2.2. Microhabitat preference
Microhabitat sampling was conducted by actively searching
along four parallel transects 30 m long and approximately 20 m
apart. Each transect was travelled twice (round trip) at the same
time each night between 20:00 h and 01:00 h by a pair of collectors.
Scorpions found up to 5 m from the transect on both sides (a
sampling area of 300 m2 per transect) were collected. The animals
collected in one transect were considered to represent one sample.
Sixteen samples each were collected during the rainy and the dry
periods, for a total of 32 samples.
An active search with UV light was performed to visualise scorpions
under the litter layer. The litter layer was subdivided into
epi-leaf litter (the top layer of litter, approximately 2–3 cm thick,
composed of intact leaves and fallen branches) and sub-leaf litter
(the layer below the epi-leaf litter, approximately 3–4 cm thick,
composed of small pieces of leaves and branches at different levels
of decomposition). If necessary, dead leaves and other debris from
the epi-leaf layer were carefully removed to confirm the sub-leaf
location of scorpions. Logs and vegetation (up to a maximum height
of 10 cm) were also investigated. During the active search, the postures
of the animals (observed movements and body positions)
were recorded. Data were only collected for active individuals that