Road verges are refuges for small mammal populations in extensively managed Mediterranean landscapes

Ruiz-Capillas, Pablo; Mata, Cristina; Malo, Juan E.

doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2012.09.025

Cited by 53 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…Roadsides vegetation can act as a refuge for small mammals, particularly in fragmented areas where roadsides may provide the majority of remaining habitat (Ruiz-Capillas et al 2013). This can be true at the community or a species level (e.g.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Edge effects on small mammals: Differences between arboreal and ground‐dwelling species living near roads in Brazilian fragmented landscapes

Rosa¹,

Secco

Carvalho

et al. 2017

Austral Ecology

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Habitat fragmentation often induces edge effects that can increase, decrease or have minimal effect upon the population density of a species, depending upon environmental conditions and the requirements of the species. Using a trapping study and generalized linear mixed models, we evaluated edge effects on small tropical mammals living near roads, including two ground-dwelling (Akodon sp. and Cerradomys subflavus) and two arboreal (Marmosops incanus and Rhipidomys sp.) species. We examined the relationship of these edge effects to environmental factors at both plot and patch scales. Generalist ground-dwelling species were attracted to edges, with higher population densities recorded in habitats close to road or matrix edges where vegetation density was lower. In contrast, populations of the generalist arboreal species avoided edge habitats, their populations were found in greater density in habitats far from roads/matrix edges. Thus, our results show that patterns of edge habitat utilization were related to the ecological requirements of each species. These findings are especially important in the tropics, where demand for economic growth in many countries has accelerated the fragmentation process and has recently culminated in increased road construction and expansion. Fragmented habitats promote an increase in edge environments, and consequently will reduce the abundance of arboreal small mammal species, such as those used as models in this study.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Edge effects on small mammals: Differences between arboreal and ground‐dwelling species living near roads in Brazilian fragmented landscapes

Rosa¹,

Secco

Carvalho

et al. 2017

Austral Ecology

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“…fences) that do not produce sound that could be used as perches, which are important features for burrowing owls (Sissons 2003, Scobie et al 2014). In addition, gravel roads are constructed to access oil wells and compressor stations, many of which have ditches that likely have high abundances of small mammals (Adams & Geis 1983, SabinoMarques & Mira 2011, Ruiz-Capillas et al 2013.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of human footprint and sensory disturbances on night-time space use of an owl

Scobie¹,

Bayne²,

Wellicome³

2016

Endang. Species. Res.

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Artificial sensory disturbances (sound and light) can extend far beyond the physical footprint of human development. Nocturnal predators such as owls may be influenced by artificial sound and light, as they depend on aural and visual cues when hunting. Owl nocturnal movements may also be altered by physical changes to the landscape, as these can affect prey availability. The burrowing owl population in Canada has declined by 90% and was classified as endangered in 1995. We tracked adult male burrowing owls Athene cunicularia with GPS dataloggers, and used resource selection models to examine their night-time movement patterns in relation to human infrastructure and associated artificial light and sound. The amount of sound and light from compressor stations, oil wells, traffic, towns and buildings was calculated for each owl and random location. We found that owl night-time space use was better predicted by distance to infrastructure on the landscape than by intensity of sensory disturbance. Burrowing owls did not show a pronounced avoidance of artificial sound. Infrastructure best predicts owl space use, perhaps because associated changes to vegetation alter prey abundance and availability. While human infrastructure most influenced owl nocturnal space use, the extent to which ecosystems are impacted by artificial sound and light is becoming clearer and needs to be considered when assessing the total effect of human development on species.

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“…In Sweden and many other parts of Europe, changes in land use have caused dramatic areal declines in grassland and meadow habitats during the last century (Critchley et al 2004, Cousins 2009, and road verges may today be important surrogates of these grasslands in modified landscapes (Ruiz-Capillas et al 2013). Road verges can be species rich in vascular plants (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Roads may act as barriers to flying insects: species composition of bees and wasps differs on two sides of a large highway

Andersson¹,

Koffman²,

Sjödin³

et al. 2017

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Roads may act as barriers to animal movements, but direct barrier effects on insects have rarely been studied. In this study we collected data on bees and wasps along two sides of a large road in Sweden using yellow pan traps. We then analyzed if the species composition differed between the two sides of the road; first for the whole community, and then only for the smallest species (which typically are poorer dispersers). As a complement, we analyzed if different vegetation variables differed between the two sides of the road, as this may also affect differences in species composition. Finally, we analyzed if species richness and abundance in general differed between the two sides and how these two response variables were explained by the vegetation variables. There was a significant difference in species composition between the eastern and the western side of the road when analyzing the whole community, and this relationship became even stronger when the largest species were excluded. The vegetation variables did not strongly differ between the two sides, and there was no difference in species richness and abundance of bees and wasps either. Abundance was, however, explained by the number of flowering plants in the surroundings of the trap. Even though using a rather limited data set, our results indicate that large roads may act as barriers on the movement of bees and wasps, especially for small species with poor dispersal ability. On the other hand, road verges may be important habitat for many species, which leads to a potential conflict that is important to consider in the planning of green infrastructure. RESEARCH ARTICLE Launched to accelerate biodiversity conservation A peer-reviewed open-access journalPetter Andersson et al. / Nature Conservation 18: 47-59 (2017) 48

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Road verges are refuges for small mammal populations in extensively managed Mediterranean landscapes

Cited by 53 publications

References 42 publications

Edge effects on small mammals: Differences between arboreal and ground‐dwelling species living near roads in Brazilian fragmented landscapes

Edge effects on small mammals: Differences between arboreal and ground‐dwelling species living near roads in Brazilian fragmented landscapes

Influence of human footprint and sensory disturbances on night-time space use of an owl

Roads may act as barriers to flying insects: species composition of bees and wasps differs on two sides of a large highway

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