Highway widening and underpass effects on vertebrate road mortality

Author(s)

Ciocheti, Giordano ^{[1, 2]} ; de Assis, Julia Camara ^{[1, 3]} ; Ribeiro, John Wesley ^[1] ; Ribeiro, Milton Cezar ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Estadual Paulista UNESP, Dept Ecol, Spatial Ecol & Conservat Lab LEEC, Ave 24A, BR-13506900 Rio Claro, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Fed Sao Carlos, Programa Posgrad Ecol & Recursos Nat, Campus Sao Carlos, Rodovia Washington Luiz, Km 235, BR-13565905 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Estadual Paulista UNESP, Inst Biociencias, Programa Posgrad Ecol Biodiversidade, BR-13506900 Rio Claro, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Biotropica; v. 49, n. 6, p. 765-769, NOV 2017.
• Web of Science Citations: 6

Abstract

Road widening (a.k.a. road dualling) and the presence of mitigation structures may have opposing effects on the number of animal-vehicle collisions. Their influence in tropical areas is poorly quantified, and we know little about how modifications of road structure affect fauna roadkill and mitigation. We evaluated how road widening and proximity to a wildlife underpass affect roadkill of medium and large mammals, using roadkill records from before and after the widening of 150 km of road with new and old wildlife underpasses. Roadkilled species were divided into three groups based on mobility and sensitivity to human disturbance. Four of 16 species exhibited significantly higher roadkill after widening. Roadkill near underpasses was generally higher than by chance, despite our expectation of reduction in roadkills. This result indicates that we must adopt more effective mitigation measures, such as appropriate fencing combined with underpasses. Abstract in Portuguese is available with online material. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/50421-2 - New sampling methods and statistical tools for biodiversity research: integrating animal movement ecology with population and community ecology
• Grantee: Milton Cezar Ribeiro
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants