Monti, L., M. Hunter, and J. Witham. 2000. An evaluation of the artificial cover object(ACO) method for monitoring populations of the redback salamander Plethodon cinereus. Journal of Herpetology 34:624-629.

• Marsh, D.M., and M.A. Goicochea. 2003. Monitoring terrestrial salamanders: biases caused by intense sampling and choice of cover objects. Journal of Herpetology 37:460-466.

• Leiden, Y.A., M.E. Dorcas, and J.W. Gibbons. 1999. Herpetofaunal diversity in coastal plain communities of South Carolina. Journal of the Elisha Mitchell Scientific Society 115:270-280.

• Houze, C.M., and C.R. Chandler. 2002. Evaluation of coverboards for sampling terrestrial salamanders in South Georgia. Journal of Herpetology 36:75-81.

• Hanlin, H.G., F.D. Martin, L.D. Wike, and S.H. Bennett. 2000. Terrestrial activity, abundance, and species richness of amphibians in managed forests in South Carolina. The American Midland Naturalist 143:70-83.

• Bennett, R.M., R.M. Ross, W.A. Lellis, and L.A. Redell. 2003. Terrestrial salamander preference for artificial cover objects made from four species of wood. Journal of Pennsylvania Academy of Science 76:77-79.

• Grant, B. W., A. D. Tucker, J. E. Lovich, A. M. Mills, P. M. Dixon, and J. W. Gibbons.  1992.  The use of coverboards in estimating patterns of reptile and amphibian biodiversity.  Pages 379-403 in McCullough, D. R. and R. H. Barrett, eds.  Wildlife 2001: Populations.  Elsevier Applied Science, New York.

• Gibbons J. W., V. J. Burke, J. E. Lovich, R. D. Semlitsch, T. D. Tuberville, J. R. Bodie [and 23 others].  1997.  Perceptions of species abundance, distribution, and diversity: lessons from four decades of sampling on a government-managed reserve.  Environ. Manage. 21:259-268.

• Fellers, Gary M. and Charles A. Drost.  1994.  Sampling with Artificial Cover.  Pp. 146-150.  In:  W. Ronald Heyer, Maureen A. Donnelly, Roy W.

• McDiarmid, Lee-Ann C. Hayek, and Mercedes S. Foster (eds.)  Measuring and Monitoring Biological Diversity:  Standard Methods for Amphibians.  Smithsonian Institution Press.  xix+364 Pp.

• Sutton Phillip E; Mushinsky Henry R; McCoy Earl D Comparing the use of pitfall drift fences and cover boards for sampling the threatened sand skink (Neoseps reynoldsi). Herpetological Review. 30(3). Sept., 1999.  149-151.

• Brooks Robert T. Residual effects of thinning and high white-tailed deer densities on northern redback salamanders in southern New England oak forests. Journal of Wildlife Management. 63(4). Oct., 1999. 1172-1180.

• Fitch, H.S. 1975  A demographic Study of he Ringneck Snake (Diadophis punctatus) in Kansas.  The U. of Kansas Mus. of Nat. Hist. Misc. Publ. No. 62, 53 pp.  

• Hoyer, Richard F.  1974  Description of a Rubber Boa (Charina bottae) Population from Western Oregon.  Herpetological 30 (3):275-283.

• Fitch, H. S.  Methods of Sampling Snake Populations and Their Relative Success.  Herpetological Review 23 (1): 17 - 19

• Grant, B.W (and others), 1992  The use of Coverboards in Estimating Patterns of Reptile and Amphibian Biodiversity.  In Wildlife 2001. (Ed. by D.R. McCullough and R. H. Barrett pp., 379-403   Elsevier Science Publishers, Inc. London.

• Tietje, W. D. & J. K. Vreeland  1997.  The Use of Plywood Coverboards to Sample Herpetofauna in a California Oak Woodland.  Transactions of the Western Section of the Wildlife Society 33: 67-74

• Carfioli, M. A. 2000. Influence of Coverboard Design on Microclimate Conditions and Herpetofaunal Pattern of Use. M.S. Thesis. West Chester University, West Chester, PA, USA. Pp. 130.

• Carfioli, M. A., H. M. Tiebout III, S. A. Pagano, K. M. Heister, and F. C. Lutcher. 2000. Monitoring Plethodon cinereus Populations: Field Tests of Experimental Coverboard Designs. Pp. 463-475. In R. C. Bruce, R. G. Jaeger, L. D. Houck (Eds.), The Biology of Plethodontid Salamanders. Plenum Publishing Co., New York, New York. USA.

• Tiebout, H.M.  2003.  An inventory of the herpetofauna of Valley Forge National Historical Park.  National Park Service.  Technical Report  NPS/PHSO/NRTR-03/088  ** This report will be available online soon.**

• Ryan et al. 2002. Monitoring herpetofauna in a managed forest landscape: Effects of habitat types and census techniques.  Forest Ecology and Management 167:83-90.

• Bonin, J. and Y. Bachand.1997.The Use of Artificial covers to survey terrestrial salamanders in Quebec.In Green, D. M. (ed.), Amphibians in Decline.Canadian Studies of a Global Problem.Heropetological Conservation No. 1:175-179.

• Carfioli, M.A.2000.Influence of coverboard design on microclimate conditions and herpetofaunal pattern of use.M.S. thesis,West Chester University, West Chester, PA, USA, Pp.130.

• Carfioli,M.A.,H.M. Tiebout III, S.A. Pagano, K.M. Heister, and F.C.
  Lutcher.2000.Monitoring Plethodon cinereus populatiions:field tests of experimental coverboard designs.Pp.463-475.  In R.C. Bruce, R. G. Jaeger, L.D. Houck (eds), The Biology of Plethodontid Salamanders. Plenum Publishing Company, New York, New York.USA

• Davis, T.1997.  Non-disruptive monitoring of terrestrial salamanders with artificial cover objects on southern Vancouver Island, British Ciolumbia.In Green, D. M. (ed), Amphibiasns in Decline.Canadian Studies of a global problem.Herpetological Conservation No. 1:161-174.

• Dodd, C. Kenneth. 2003. Monitoring Amphibians in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. USGS Circular 1258. USGS Denver, Colorado. 118 pp.

• Houze, C. M., Jr. and C. R. Chandler.2002.Evalaution of Coverboards for sampling terrestrial salamanders in Georgia. Journal of Herpetology 36:75-81.

• Lantz, Dan.2003.The Terrestrial Salamander Monitoring Program.USDI/USGS.www.im.nbs.gov/sally/sally7.html.pgs. 1-6

• Maerz, John.2001.Protocols for Studies of Woodland Salamander Populations.Dept. of Natural Resources, Cornell University.pg. 1-24

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Amphibians and Reptiles of South Carolina