Influences of roads and development on bird communities in

Our objective was to improve knowledge about effects of broad-scale road and development variables on bird communities in protected desert landscapes. Bird species richness and the relative abundance or probability of occurrence of many species were significantly associated with total length of roads within each of two spatial extents (1- and 2-km radii), distance to the nearest road, distance to the nearest development, or the two-way interactions of these variables. Regression models reflected non-linear relations, interaction effects, spatial-extent effects, and interannual variation. Road and development effects warrant special attention in protected areas because such places may be important sources of indigenous bird communities in a region.     

豫南丘陵山区农村居民点用地分布影响因素及时空异质性分析

为探究城镇化进程中农村居民点格局演变特征及其影响因素,以豫南丘陵山区光山县为例,采用空间自相关分析和局部线性地理加权回归模型(LLGWR)分析了农村居民点用地分布的集聚特征及其影响因素的时空异质性。结果显示:光山县农村居民点主要集聚于县域的中北部,其影响因素存在着显著的时间和空间非平稳性,在不同区位对农村居民点分布的作用强度不同。1985年农村居民点分布的影响因素包括地理地貌因素和距离交通条件,分别为海拔高度、距最近国道、省道、水系距离和距最近县城距离。到了2015年,地理地貌因素的影响作用有所减弱,除海拔高度、距最近国道、省道距离外,农村居民点分布影响因素还包括城镇化率和农户密度。总体而言,适宜的海拔高度、通达的道路交通、较高的城镇化率和人口密度对农村居民点分布具有促进作用。     

Spatial patterns and factors influencing small vertebrate fauna road-kill aggregations

We examined the spatial patterns and factors influencing small terrestrial vertebrate road-kill aggregations in the Bow River Valley, Alberta, Canada. We surveyed roads varying in traffic volume, configuration and adjacent landscape attributes for road-kills between 1997 and 2000. The spatial pattern of road-kills was described using neighbour K statistics. We investigated the importance of road-kills at three taxonomic levels using logistic regression. Mammal and bird road-kill indices were consistently higher on a low volume parkway than on the high-speed, high volume Trans-Canada highway (TCH). Birds were more vulnerable to collisions than mammals on the TCH. Road-kill aggregations were nonrandomly distributed. Parkway road-kills were aggregated on small scales and characterized by low clustering intensities compared to the TCH. Road-kills were less likely to occur on raised sections of road. Road-kills tended to occur close to vegetative cover and far from wildlife passages or culverts. Our findings reveal how two distinct road types can have different effects in terms of vertebrate mortality and their spatial pattern. We recommend a series of mitigation measures for existing roads or future road planning projects.     

Influence of the proximity and amount of human development and roads on the occurrence of the red imported fire ant in the lower Florida Keys

We examined the influence of both the proximity and extent of human developments and paved roads on the presence of the predatory, non-indigenous, red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta). This species was inadvertently introduced into the United States at the port of Mobile, Alabama, around 1930 and rapidly spread to many southeastern states, including Florida. More recently, S. invicta colonized the Florida Keys, an area with a high proportion of rare and endemic vertebrate and invertebrate species. We placed bait transects in transitional salt-marsh, pineland, and hardwood hammocks on 13 of the lower Florida Keys and compared habitat type, the shortest distance of the bait transect to a development or road, and area of development and roads 50, 70, 100, and 150 m around each bait transect for areas with and without red imported fire ants. Red imported fire ants were detected on 21 of the 80 transects and were equally abundant in all habitat types. While all of the development and road variables differed significantly between bait transects with and without red imported fire ants, transects that were closest to roads and that had the largest amount of development within a 150 m radii had the highest probability of presence of red imported fire ants. Recovery efforts for endangered species in areas invaded by red imported fire ants should include analyses of the cumulative impacts of roads and developments in areas near protected lands.     

Does variation in garden characteristics influence the conservation of birds in suburbia?

Can enhancement of garden habitat for native birds have conservation benefits, or are garden bird assemblages determined by landscape and environmental characteristics? The relative roles of vegetation structure, floristics and other garden attributes, and environmental and landscape controls, on the abundance and richness of bird species in 214 back or front gardens in 10 suburbs of Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, are addressed to answer this question. Birds were counted in each garden and the resources they utilized noted. Vascular plant species and other attributes of the garden were noted, along with rainfall, altitude, distance from natural vegetation, distance from the city and garden size. Garden floristics and bird assemblages were ordinated, and garden groups characterized by particular assemblages of birds identified. General linear modelling was used to determine the combinations of independent variables that best predicted the richness of birds and the abundance of individual bird species and groups of species. The models for bird richness, bird species and groups of bird species were highly individualistic. Although native birds showed a preference for native plants, they also utilized many exotic plants. Exotic birds largely utilized exotic plants. Variation in garden characteristics does substantially affect the nature of garden bird assemblages in Hobart, with weaker environmental and landscape influences. The fact that gardens can be designed and managed to favour particular species and species assemblages gives gardeners a potentially substantial role in the conservation of urban native avifauna.     

南方红壤区强降雨下不同农路水蚀过程及其防蚀效应

为防治农路水土流失,以南方红壤区江西水土保持生态科技园为研究区,通过野外调查选择4种典型农路(裸露土路、碎石道路、泥结石路和植草土路)设置12个原位试验小区,采用人工模拟降雨试验研究3.0mm/min强降雨条件下不同农路水蚀过程及其防蚀效应。结果表明:农路的路面被高强度压实,容重较大,比重也较大。农路路面水分入渗率经历了急剧减小后再稳定的过程,以泥结石路、裸露土路和植草土路表现尤为明显。农路产流后泥沙含量在较短时间内即达到峰值,随即迅速下降。与裸露土质路面相比,泥结石路、碎石道路和植草土路的减水效果并不明显,最大只有14.1%;但减沙效益明显,最低也可达40%左右。该研究结果为南方红壤区坡耕地农路基础设施配套建设和水土保持规划提供了科学参考。     

Beyond the wetland border: Estimating the impact of roads for two species of water snakes

We used models integrating road maps, traffic volume, and snake movements to examine the potential for roads to contribute to mortality in two species of water snakes that differ in their vagility, use of terrestrial habitats, and conservation status. Road networks and traffic volumes typical of three regions in Indiana, USA, may account for mortality of 14-21% of the population per year in the more vagile, terrestrial, and imperiled copperbelly water snake (Nerodia erythrogaster neglecta) but only 3-5% mortality in the more sedentary, aquatic, and common northern water snake (Nerodia sipedon). The majority (>91%) of road crossings and associated mortality are predicted to occur during overland migrations to other wetlands, suggesting roads bisecting travel routes between wetlands may function as mortality sinks. Our models highlight the proportionately greater risk of mortality for the more vagile and imperiled species, N. e. neglecta, and suggest current wetland conservation strategies that focus on the wetland alone are unlikely to adequately protect wetland biodiversity from certain types of anthropogenic habitat modification. What is needed is a landscape approach to wetland conservation that considers not only the quality of wetlands and nearby terrestrial habitats, but also ensures that terrestrial corridors between wetlands remain permeable and offer safe passage for wildlife.     

Do species life history traits explain population responses to roads? A meta-analysis

Efforts to mitigate road effects are now common in new highway construction projects. For effective mitigation of road effects it is important to identify the species whose populations are reduced by roads, so that mitigation efforts can be tailored to those species. We conducted a meta-analysis using data from 75 studies that quantified the relationship between roads and/or traffic and population abundance of at least one species to determine species life history characteristics and behavioral responses to roads and/or traffic that make species or species groups prone to negative road and/or traffic effects. We found that larger mammal species with lower reproductive rates, and greater mobilities, were more susceptible to negative road effects. In addition, more mobile birds were more susceptible to negative road and/or traffic effects than less mobile birds. Amphibians and reptiles were generally vulnerable to negative road effects, and anurans (frogs and toads) with lower reproductive rates, smaller body sizes, and younger ages at sexual maturity were more negatively affected by roads and/or traffic. Species that either do not avoid roads or are disturbed by traffic were more vulnerable to negative population-level effects of roads than species that avoid roads and are not disturbed by traffic. In general, our results imply that priority for mitigation should be directed towards wide-ranging large mammals with low reproductive rates, birds with larger territories, all amphibians and reptiles, and species that do not avoid roads or are disturbed by traffic.     

Using Penrose distance to identify potential risk of wildlife–vehicle collisions

Knowledge of the relationship between wildlife and roads is important for management of wildlife–vehicle collisions, which represent a serious threat to many wildlife populations and to human life and property. Effective reduction of these threats requires identification of variables influencing collision locations, and the use of these variables in spatially-explicit predictive models. We used Penrose distance modeling and 61 confirmed bobcat (Lynx rufus) road mortality locations in southern Illinois, USA, to demonstrate a rapid and accurate technique for the spatial mapping of wildlife–vehicle collision risk. We used the Penrose distance statistic to quantify the similarity between the mean multivariate habitat signature at bobcat-collision areas and road sections throughout the study area. Habitat variables assessed included road-related variables (e.g., traffic volume) and land cover characteristics (e.g., mean patch area of the landscape). Bobcat-collision areas were characterized by smaller, less-clustered habitat patches and more, large independent patches of grass cover than were study area roadway sections in general. As expected for a generalist carnivore in highly-suitable habitat, risk mapping indicated that large sections of the roaded landscape had high similarity to bobcat-collision areas. Unlike other modeling techniques used to identify risk of road mortality, our method requires little field data collection and relies on readily available digital spatial data. This technique can be used by wildlife managers and road planners, and may be particularly important in reduction of road mortality for species such as the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus), Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi), and Texas ocelot (Leopardis pardalus), which exist in small populations fragmented by development, and are limited by road mortalities.     

Life-history and ecological correlates of population change in Dutch breeding birds

Predicting relative extinction risks of animals has become a major challenge in conservation biology. Identifying life-history and ecological traits related to the decline of species helps understand what causes population decreases and sets priorities for conservation action. Here, we use Dutch breeding bird data to correlate species characteristics with national population changes. We modelled population changes between 1990 and 2005 of all 170 breeding bird species using 25 life-history, ecological and behavioural traits as explanatory variables. We used multiple regression and multi-model inference to account for intercorrelated variables, to assess the relative importance of traits that best explain interspecific differences in population trend, and to identify the environmental changes most likely responsible. We found that more breeding birds have increased than decreased in number. The most parsimonious models suggest that ground-nesting and late arrival at the breeding grounds in migratory birds are most strongly correlated with decline. Increasing populations are mainly found among herbivores, sedentary and short-distance migrants, herb- and shrub-nesting birds and large species with a small European range. Declines in ground-nesting and late arriving migrant birds suggest that agricultural intensification, eutrophication and climate change are most likely responsible for changes in Dutch breeding bird diversity. We illustrate that management strategies should primarily focus on the traits and causes responsible for the population changes, in order to be effective and sustainable.     

Human attitudes towards wolves, a matter of distance

The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that distance is an important factor affecting attitudes towards wolves, i.e. people living far from wolf territories have more positive attitudes towards wolf conservation than those living within or close to wolf territories. We used multiple regression (an ordered probit model) with both socio-economic variables and information about the respondents’ distance to the nearest wolf territory. We found that favourable attitudes towards wolf conservation were positively associated with distance to the nearest wolf territory. The variable distance to the nearest wolf territory affected attitudes just as much as the variables of membership of nature conservation organisations, being a hunter, owning livestock, or owning a hunting dog. This was true even on the micro-level, i.e. people living in wolf territories had a more negative attitude towards conservation of wolves than people living just outside. Furthermore, we suggest that attitudes towards wolves are more likely a result of indirect experience than direct experience of wolf presence. Our findings are important when interpreting studies of human attitudes towards conservation of controversial species in general and large carnivores in particular, and should be used when designing future surveys of human attitudes towards conservation and management initiatives.     

The impact of roads on the densities of four bird species in an open field habitat—evidence of a long-distance effect

Roads may effect animal communities in various ways. One such way is ‘di sturbance’, i.e. emission of stimuli to which animals may respond by avoiding the vicinity of the road. The extent, intensity and mechanism of this effect is almost entirely unknown. Veen (1973), studying the bird species lapwing Vanellus vanellus, black-tailed godwit Limosa limosa, oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus, redshank Tringa totanus and ruff Philomachus pugnax in open grassland areas, found disturbance over surprisingly long distances, ranging from 500–600 m for a quiet rural road to 1600–1800m for a busy highway. However, his approach has met with serious methodological criticism.The validity of Veen's conclusions was tested by critically reanalysing bird distribution in one of his study plots. It is inferred that his conclusions do hold for the lapwing, the godwit and possibly the redshank, though not for the oystercatcher. An additional field study in four areas yielded similar results, with comparable disturbance distances. The total population loss over this distance may amount to 60%. Rough indications were obtained that the distance-density graph is a logistic one, while the relation between traffic volume and total population loss is possibly logarithmic. In addition confirmation was obtained of the general impression that, apart from roads, disturbance may also be caused by farms, other buildings and plantations, suggesting that disturbance caused by a road is not easily eliminated by planting trees alongside.It is recommended that extra care be taken in planning new roads, while impact statements concerning roads which disregard disturbance and other long-distance effects on the fauna should be rejected.     

Nesting ground abandonment by the maleo (Macrocephalon maleo) in North Sulawesi: Identifying conservation priorities for Indonesia’s endemic megapode

The maleo (Macrocephalon maleo) is an endemic bird of Sulawesi that lays eggs in communal nesting grounds incubated by solar or geothermal sources. In recent years, maleo nesting grounds have become increasingly vulnerable to threats associated with the growing human population of the island. Consequently, the maleo has become one of the most imperiled bird species in Indonesia and is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. We report on the 2004 status of maleo nesting grounds in North Sulawesi focusing on the Bogani Landscape, the region in and around Bogani Nani Wartabone National Park, where the nesting grounds are concentrated. We compare our results to those of a similar study in 1990-1991, examining changes in nesting ground status in relation to habitat and land use factors such as protection status, geographic position (coastal or inland), and distance to forest, human settlements, and roads. Nesting grounds were more likely to be abandoned if they were: (a) in coastal areas; (b) near settlements and roads; and (c) not in protected areas. Binary logistic regression identified connectivity between nesting grounds and forest in 1991 as the best predictor of whether or not sites were abandoned by maleo over the next 12 years; a loss of local continuity between nesting grounds and forest is associated with a sixfold increase in the probability of abandonment. Access to forest was itself highly correlated with other variables examined, and thus represented a composite index of threats to maleo. The application of this model to the 2004 data identified six active nesting grounds that are at high risk of abandonment in the near future, seven at intermediate risk, and five at low risk. These results offer conservationists priorities for future maleo conservation.     

都市郊区乡村聚落景观格局特征及影响因素分析

为探究大都市城郊乡村聚落景观空间格局特征及影响因素,该文应用景观格局指数分析了上海市青浦区乡村聚落景观空间格局特征,在此基础上,运用多元Logistic回归模型和因子分析法从地理空间和社会经济2个方面探讨了该区乡村聚落景观空间格局特征的影响因素。结果表明:青浦区乡村聚落景观空间格局呈现明显的东西分异特征,斑块规模东多西少,分布东密西疏,形态东部破碎西部规整;地理空间因素和社会经济因素是影响该区乡村聚落景观空间格局的主要驱动因素;地理空间差异是塑造该区乡村聚落景观空间基本格局的首要因素,其中耕作半径、到最近国道距离和到城市中心距离是规模分异的主要影响因素,到城市中心距离、到最近城镇中心距离和到最近主要河流距离是分布分异的主要影响因素,到最近国道距离、到最近高速公路距离和到最近省道距离是形态分异的主要影响因素;而社会投入和基础设施建设、乡村工业化和农村居民收入、农村剩余劳动力转移等社会经济因素加剧了乡村聚落景观空间的异质化、空心化和破碎化,深刻改变了乡村聚落景观空间格局的内在本质。研究结果可为大都市城郊区乡村景观保护规划和土地空间整治提供重要的理论依据。     

Development and evaluation of predictive habitat models to assist the conservation planning of a threatened lucanid beetle, Hoplogonus simsoni, in north-east Tasmania

The use of predictive habitat distribution models by land managers in the conservation management of threatened species is increasing. Few models, however, are subsequently field-checked and evaluated. This study evaluates the statistical strength and usefulness for conservation purposes of three predictive habitat models developed for a threatened stag beetle, Hoplogonus simsoni, found in the wet eucalypt forests and mixed/rainforests of north-east Tasmania. The relationship between various environmental variables for which spatial (GIS) information was available and the density, frequency of occurrence and presence/absence of the species was investigated using generalised linear modelling. Models developed were coupled with the GIS data to develop maps of predicted occurrence within the species’ range, grouped into categories of habitat quality. The models found that altitude, aspect, slope, distance to nearest stream and overstorey tree height were significantly associated with the occurrence of the species. Evaluation of the statistical strength of the models with independent data of species’ occurrence collected at 95 sites found that the density model performed poorly with little correlation between predicted and observed densities of the species. The frequency of occurrence model, however, showed a moderate ability to predict both species’ abundance and presence/absence. The presence/absence model had a similar discriminatory ability in predicting presence or absence of H. simsoni, but also showed some potential as an indirect predictor of species’ abundance. Assuming a correlation between relative abundance and habitat quality, the frequency of occurrence predictive model appeared to be the better and more direct discriminator of high quality habitat relative to the other models. The value of species’ habitat models and the need to evaluate their utility in the development of conservation strategies are discussed.     

Unpaved road erosion after heavy storms in mountain areas of northern China

More frequent extreme rainfall events associated with global climate change cause greater challenges for soil conservation. Severe erosion occurs on many unpaved roads since these structures create important water flow paths during heavy storms. The present research aimed to investigate the intensity and influencing factors of unpaved road erosion under varied land use and management conditions (sloping cropland, terraced cropland, forest & grass). The erosion occurred in the watersheds contributing runoff water to roads after the greatest rainfall event recorded in the mountain area of northern China caused by Typhon Lekima. The research was conducted in an agricultural-forest-dominated watershed based on field investigation and UAV-based image analysis. A road erosion level classification standard was given according to the occurrence of rills, ephemeral gullies, and gullies. Significant erosion happened on 67% of the unpaved roads; 42% of them suffered moderate to severe erosion in which ephemeral gullies or gullies developed. The average erosion amount from these roads was 2280.75 t ha^-1 and was significantly influenced by the watershed land use type and management. The dominant factor governing unpaved road erosion associated with terraced cropland was vegetation coverage on roads. Drainage area was the most important factor for road erosion in sloping cropland and forest & grass land, and road gradient was also a critical factor. Terraces, and forest & grass in drainage areas significantly reduced unpaved road erosion by 85% and, 47%, respectively, compared to sloping cropland. More integrated measures should be used to prevent unpaved road erosion. The results of this research can be applied to road protection against erosion in heavy storms.     

黄土丘陵区路面种草对水土保持的影响及成本效益分析

土质道路广泛分布于中国的农村、公园和自然保护区，由于设计标准低，常常引发严重的水土流失，是农村道路损坏的主要原因。1997～2001年，以黄土高原丘陵沟壑区陕西省延安市下砭沟小流域农业作业道路为背景，以防止和减轻路面汇流引发的水土流失对道路的破坏为目的，采用小区径流监测和施工统计的方法，在路面进行了为期5年的种草试验。研究结果显示，路面种草后径流量减少76.38%，土壤侵蚀量减少69.47%，建设成本比石子路减少71.65%，维护费用比对照减少60.97%，是一种经济可行的技术途径。对各地土质路面土壤侵蚀治理和道路维护具有广泛参考价值。     

The responses of leaf litter invertebrates to environmental gradients along road edges in subtropical island forests

Knowledge of how roads affect forest biodiversity can be improved by measuring the responses of indicator species to complex environmental gradients caused by these infrastructures. We studied litter invertebrate species responses to road edges in laurel and pine forests in Tenerife, Canary Islands. We sampled invertebrates from litter and assessed the environmental variation related to road proximity. We also assessed the effect of relevant environmental predictors on a diverse array of potential indicator species. We applied canonical ordination and non-parametric regression (Lowess) to classify invertebrate species responses to roads and their associated gradients. Three types of responses to road edge proximity were defined for the most common invertebrate taxa: edge-preferring or edge specialists, interior-preferring or edge-avoiders, and edge-indifferent or neutral species. Those species appearing most frequently and with higher population density between 1 and 20 m from the edge (commonly peaking at 10 m from the road) were categorized as edge-preferring. We classified taxa attaining peak population densities at or beyond 60 m from the edge (and most commonly 100 m) as interior species. Edge-neutral species were those without an evident pattern of stabilization in abundance along the gradient and with peaks in abundance at varying distance intervals. These edge litter communities contain a high native and endemic diversity but also a significant density of alien fauna. The specific patterns of penetration of road edge effects on invertebrate species should be seen as having a pervasive and cumulative impact considering the exceptionally large number of roads in these forests and the high population densities of alien invertebrates. Future management plans for forest conservation on the Canary Islands should include the highly altered but valuable litter communities along road edges.     

Identifying suitable habitat for dispersal in Bonelli’s eagle: An important issue in halting its decline in Europe

Bonelli’s eagle (Hieraaetus fasciatus) is an endangered bird of prey that is suffering a rapid decline in most of its distribution range in Europe. The aim of this study is to identify suitable areas used by juvenile eagles during their dispersal phase. Knowing the location of these target areas will help to plan adequate conservation programs to reduce the high juvenile mortality rates this species is suffering presently. The combined use of radio-telemetry for identifying core areas, Generalised Linear Models (G.L.M.) for producing predictive mathematical models and Geographic Information Systems (G.I.S.) for transferring predictive models into digital cartography predict well the presence of juvenile Bonelli’s eagles in dispersal areas. We built three different Generalised Lineal Models using topography, land-use/land-cover and human disturbance as explanatory variables. Our sample units were 11 settlement areas used by juvenile eagles during dispersal and 11 other areas within available habitat generated at random. Settlement areas were identified as the core areas used by radio-tagged eagles monitored during their first years of life. Immature eagles preferred habitats with greater percentages of pasture within the circular sampling area. Topographic features showed that the most intensively used areas by immature birds were generally steeper southeast-facing slopes. Settlement areas were also situated farther from villages and roads than expected. The land-use model performed well classifying correctly 85.9% of cases validated using a data-splitting strategy. The topographic model also performed well, classifying correctly 81.39% of cases validated by the same methodology. Predictive cartography showed suitable dispersal areas within potential juvenile distribution ranges that enable more efficient design of special conservation programmes.     

SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL VARIATION IN NITROGEN DIOXIDE POLLUTION ADJACENT TO RURAL ROADS

Concentrations of nitrogen dioxide were measured near to a major, minor and unclassified (serving only a few farmhouses) road in Snowdonia National Park, North Wales. Diffusion tubes were place along transects, at right angles to the roads, and changed weekly. Background concentrations of NO₂, recorded for comparison at a remote site, 2 km from the nearest road, were up to 40% higher in winter than in summer. Close to the major road this pattern was reversed, with concentrations 50–60% higher in summer than winter. Near the major road, monthly mean concentrations were consistently higher than those found 250 m away, by up to 20 nl L^-1 NO₂. Near the minor road, concentrations of NO₂ were 6–10 nl L^-1 higher than at 250 m away but only during summer months (tourist season). There were no differences between mean NO₂ concentrations at 1 and 250 m from the unclassified road. The concentrations of NO₂ near to the major and minor roads exceeded UN-ECE critical levels. It is concluded that many roadside plant communities are threatened by NO₂ pollution toxicity.