Differences in Wildlife Roadkill Related to Landscape Fragmentation in Central Brazil

Abstract

The interaction between animal movement and roads is pervasive, but little is known of the effects of the land-use patterns in roadside landscapes on roadkill events. Here, we compared wildlife roadkill along two road stretches that cross landscapes with different land-use patterns, including the presence of protected areas in Central Brazil.Sampling was conducted in 2017 and 2018 in two seasons (dry and rainy). We expected roadkill events to be more frequent bordering the protected area. Roadkill occurred more frequently in the rainy season in the unprotected landscape. Birds were most frequently recorded in the unprotected (44%, n = 76) than in the protected landscape (37%, n = 48). The least recorded group in the unprotected landscape was Squamata (11%, n = 18), while mammals were less detected in the protected landscape (14%, n = 18). Classes 'agriculture' and 'savanna' were related to amphibian roadkill numbers. For Squamata, we observed the effect of the presence of forests in the protected landscape.Bird roadkill was affected by protection level, while the presence of pasture and the level of protection explained mammal roadkill. Differences in roadkill patterns reinforce the need for long-term management of this source of mortality for the Cerrado fauna.

The influence of proximity with riparian forests and the distance from urban areas on roadkills of vertebrates in a fragmented Brazilian savanna area

“…The mammals Cerdocyon thous , Myrmecophaga tridactyla and Euphractus sexcinctus , with higher mortality on the BR‐158, were also recorded in other studies with roadkills on highways in the Cerrado biome (Brum et al, 2018; Cáceres et al, 2012; Carvalho‐Roel et al, 2021; Fraga et al, 2022; Miranda et al, 2017) and transitional areas between Cerrado and Atlantic Forest (Araujo et al, 2020). In many Brazilian studies, medium and large mammals appear as the most frequent group, whereas the small vertebrates (such as amphibians) frequency is low (Langen et al, 2007; Santos et al, 2012).…”

A influência da proximidade com as matas ciliares e a distância das áreas urbanas nos atropelamentos de vertebrados em uma área fragmentada do Cerrado brasileiro

“…Os mamíferos Cerdocyon thous , Myrmecophaga tridactyla e Euphractus sexcinctus , com maior mortalidade na BR‐158, também foram registrados em outros estudos com atropelamentos em rodovias no bioma Cerrado (Brum et al, 2018; Cáceres et al, 2012; Carvalho‐Roel et al, 2021; Fraga et al, 2022; Miranda et al, 2017) e áreas de transição entre Cerrado e Mata Atlântica (Araujo et al, 2020). Em muitos estudos brasileiros, os mamíferos de médio e grande porte aparecem como o grupo mais frequente, enquanto a frequência de pequenos vertebrados (como anfíbios) é baixa (Langen et al, 2007; Santos et al, 2012).…”

“…Embora as taxas de atropelamento em nosso estudo sejam menores do que a maioria dos estudos realizados no Cerrado, a presença de espécies (Bierregaard et al, 2001), a investigação de parâmetros relacionados a esses riscos deve ser considerada uma ferramenta importante para a conservação e restauração de habitats. Os mamíferos Cerdocyon thous, Myrmecophaga tridactyla e Euphractus sexcinctus, com maior mortalidade na BR-158, também foram registrados em outros estudos com atropelamentos em rodovias no bioma Cerrado (Brum et al, 2018;Cáceres et al, 2012;Carvalho-Roel et al, 2021;Fraga et al, 2022;Miranda et al, 2017) e áreas de transição entre Cerrado e Mata Atlântica (Araujo et al, 2020). Em muitos estudos brasileiros, os mamíferos de médio e grande porte aparecem como o grupo mais frequente, enquanto a frequência de pequenos vertebrados (como anfíbios) é baixa (Langen et al, 2007;Santos et al, 2012).…”