In this chapter, we review the level of disturbance caused by railways due to noise and vibration, air, soil and water pollution, and soil erosion. There is evidence that soil and hydrology contamination may affect vegetation and aquatic fauna while noise can affect terrestrial vertebrates. In fact, noise, light, and vibration due to railways have been observed to reduce the abundance and richness of some insects, amphibians, and birds, and to cause avoidance behaviour on predators. Interestingly, reptiles, some bird species, small mammals, and large mammals seem to ignore rail traffic and benefit from the vegetation planted in the railway verges that provide food and shelter. Some engineering structures have been implemented to reduce the effects of railway disturbance: rail fastenings, rail dampers, under-sleeper pads, and noise barriers are applied to minimize noise and vibration; washing with water and cleaning the ballast are used to mitigate soil pollution; and grass plantation, the use of gypsum and application of compost/mulch coverage, are applied to control soil erosion.
Studies with emphasis on assessment and quantification of species biological diversity should be recognized as important tools in the process of knowledge, especially where basic data are scarce. This study was conducted at the Reserva Biológica Unilavras-Boqueirão (21° 20' 47" S and 44° 59' 27" W) inserted in the Cerrado, Ingaí municipality, southern Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. We aimed to characterize and understand local lizard species. Sampling occurred between June 2008 and February 2010 in weekly excursions during the day in the field. Captures were carried out by means of pitfall traps, distributed in six sets, three in Cerrado sensu stricto and three in the gallery forest, making a sampling effort of 6120 buckets per day. Animals viewed, occasionally found or collected by third parties were also included in the sample. A total of 10 lizard species from seven families were captured. The richest vegetation type was the Cerrado sensu stricto with nine species. Only Heterodactylus imbricatus was restricted to gallery forests, where pitfalls sampled 74.12% of lizards captured. The lizard fauna is well represented in the area with species typical of open areas as Ameiva ameiva, Polychrus acutirostris and Mabuya frenata. The species Urostrophus vautieri and Heterodactylus imbricatus, not yet reported for the Cerrado, were also found in the area.
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