Predicting locations of moose–vehicle collisions in Sweden

Seiler, Andreas

doi:10.1111/j.1365-2664.2005.01013.x

Cited by 273 publications

(274 citation statements)

References 33 publications

(68 reference statements)

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“…In general, the road-kill vertebrate community in tropics is more diverse and small-sized than from temperate region; therefore the consequences of the collisions may be different, especially regarding security issues (Dornas et al, 2012;Huijser et al 2009). In North Hemisfere countries, collisions with large-sized mammals often cause serious accidents, including loss of human lives or substantial material damages for the driver (Huijser et al, 2009;Seiler, 2005). On the other hand, there is less large-sized wildlife hit by vehicles in tropics than small ones and thus the damages and human losses should be lower.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Habitat or matrix: which is more relevant to predict road-kill of vertebrates?

2015

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We believe that in tropics we need a community approach to evaluate road impacts on wildlife, and thus, suggest mitigation measures for groups of species instead a focal-species approach. Understanding which landscape characteristics indicate road-kill events may also provide models that can be applied in other regions. We intend to evaluate if habitat or matrix is more relevant to predict road-kill events for a group of species. Our hypothesis is: more permeable matrix is the most relevant factor to explain road-kill events. To test this hypothesis, we chose vertebrates as the studied assemblage and a highway crossing in an Atlantic Forest region in southeastern Brazil as the study site. Logistic regression models were designed using presence/absence of road-kill events as dependent variables and landscape characteristics as independent variables, which were selected by Akaike's Information Criterion. We considered a set of candidate models containing four types of simple regression models: Habitat effect model; Matrix types effect models; Highway effect model; and, Reference models (intercept and buffer distance). Almost three hundred road-kills and 70 species were recorded. River proximity and herbaceous vegetation cover, both matrix effect models, were associated to most road-killed vertebrate groups. Matrix was more relevant than habitat to predict road-kill of vertebrates. The association between river proximity and road-kill indicates that rivers may be a preferential route for most species. We discuss multi-species mitigation measures and implications to movement ecology and conservation strategies.Keywords: connectivity, conservation, landscape ecology, rivers, road ecology.Habitat ou matriz: qual é mais relevante para prever atropelamentos de vertebrados? ResumoNós acreditamos que nos trópicos, precisamos de uma abordagem de comunidade para avaliar os impactos das estradas sobre a vida silvestre, e então, sugerir medidas de mitigação para grupos de espécies ao invés da abordagem de espécie-foco. Compreender quais características da paisagem indicam eventos de atropelamento podem também fornecer modelos que podem ser aplicados em outras regiões. Nós pretendemos avaliar se habitat ou matriz é mais relevante para prever eventos de atropelamento para grupos de espécies. Nossa hipótese é: matriz mais permeável é o fator mais relevante para explicar os eventos de atropelamentos. Para testar essa hipótese, escolhemos vertebrados como a assembléia estudada e uma rodovia cruzando uma região de Mata Atlântica no sudeste do Brasil como área de estudo. Modelos de regressão logística foram criados usando presença/ausência de eventos de atropelamentos como variáveis dependentes e características da paisagem como variáveis independentes, os quais foram selecionados pelo Critério de Informação de Akaike. Nós consideramos um conjunto de modelos candidatos contendo quatro tipos de modelos de regressão simples: modelo de efeito de habitat; modelos de efeito de tipos de matriz; modelo de efeito da rodovia; e, mode...

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Habitat or matrix: which is more relevant to predict road-kill of vertebrates?

2015

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“…Many species of both taxa are large-bodied animals that aggregate in open areas to graze (Pays et al 2007;Favreau et al 2010), inhabit a variety of landscapes, can be attracted to roads by resources (Lee 2006;Grosman et al 2011), can cause large problems in wildlife-vehicle collisions (Seiler 2005;Ramp and Roger 2008), and may present similar challenges for widespread road mitigation (Putmam 1997;Ramp 2010). Although macropods are not migratory, they often have large home ranges, and road crossings can be frequent, even in areas with low road densities (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Roads and macropods: interactions and implications

Bond

Jones

2014

Aust. Mammalogy

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Abstract. Understanding the impacts of roads on wildlife and the natural environment is of increasing importance. Macropods (mostly kangaroos and wallabies) are a diverse and widespread taxon in Australia that has been significantly affected by the presence of roads in various ways. We reviewed the available literature on macropods and roads, assessing 60 scientific journal articles, reports and theses. Studies on road mortalities were the most prevalent (n = 29, with 12 on macropods only), revealing both spatial and temporal patterns in occurrence. Behavioural studies in relation to the road environment are limited (n = 2) yet could help our understanding of patterns of road-kill and other impacts. Some macropod populations are critically affected by the presence of roads (e.g. brush-tailed rock-wallaby, Petrogale penicillata) due to either proportionately high road mortalities and/or population fragmentation, and may face continued decline unless effective road-mitigation measures are implemented. Investigations of various types of road mitigation focussed on wildlife-exclusion fencing and road crossing structures as the most effective option, although the high cost of these measures appears to limit their implementation. Further research into several areas was identified, particularly on species where severe road impacts are likely to result in population declines.

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“…More UVCs are therefore likely to happen when ungulates are frequently crossing busy roads (or rails) and when the driving conditions are poor. Consequently, previous research has documented that the number of UVCs is related to factors such as crossing frequency, traffic volume (e.g., number of cars per time unit) and driving conditions (Bruinderink and Hazebroek 1996, Joyce and Mahoney 2001, Seiler 2005. For instance, the numbers of UVCs often seem to peak at dawn and dusk (Allen andMcCullough 1976, Haikonen andSummala 2001), probably because of higher movement activity of ungulates during such periods and because the driving conditions (visibility) are generally less good (Haikonen and Summala 2001).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Large-scale spatiotemporal variation in road mortality of moose: Is it all about population density?

et al. 2011

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Ungulate‐vehicle collisions (UVC) constitute a widespread and increasing problem in large parts of the world. This has generated an intensive search for mitigating measures, but often based on a weak understanding of the underlying spatiotemporal factors. We examined the effects of harvest density (a proxy for moose density), traffic‐related variables and climate on the spatiotemporal variation in number of moose‐vehicle collisions (MVC) in 14 Norwegian counties based on 31 year of data. Moose density was the most important factor explaining the variation in MVC, both within and between counties. In addition, the spatiotemporal variation in MVC was positively related to traffic volume (private car mileage) and snow depth, and negatively related to winter temperature. The relationship between traffic volume and temporal variation in MVC was stronger in counties with general low traffic volume, possibly because high traffic volume can act as a barrier to moose road crossings. Likewise, the temporal effect of snow depth was mainly present in counties with on average deep snow, i.e., where it constitutes a constraint on moose movement and space use during winter. Our study highlights the different importance between areas of the factors underlying the spatiotemporal variation in MVC. A notable exception was the variation in moose density, which follows an isometric scaling to the variation in MVC in all counties. Thus, a given percentage decrease in moose density is likely to return a similar percentage decrease in MVC. A significant population reduction may therefore be an efficient mitigating measure to reduce the number of MVC in Norway. From a harvesting and conservation point of view, other possible preventive measures to reduce MVC should also be considered. However, because of the strong temporal effects of moose density and snow depth, evaluations of other mitigating actions should always seek to control for temporal variation in these variables.

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Predicting locations of moose–vehicle collisions in Sweden

Cited by 273 publications

References 33 publications

Habitat or matrix: which is more relevant to predict road-kill of vertebrates?

Habitat or matrix: which is more relevant to predict road-kill of vertebrates?

Roads and macropods: interactions and implications

Large-scale spatiotemporal variation in road mortality of moose: Is it all about population density?

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