A herpetological survey of Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary

Abstract

Urban herpetology deals with the interaction of amphibians and reptiles with each other and their environment in an urban setting. As such, well-preserved natural areas within urban environments can be important tools for conservation. Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary is an 18-acre wooded sanctuary located west of downtown Houston, Texas and is the headquarters to Houston Audubon Society. This study compared iNaturalist data with results from visual encounter surveys and aquatic funnel traps. Results from these two sources showed 24 species belonging to 12 families and 17 genera of herpetofauna inhabit the property. However, several species common in surrounding areas were absent. Combination of data from community science and traditional survey methods allowed us to better highlight herpetofauna present in the park besides also identifying species that may be of management concern for Edith L. Moore.