Priority ranking of road sites for mitigating wildlife roadkill

Abstract

. Priority ranking of road sites for mitigating wildlife roadkill. Biota Neotrop. 10(4): http://www.biotaneotropica.org.br/v10n4/en/abstract?article+bn03010042010. Abstract:We propose a ranking index to assign priorities to sites for implementation of measures to mitigate wildlife roadkill. We conducted a case study along 34 km of highway BR 392 in Southern Brazil. We compared priority sites established only according to roadkill rates, with those defined by our index. The index used four parameters: the richness of target species, diversity of roadkilled species, roadkill rate of target species, and presence of endangered species. Although it is impossible to protect the entire community of vertebrates affected by roadkill, we defined nine target species, five mammals and four reptiles. For each parameter, we defined coefficients ranging between 0 and 3. There was a significant change in the priorities of sites for implementing mitigation devices, which caused changes in the species that were protected. The definition of priority sites by considering only the roadkill rate protected reptiles especially, to the detriment of all mammal species, including endangered species. Sites with high roadkill rates continued to be among the most important for conservation, but the index diluted the effect of this parameter, changing the ranking. This ranking index can be an effective tool to aid government institutions in decision-making, especially when more elaborate analyses are not feasible for reasons of time, resources, or lack of trained personnel.

Wild vertebrates roadkill aggregations on the BR-050 highway, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil

“…A selection of stretches for the implementation of roadkill mitigation measures should be made with caution, so that important areas are not eliminated during the selection process (BAGER et al, 2010). The adequate location of wildlife crossings, for example, can improve or maintain connectivity between animal populations (LESBARRÈRES; FAHRIG, 2012; VAN DER GRIFT et al, 2013).…”

Mortalidad de vertebrados en la carretera Guanare-Guanarito, estado Portuguesa, Venezuela

“…Uno de los aspectos más investigados en relación a la "ecología de la carretera" es el atropellamiento de vertebrados silvestres (Coffin, 2007). Esos estudios han sido realizados principalmente en Norteamérica y Europa (Madsen, Strandgaard & Prang, 2002;Pokorny, 2006;Grilo, Bissonette & Santos-Reis, 2009), aunque en los últimos años se ha incrementado el interés sobre este tema en los países del Neotrópico, particularmente en Brasil (Delgado, 2007;Coelho, Kindel, & Coelho, 2008;Turci & Bernarde, 2009;Gumier-Costa & Sperper, 2009;Bager & Rosa, 2010; Vargas-Salinas, Delgado-Ospina & López-Aranda, 2011;Quintero-Ángel et al, 2012). En el caso de Venezuela sólo se conocen tres trabajos publicados en revistas arbitradas (Ramo & Busto, 1986;Rodda, 1989;Pinowski, 2005).…”

Fast and furious: a look at the death of animals on the highway MS-080, Southwestern Brazil

“…Bager & rosa (2010) developed an index that defines sections of highway BR-392 in southern Brazil as priority for implementing measures to reduce the number of collisions with wild animals. This index could be a useful tool for the Brazilian government to use for addressing the problem.…”

“…Further, Bager & rosa (2010) suggest the use of tunnels as one of the most effective tools to decreasing the impact of highways on wildlife. However the effect of such projects in Brazil remains undetermined.…”

“…Among the various threats to wildlife, collisions with vehicles on roads are becoming a major cause of mortality for a number of species (Bager & rosa, 2010). Studies of roadkill conducted in the United States, Belgium, England, Germany, France and Spain have demonstrated that highways are definitely a threat to wildlife (PMVC, 2003).…”