EDP Baixo Sabor: Herpetofauna (Reptiles) - Compensatory Measures Program: MC10 (MC10.3 – Habitat creation [walls] and MC10.4 – habitat restoration [woods]): Exploration Phase (2015-2020).

Sampling was designed to cover the six stone walls constructed for reptiles along the lower Sabor river (MC10.3), 10 areas of forest recovery (holm-juniper formations), 6-8 grazing exclusion areas in rocky outcrops (MC10.4) and the same number of control areas. In the first case (MC10.3), the samples consisted of a systematic survey of reptiles in each wall (newly constructed or already present), recording all species present and counting the number of individuals observed (individuals/100m). Each wall was surveyed three times in each visit, separated by a 15 minutes waiting period (prospecting + waiting + prospecting + waiting + prospecting). Samplings were carried out once a month in April, June and September/early October, privileging the days sunny or with reduced cloud cover.
The sampling for MC10.4 was carried out through a systematic survey of reptiles in holm-juniper formations and in grazing exclusion areas on rocky outcrops during a period of 15 minutes/person in the spring (May) and autumn (September/October). In each sampling point, an area of 1 ha (100 x 100 m) was searched for the presence of reptiles. All species were recorded and the number of individuals present counted.