news and update ISSN 1948-6596 book review DIY Guide for Reptilian Monitoring Reptile Biodiversity: Standard Methods for Inventory and Monitoring, edited by Roy W. McDiar- mid, Mercedes S. Foster, Craig Guyer, J. Whitfield Gibbons & Neil Chernoff, 2012, University of California Press, 412 pp. $95 / £35 (hardback) ISBN: 978-0-520-26671-1; http://www.ucpress.edu Studies assessing the biodiversity of reptiles pre- sent a unique set of challenges and sampling considerations. Reptiles display a staggering ar- ray of behaviours, are found in a diversity of habitats, and can vary in seasonal occurrence and abundance. Some taxa are potentially dan- gerous (crocodilians, large lizards and venomous snakes) and thus difficult to measure. Other taxa are cryptic, being nocturnal or fossorial in their habits. Sea turtles present a different set of chal- lenges when assessing populations and biodiver- sity due to their ecological distribution and nest- ing behaviours. These species may only come ashore and be accessible to investigators during reproduction, resulting in data sets biased by gender and reproductive state, leading to appar- ent sex ratio-skews or biased interpretation of reproductive condition within populations. These challenges, as well as many others, are consid- ered in this volume; the first of its kind to con- sider reptile monitoring. Previously the only way to access recommendations on handling and marking reptiles was in the context of animal welfare and safety concerns (ASIH 2004). Alter- natively, information on methods for conducting field studies in reptile monitoring could be gleaned from issues of Herpetological Review (published by the Society for the Study of Am- phibians and Reptiles, SSAR) or similar publica- tions. This single volume is an authoritative and informative addition to the field of biodiversity assessment in reptiles, and expands the scope and detail of earlier resources. This book is greatly enhanced by its edito- rial personnel and by a multitude of contributing authors – 70 individual researchers and authori- ties have written for this volume, most of them bringing their own expertise in conducting reptile surveys. The book is divided into four parts. The opening Introduction sets the stage with two short chapters on the need for reptilian biodiver- sity studies and a taxonomic review of modern reptilian groups (exclusive of avian reptiles). This section outlines the ecological significance of rep- tiles and explores the historical roots for the lack of reptilian biodiversity assessment. The authors claim their primary goal is to set forth standard- ised methods for conducting reptile surveys, thus bringing legitimacy to data regardless of who col- lects it. As stated in the text, the target audience is “government personnel, conservationists, managers, professional scientists, and amateurs throughout the world.” In Planning a Diversity Study (Chapters 3- 10) the authors use eight major chapters to pre- sent considerations on how reptilian monitoring should be carried out. Throughout the book, au- thors address questions related to the rationale and justification for conducting monitoring sur- veys. Chapters and sections deal with a number of pre-survey considerations, including how data is to be collected, stored, and graphically repre- sented. Of noteworthy inclusion are sections dealing with sampling bias, pseudoreplication and associated data. The authors make the point that there is a rich set of microhabitat data that could impact the interpretation of survey infor- mation. Additionally, use of computer-based mapping software is discussed in the context of maximizing the usefulness of data in time or space. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have become an integral part of conservation management and habitat assessments, and these tools have significant potential in predict- ing species occurrence. Yet, potential habitats for specific reptilian taxa need to be verified by sur- © 2012 the authors; journal compilation © 2012 The International Biogeography Society — frontiers of biogeography 4.4, 2012