Culverts alone do not reduce road mortality in anurans

Cunnington, Glenn M.; Garrah, Evelyn; Eberhardt, Ewen; Fahrig, Lenore

doi:10.2980/21-1-3673

Cited by 27 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…Along a 24-km section of the St. Laurence Islands Parkway in eastern Ontario (near Saint Lawrence National Park), Canada, Cunnington et al (2014) conducted a BACI post-construction experiment by temporarily modifying existing culverts to determine whether underpasses and/or funnel fencing reduce road mortality in anurans (frogs and toads). Study predictions were: (1) if the culverts alone reduce road mortality, than mortality should increase when anurans are not allowed to enter them (culverts with grates blocking their openings), and (2) if fencing is the key to effectiveness, mortality should decrease when fencing is placed on either side of culverts.…”

Section: Case Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Experimental study designs to improve the evaluation of road mitigation measures for wildlife

Rytwinski

Ree

Cunnington

et al. 2015

Journal of Environmental Management

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Section: Case Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Road kill survey data were compared before and after the mitigation modifications were installed at treatment sites and (E) control sites (unmodified culverts n ¼ 10). Modified fromCunnington et al (2014). Reprinted with permission from © 2014 Ecoscience (ECO-3673).…”

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confidence: 96%

Experimental study designs to improve the evaluation of road mitigation measures for wildlife

Rytwinski

Ree

Cunnington

et al. 2015

Journal of Environmental Management

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“…As mentioned above, road mortality has increased with the expansion of road networks and is one of several factors leading to amphibian decline ( Fahrig et al, 1995 ; Gibbs & Shriver, 2005 ; Coelho et al, 2012 ; Cosentino et al, 2014 ). In addition, traffic volume is an important issue in determining the impacts of roads ( Gibbs & Shriver, 2005 ; Gu et al, 2011 ; Grilo, Ferreira & Revilla, 2015 ; Cunnington et al, 2014 ; Hamer, Langton & Lesbarrères, 2015 ). Previous studies suggested that roadkill rates were positively associated with traffic intensity ( Fahrig et al, 1995 ; Gibbs & Shriver, 2002 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Daytime driving decreases amphibian roadkill

Zhang

Shu

et al. 2018

PeerJ

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Roadkill has gradually become a common factor that has contributed to the decline of amphibians, and traffic volume is an important parameter that can be used to determine the impacts of roads. However, few researchers have studied the effects of either daily or nightly traffic volume on amphibian roadkill in China. Hence, as an essential step for implementing mitigation measures, we conducted 77 road surveys along 10 km of road in the Wanglang National Nature Reserve (NNR) to determine the temporal and spatial distribution patterns of amphibian road mortality. In total, 298 dead individuals (Bufo andrewsi and Rana chensinensis) were observed on the road from April to October in 2017 and during June and August in 2015 and 2016. B. andrewsi had the highest number of records (85.2%) and was more vulnerable to road mortality than R. chensinensis. Amphibian fatalities mainly occurred during the breeding season in April, but there was an additional concentration of B. andrewsi roadkill in June and July. There was a significantly positive correlation between amphibian road mortality and mean night-time traffic volume. Roadkill hotspots were non-randomly distributed throughout the study area and were mainly concentrated in the road sections near the breeding pools. Therefore, to effectively mitigate the effects of road mortality in the Wanglang NNR, measures should be implemented both during hot moments and at hotspots. First, based on roadkill hot moments, during the breeding season (in April) and in June and July, the Wanglang NNR should establish temporary traffic restraints at night. Second, based on roadkill hotspots, culverts should be established in areas near breeding pools adjacent to roads, and barrier walls should be installed to guide amphibians into the culverts.

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“…These studies demonstrated that there was a considerable amount of variation in the effectiveness of crossing structures. For example, while one study reported a 79% decline in roadrelated mortality of amphibians with crossing structures present [96], another study found that amphibian mortality remained the same with or without structures [97].…”

Section: Survey Design and Mitigationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Two studies even cautioned that fencing was ineffective unless it was continually maintained and breaches in the fencing were repaired in a timely manner [111,113]. Furthermore, many studies suggested that road-related mortality could be further reduced when crossing structures were combined with fencing [97,114,115]. Moreover, one study on koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) in Australia emphasized that selecting a single mitigation option was not economically viable [114].…”

Section: Survey Design and Mitigationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Road Density and Pattern on the Conservation of Species and Biodiversity

Bennett

2017

Curr Landscape Ecol Rep

129

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The development and presence of roads can reduce landscape permeability, lead to habitat loss, and increase habitat fragmentation. It is these fundamental changes in landscape structure that can have both direct and indirect impacts on the conservation of species and biodiversity. In this review, I examine 215 research studies conducted between 2011 and 2015 that explore the impacts of roads and road networks on a wide range of species. I divided these studies into four main categories: 1) the direct effects of roads on wildlife, 2) the indirect effects of roads on wildlife, 3) the consequences of road networks on wildlife populations, and 4) survey design and mitigation including both innovations and evaluations. I found that the majority of studies (38%) explored the indirect effects of roads on wildlife, including displacement, fitness consequences, and road crossing ability of wildlife. Nevertheless, despite there being a pressing need to understand how existing road networks impact wildlife and how increasing road density may influence local and regional population persistence, only 10% of the studies considered the implications of road networks on wildlife. However, there is an increasing trend towards the development of predictive models that can be used for a better understanding of road network impacts, assess landscape connectivity, and devise mitigation. This review also highlighted the continued need to devise and evaluate mitigation measures so transportation authorities and conservation practitioners may be better equipped to address the ecological implications of roads and proposed road development.

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Culverts alone do not reduce road mortality in anurans

Cited by 27 publications

References 47 publications

Experimental study designs to improve the evaluation of road mitigation measures for wildlife

Experimental study designs to improve the evaluation of road mitigation measures for wildlife

Daytime driving decreases amphibian roadkill

Effects of Road Density and Pattern on the Conservation of Species and Biodiversity

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