Road crossing structures for amphibians and reptiles: Informing design through behavioral analysis |
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Authors: | Hara W. Woltz James P. Gibbs |
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Affiliation: | a Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology, Schermerhorn Extension, 10th Floor, Columbia University, 1200 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10027-5557, United States b SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, 350 Illick Hall, 1 Forestry Drive, Syracuse, NY 13210-2724, United States c Department of Biological Sciences, State University of New York at Cortland, Cortland, New York, NY 13045-0900, United States |
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Abstract: | Road traffic causes significant amphibian and reptile mortality, which could be mitigated through the installation of road crossing structures that facilitate safe passage, but only if reptiles and amphibians are willing to use them. Through a series of behavioral choice experiments with frogs and turtles, we examined how aperture diameter, substrate type, length, and light permeability influenced individuals’ preferences for specific attributes of crossing structures, and how individuals responded to various heights of barrier fences. Snapping turtles (Chelydra serpentina), green frogs (Rana clamitans), and leopard frogs (Rana pipiens) preferred larger diameter tunnels (>0.5 m) whereas painted turtles (Chrysemys picta) preferred tunnels of intermediate (0.5-0.6 m) diameter. Green frogs preferred soil- and gravel-lined tunnels to concrete- and PVC-lined tunnels. Painted turtles showed non-random choice of different lengths of tunnel, possibly indicating some avoidance of the longest tunnel (9.1 m); although no species preferred to exit via the longest tunnels (9.1 m), members of all four species used such tunnels. Green frogs preferred tunnels with the greatest light permeability. Fences 0.6 m in height were effective barriers to green frogs, leopard frogs, and snapping turtles, whereas 0.3 m fences excluded painted turtles. We conclude that tunnels > 0.5 m in diameter lined with soil or gravel and accompanied by 0.6-0.9 m high guide fencing would best facilitate road crossing for these and likely other frog and turtle species. |
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Keywords: | Chelydra serpentina Chrysemys picta Connectivity Road crossing structures Rana clamitans Rana pipiens |
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