长白山国家级自然保护区两栖类动物道路致死特征分析

为了解旅游道路交通导致的两栖类致死效应,于2007~2014年在环绕长白山国家级自然保护区的环长白山旅游公路(环区公路)、头道环区公路以及白山公路分别选取1条样线,采用直接计数法统计了交通致死的两栖类种类、数量,以及致死个体处于交通路段的位置,共统计257次,累计调查样带总长2 441 km。道路致死两栖类种类有5种,累计致死个体数为7 910只,平均致死率为3.34只/km。最容易致死的两栖类动物是中国林蛙(Rana chensinensi)、东方铃蟾(Bombina orientalis)、中华蟾蜍(Bufo gargariza),这3种动物占到致死总数的96.36%;经Moses Test检验,白山公路的致死率、头道公路的致死率及环区公路致死率均与对照土路致死率差异显著(白山公路:n=67,P=0.000;头道公路:n=76,P=0.000;环区公路:n=164,P=0.000)。白山公路与头道公路两栖类致死率差异显著(n=93,P=0.010),白山公路与环区公路的两栖类道路致死率差异显著(n=181,P=0.000);头道公路与环区公路的两栖类道路致死率差异显著(n=190,P=0.000)。两栖类道路致死高峰期在8月份,其次较集中出现在4~6月的繁殖期。从公路年度致死变化来看,2007~2014年期间除了中国林蛙和中华蟾蜍致死率呈小幅波动外,其他种类致死率总体呈下降趋势,只有日本树蟾(Hyla japonica)年度致死率差异显著(Kruskal Wallis Test:χ2=18.031,df=7,P=0.012);不同月份中华蟾蜍(Pearson:R=0.939,n=7,P=0.002)、中国林蛙(Pearson:R=0.912,n=7,P=0.004)、日本树蟾(Pearson:R=0.904,n=7,P=0.005)致死率与交通量显著相关。本研究认为,两栖类的道路致死率与两栖类种群大小、种群密度、生活史及交通量等都存在显著相关性。     

四川若尔盖湿地国家级自然保护区兽类资源调查

1997年7～8月和2006年10月,对若尔盖湿地国家级自然保护区兽类资源进行了野外调查.结合历史文献确认保护区有兽类39种,东洋界种类10种,古北界26种,广布种3种;有国家Ⅰ、Ⅱ级重点保护动物9种,其中国家Ⅰ级保护动物1种;有我国特有或主要分布于我国的特有兽类15种.总体上看,保护区兽类资源比较贫乏、种类少.大型兽类藏原羚、藏狐和鼬科动物常见;小型兽类黑唇鼠兔、鼢鼠等种群数量大,已对高寒湿地生态系统造成一定的危害,建议进行控制.     

天目山国家级自然保护区旅游公路对节肢动物群落的影响及其动物致死特征

2016年8月和2017年8月, 在天目山国家级自然保护区采用样线法和样方法调查了旅游公路的运营对节肢动物群落的影响及道路致死状况。结果表明, 公路两侧昆虫的遇见率(14.55±4.45 只•km–1)显著的高于林中(8.27±2.22 只•km–1; P=0.018), 公路两侧0—5 m区域内节肢动物的捕获数(33.45±3.23 只•m–2)也显著的高于20—30 m区域(23.92±4.72只•m–2; P=0.027); 并且距离公路0—5 m区域内的节肢动物群落Shannon-Wiener多样性指数(2.21)也高于20—30 m区域(1.90), 说明公路运营对节肢动物群落产生正的边缘效应。动物的平均道路致死率为9.01±3.17只•km–1, 其中昆虫的道路致死数量最高, 占总数的69.44%。说明道路边缘可能由于车辆的行驶而变成生态陷阱。另外还记录到大量的脊椎动物被车辆撞死, 造成动物非自然死亡, 进而对当地的野生动物群落产生明显的负面效应。     

长白山国家级自然保护区爬行动物道路致死特征的初步分析

2007—2014年在长白山国家级自然保护区环区公路、头道公路及白山公路,各选取1条样线,采用直接观测法进行了爬行动物道路致死情况的调查。累计统计里程总长1568 km。研究表明,道路致死爬行动物5种共391条,平均道路致死率为2.5条/10 km;其中白条锦蛇Elaphe dione个体数最多,占致死总数量的49.9%;环区公路道路致死率与白山公路(Mann-Whitney Test:Z=-3.333,P=0.0010.05)、头道公路(Mann-Whitney Test:Z=-2.473,P=0.0130.05)差异有统计学意义,路基宽度最小的头道公路道路致死率最高;岩栖蝮Gloydius saxatilis不同月份道路致死率差异有统计学意义(Kruskal Wallis Test:X~2=13.404,df=5,P=0.0200.05),其他4种爬行动物不同月份道路致死率差异均无统计学意义;各月车流量与各月总道路致死率经Pearson相关分析结果显著不相关(R=0.423,P=0.407)。在此基础上,本研究提出了相应减小道路对爬行动物致死率的措施。     

环长白山旅游公路对中大型兽类的阻隔作用

道路对野生动物的阻隔作用是理解道路对野生动物影响的重要内容。选择毗邻和穿越长白山国家级自然保护区的环长白山旅游公路,于2008—2012年通过路域样线调查,评价了公路对中大型兽类的阻隔作用以及不同植被类型对中大型兽类活动的影响。结果显示:(1)路域500 m范围内有12种中大型兽类活动,包括5种国家级保护物种;(2)红松阔叶林中的中大型兽类的种类和痕迹数量显著大于白桦次生林;(3)公路的自然保护区侧兽类种类显著大于非保护区侧,尤其在雪季,自然保护区侧的兽类种类和痕迹数量都显著大于非保护区侧;(4)野猪(Sus scrofa)、西伯利亚狍(Capreolus pygargus)、黄鼬(Mustela sibirica)、紫貂(Martes zibellina)、黄喉貂(Martes flavigula)、狗獾(Meles leucurus)、松鼠(Sciurus vulgaris)和东北兔(Lepus mandshuricus)的痕迹数量在公路两侧和不同植被类型中都无显著差异,但黄鼬的痕迹数量在雪季时的红松阔叶林内显著大于白桦次生林,野猪和西伯利亚狍在非雪季时的红松阔叶林显著大于白桦次生林;(5)雪季,从路域50 m范围内兽类痕迹数量与兽类穿越率的关系来看,马鹿(Cervus elaphus)穿越公路通道被限制在K25~K27区间,受公路阻隔影响较大;(6)兽类年度穿越率与交通量呈负相关关系,但不显著。本研究表明,环长白山旅游公路对兽类阻隔作用已经显现,且随着时间推移,阻隔作用有加强趋势。鉴于自然保护区外围人为干扰大的现状,提出应加强自然保护区之间的动物迁移走廊建设的建议。     

甘肃安西极旱荒漠自然保护区兽类区系研究

安西极旱荒漠国家级自然保护区位于甘肃河西走廊西端,是我国极旱荒漠生态系统类型的保护区.保护区内共有兽类30种,隶属于7目14科,以啮齿目种类最多,占46.67%.安西保护区的兽类以古北界最多,占86.67%;其次是广布种,占10.00%;东洋界种类仅占3.33%.古北界中中亚型最多,达16种,占53.33%.安西地区的兽类区系以中亚荒漠动物类型为主,在第三纪已孕育形成.     

四川九寨沟自然保护区兽类调查

2002 年至2003 年, 对九寨沟自然保护区兽类进行了6 次野外考察。调查确认, 保护区有兽类78 种, 其中东洋界种类50 种, 古北界种类25 种, 广布种3 种; 有10 种分布型。保护区兽类物种分布体现了较高的南北类群渗透性和残遗性; 有20 种国家I、II 级保护动物, 其中I 级6 种, 珍稀性较明显; 有四川林跳鼠、四川毛尾睡鼠、沟牙田鼠等稀有小型种类; 随着海拔增加, 兽类分布呈现古北界种类增多, 东洋界种类减少的趋势, 但在海拔3 200～3 600 m , 古北界和东洋界种类都仍然丰富, 仍然表现出区系的过渡性特征。     

运用红外相机对太行山猕猴国家级自然保护区(济源)兽类和鸟类多样性的调查

河南太行山猕猴国家级自然保护区(济源)内野生动物种类非常丰富,但已多年未进行过野生动物本底资源调查。于2015年1月至7月,在保护区4个林场内设置了51个2 km×2 km网格,采用红外相机技术对保护区内兽类和地栖性鸟类资源进行调查。经过6 014个捕获日的调查,共记录到野生兽类5目13科17种,鸟类6目12科28种,其中东北刺猬(Erinaceus amurensis)、红腹锦鸡(Chrysolophus pictus)、灰林鸮(Strix aluco)、宝兴歌鸫(Turdus mupinensis)、虎斑地鸫(Zoothera dauma)、紫啸鸫(Myophonus caeruleus)、普通?(Sitta europaea)、黄腹山雀(Parus venustulus)、斑胸钩嘴鹛(Pomatorhinus gravivox)、画眉(Garrulax canorus)等10个种类为保护区新记录种。首次在该保护区拍摄到国家Ⅰ级重点保护动物:豹(Panthera pardus)和林麝(Moschus berezovskii),以及国家Ⅱ级重点保护动物猕猴(Macaca mulatta)、黄喉貂(Martes flavigula)、勺鸡(Pucrasia macrolopha)、红腹锦鸡和灰林鸮。兽类以猪獾(Arctonyx collaris)的相对丰富度指数最高为4.57;鸟类以红腹锦鸡的相对丰富度指数最高为2.03。调查结果显示保护区仍保存较为完整的大中型兽类群落,但顶级捕食者数量稀少,应加大对其栖息地及猎物的保护恢复力度。此外,相机拍摄到大量放牧活动照片,说明当地人为干扰严重,应加强管理。本次调查初步掌握了太行山猕猴国家级自然保护区(济源)内兽类和地栖性鸟类的资源现状,为保护区开展红外相机野生动物长期监测积累了基础资料。     

四川栗子坪自然保护区的兽类区系与资源

2005年3~11月和2006年7~8月对四川栗子坪自然保护区的兽类区系和资源进行了调查,结合历史文献统计,表明保护区内共有兽类76种,隶属7目27科,其中,属国家Ⅰ级重点保护的兽类有5种,国家Ⅱ级重点保护的有12种,中国特产兽类19种。区系组成以东洋界种类为主(60种),占全区兽类种数的78.95%,古北界种类(11种)和广布型种类(5种)分别占14.47%和6.58%。     

四川毛寨自然保护区兽类资源调查

2005年10～11月年和2006年4月,对四川青川县毛寨自然保护区兽类资源进行了调查。根据调查并结合访问、查阅历史资料,确认毛寨保护区有哺乳动物66种,隶7目26科。东洋界有45种,古北界有15种,广布种6种。兽类以东洋界成分为主,出现了一定程度的南北混杂现象。66种兽类中,啮齿目种类最多,有7科22种,占保护区兽类总数的33.33%;其次是食肉目,有7科16种,占24.24%;食虫目3科10种,占15.15%;偶蹄目4科8种,占12.12%;翼手目2科6种,占9.09%;灵长目和兔形目各2种,各占3.03%。保护区有国家Ⅰ级重点保护动物6种,Ⅱ级10种。有东洋界特有科2科,即熊猫科和刺山鼠科。保护区分布有两个值得关注的物种,即猪尾鼠和可能为藏鼠兔的一个新亚种的藏鼠兔。     

Roadkills of vertebrate species on two highways through the Atlantic Forest Biosphere Reserve,southern Brazil

We assessed the magnitude, composition, and spatial and temporal patterns of road mortality of native vertebrates on two highways in southern Brazil from 18 January 2003 to 26 January 2004. The highways cross remnants of the Atlantic Rainforest, a global biodiversity hotspot, and differ in vehicle traffic and surrounding landscape. We compared the road-kill magnitude and composition of birds, mammals, and reptiles between roads and seasons. We used a modified K statistic to depict the spatial patterns of roadkills of these groups and tested the association between vehicle traffic and road mortality through linear regression. We recorded 869 kills of 92 species. The two roads differed regarding the abundance and composition of roadkills. Reptile road mortality was higher in summer than winter, but all other groups did not show significant difference in the magnitude of mortality between seasons. The composition of killed assemblages differed significantly for some of the taxonomic groups among seasons. We found only one positive association between roadkills and vehicle traffic (reptiles on one of the roads), suggesting that vehicle flow does not explain the road-kill temporal variation on these roads. Total vertebrate, bird, and mammal roadkills showed significant spatial aggregations possibly due to variation in vehicle traffic, highway design, and local landscape condition and arrangement. With expected expansion of the road network, mitigation measures for multi-species assemblages should include habitat protection, soil use regulation, road crossing structures, speed reducers, and campaigns to raise people’s awareness about road impacts on wildlife.     

The influence of body-size and diet on road-kill trends in mammals

Roads negatively impact animals in a variety of ways. One of the most obvious impacts is vehicle-induced mortality. We have little understanding of the patterns and rates of road mortality for mammals. The aims of this study were to determine representative road-kill rates for local mammal species, compare road-kill rates between mammals of different sizes and diets, and compare patterns of road mortality between seasons. We hypothesized that carnivores would be killed less often than herbivores or omnivores and that medium sized mammals (1.0–10.0 kg) would be killed more often than expected based on their frequency in the area. At least 50% of the mammal species in the study area were impacted by road mortality, representing 21 species from 5 mammalian orders. Carnivores were found less often and medium-sized mammals more often than predicted. Porcupines (Erithizon dorsatum), raccoons (Procyon lotor), cottontails (Sylvilagus floridanus) and striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) were the most frequent species to be killed. On average, 3.8 mammals were killed per 100 km of road. The road-kill rate varied between seasons and species and peaked in mid June. We also looked across studies to determine general rates of vehicle-induced mortality for mammals and found that an average of 8.8 mammals are killed per 100 km. Given the rapid decline of many mammal species and the consistent increase in vehicle miles traveled, efforts to preserve roadless areas and develop strategies to mitigate the effects of roads on mammals are warranted.     

Traffic Volume Alters Elk Distribution and Highway Crossings in Arizona

ABSTRACT We used 38,709 fixes collected from December 2003 through June 2006 from 44 elk (Cervus elaphus) fitted with Global Positioning System collars and hourly traffic data recorded along 27 km of highway in central Arizona, USA, to determine how traffic volume affected elk distribution and highway crossings. The probability of elk occurring near the highway decreased with increasing traffic volume, indicating that elk used habitat near the highway primarily when traffic volumes were low (<100 vehicles/hr). We used multiple logistic regression followed by model selection using Akaike's Information Criterion to identify factors influencing probability of elk crossings. We found that increasing traffic rates reduced the overall probability of highway crossing, but this effect depended on both season and the proximity of riparian meadow habitat. Elk crossed highways at higher traffic volumes when accessing high quality foraging areas. Our results indicate that 1) managers assessing habitat quality for elk in areas with high traffic-volume highways should consider that habitat near highways may be utilized at low traffic volumes, 2) in areas where highways potentially act as barriers to elk movement, increasing traffic volume decreases the probability of highway crossings, but the magnitude of this effect depends on both season and proximity of important resources, and 3) because some highway crossings still occurred at the high traffic volumes we recorded, increasing traffic alone will not prevent elk-vehicle collisions. Managers concerned with elk-vehicle collisions could increase the effectiveness of wildlife crossing structures by placing them near important resources, such as riparian meadow habitat.     

Spatial,road geometric and biotic factors associated with Barn Owl mortality along an interstate highway

Highway programmes typically focus on reducing vehicle collisions with large mammals because of economic or safety reasons, while overlooking the millions of birds that die annually from traffic. We studied wildlife–vehicle collisions along an interstate highway in southern Idaho, USA, with among the highest reported rates of American Barn Owl Tyto furcata road mortality. Carcass data from systematic and ad hoc surveys conducted in 2004–2006 and 2013–2015 were used to explore the extent to which spatial, road geometric and biotic factors explained Barn Owl–vehicle collisions. Barn Owls outnumbered all other identified vertebrate species of roadkill and represented > 25% of individuals and 73.6% of road‐killed birds. At a 1‐km highway segment scale, the number of dead Barn Owls decreased with increasing numbers of human structures, cumulative length of secondary roads near the highway and width of the highway median. The number of dead Barn Owls increased with higher commercial average annual daily traffic (CAADT), small mammal abundance index and grass rather than shrubs in the roadside verge. The small mammal abundance index was also greater in roadsides with grass vs. mixed shrubs, suggesting that Barn Owls may be attracted to grassy portions of the highway with more abundant small mammals for hunting prey. When assessed at a 3‐km highway segment scale, the number of dead Barn Owls again increased, with higher CAADT as well as with greater numbers of dairy farms. At a 5‐km scale, the number of dead Barn Owls increased with a greater percentage of cropland near the highway. Although human conversion of the environment from natural shrub‐steppe to irrigated agriculture in this region of Idaho has probably enhanced habitat for Barns Owls, it simultaneously has increased risk for owl–vehicle collisions where an interstate highway traverses the altered landscape. We review some approaches for highway mitigation and suggest that reducing wildlife–vehicle collisions involving Barn Owls may contribute to the persistence of this species.     

Long‐term wildlife road‐kill counts in New Zealand

Abstract

We compare the number of medium‐sized animals (between rat and dog‐size) killed on repeated counts along the same 1660 km of North Island highways in 1984, 1994 and 2005 with other counts going back to 1949. Elevenmammal and 14 bird species were recorded, but Australian possums (Trichosurus vulpecula), hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) and rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) predominated, and pukekos (Porphyrio porphyrio), mynas (Acridotheres tristis), and Australian magpies (Gymnorhina tibicen) were the most common birds. Counts of possums, hedgehogs and rabbits ranged between 0.7 and 89 corpses/100 km, and changed dramatically over six decades. The possum count rose 80% between 1984 and 1994, but declined 60% by 2005. A possible irruption of hedgehogs is reported in 1988–89, followed by an 82% decline in their numbers between 1994 and 2005. Although rabbit hemorrhagic disease was introduced to New Zealand in 1997, rabbit road‐kill increased 59% between 1994 and 2005. The relationship between road‐kill and traffic volume indicates that roads carrying more than 3000 vehicles per day act as barriers to larger mammals, while vehicles on less busy roads are more dangerous for crossing animals. We suggest that regular counts taken at annual intervals over the same roads is a useful method for gathering information about the changing distribution and relative abundance of certain animals on a provincial or national scale and over long periods of time. Regular counts at seasonal, monthly or weekly intervals are also a rich source of information.     

Vehicle–wild vertebrate collision mortality on the highways of Tigray,Ethiopia, implications for conservation

In view of the upcoming road network improvement and expansion in Ethiopia, specifically in Tigray, it is also necessary to understand the potential impacts of road accidents with wildlife vertebrate animals. Road mortality detection surveys were conducted from March 2013 to June 2014. We surveyed around 530 km using vehicle with special emphasis given to roads surrounded by wetlands, forests, rocky areas and rivers each month. Additional information was also collected using a standardized questionnaire. A total of twenty species, 143 individuals of amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals were recorded as road vehicular accidents in the surveyed area. Of all, mammals showed the highest species richness (80 individuals belonging to ten species) followed by birds (49 individuals belonging to eight species). The survey revealed most accidents happened during the early morning and late evening. This might be due to relatively high traffic and continued activity of wild animals at that time, besides the driver's inability to avoid accidents when it is dark. Wildlife underpasses during road construction, location of crossing structures, rules of wildlife conservation, improving driver's awareness are relevant in this context and may be the most important mitigation measures to reduce mortality of wildlife on the roads.     

Mortalities caused by off-road vehicles (ORVs) to a key member of sandy beach assemblages,the surf clam <Emphasis Type="Italic">Donax deltoides</Emphasis>

Sandy beaches are prime recreational areas, but human use of beaches is not without ecological consequences. Driving of off-road vehicles on beaches for recreational pursuits is perhaps the physically most severe form of direct anthropogenic disturbance on sandy shores. Potential management and conservation interventions lack, however, data on how sensitive beach species are to vehicle impacts. We therefore experimentally quantified the link between beach traffic and lethal damages caused by vehicles to sandy shore invertebrates, using surf clams (Donax deltoides) as the biological response variable. Although clams had some tolerance against vehicles at low traffic volumes (5 vehicle passes), more than half of them were killed at higher traffic volumes (75 passes) in situations where cars traversed soft sand and turned across the beach face. Overall, both traffic volume and driver behaviour (i.e. straight vs. turning vehicle tracks) determined the incidence of direct crushing of clams under vehicles. Our data demonstrate that recreational use of ORVs is a source of mortality for beach invertebrates, but equally caution against extrapolating impact data from hard-shelled clams to potentially more sensitive soft-bodied species. Robust management interventions that seek to mitigate ecological damage from beach traffic will therefore require information on the functional relationship between the form, intensity and frequency of human disturbance and the biological responses for entire faunal assemblages on sandy shores. Handling editor: T. P. Crowe     

红外相机技术监测喀斯特生兽类和鸟类多样性及活动节律

2012年8月至2013年11月,在15 hm2弄岗森林动态监测样地及其周边地区以1台/2 hm2密度布设了35台红外相机,对研究区域内大中型兽类和林下鸟类资源进行连续监测。共记录到20种兽类和26种鸟类,包括2种国家I级、8种国家II级重点保护野生动物。其中,小泡巨鼠（Leopoldamys edwardsi）、帚尾豪猪（Atherurus macrourus）、赤腹松鼠（Callosciurus erythraeus）、北树鼩（Tupaia belangeri）、赤麂（Muntiacus muntjak）等5种动物拍摄率和相对丰富度均居于兽类的前5位;白鹇（Lophura nycthemera）、橙头地鸫（Zoothera citrina）和蓝背八色鸫（Pitta soror）的相对丰富度居于鸟类的前3位。虽然每月监测的鸟兽种数、多样性指数和均匀度指数均不存在显著的季节性差异,但不同季节记录到的兽类和鸟类种类存在一定差异：黑叶猴（Trachypithecus francoisi）、野猪（Sus scrofa）2种兽类和斑头鸺鹠（Glaucidium cuculoides）、长尾阔嘴鸟（Psarisomus dalhousiae）、红胁蓝尾鸲（Tarsiger cyanurus）3种鸟类仅在旱季记录到;而仙八色鸫（Pitta nympha）和凤头鹰（Accipiter trivirgatus）2种鸟类仅在雨季记录到。活动节律分析结果表明赤麂、北树鼩、赤腹松鼠和白鹇为昼行性动物,帚尾豪猪与小泡巨鼠为夜行性动物。以上研究结果有助于监测喀斯特生境大中型兽类和林下鸟类种群的变化,为保护区有效管理提供数据支持。     

Near-real-time acoustic monitoring of beaked whales and other cetaceans using a Seaglider™

In most areas, estimating the presence and distribution of cryptic marine mammal species, such as beaked whales, is extremely difficult using traditional observational techniques such as ship-based visual line transect surveys. Because acoustic methods permit detection of animals underwater, at night, and in poor weather conditions, passive acoustic observation has been used increasingly often over the last decade to study marine mammal distribution, abundance, and movements, as well as for mitigation of potentially harmful anthropogenic effects. However, there is demand for new, cost-effective tools that allow scientists to monitor areas of interest autonomously with high temporal and spatial resolution in near-real time. Here we describe an autonomous underwater vehicle--a glider--equipped with an acoustic sensor and onboard data processing capabilities to passively scan an area for marine mammals in near-real time. The glider was tested extensively off the west coast of the Island of Hawai'i, USA. The instrument covered approximately 390 km during three weeks at sea and collected a total of 194 h of acoustic data. Detections of beaked whales were successfully reported to shore in near-real time. Manual analysis of the recorded data revealed a high number of vocalizations of delphinids and sperm whales. Furthermore, the glider collected vocalizations of unknown origin very similar to those made by known species of beaked whales. The instrument developed here can be used to cost-effectively screen areas of interest for marine mammals for several months at a time. The near-real-time detection and reporting capabilities of the glider can help to protect marine mammals during potentially harmful anthropogenic activities such as seismic exploration for sub-sea fossil fuels or naval sonar exercises. Furthermore, the glider is capable of under-ice operation, allowing investigation of otherwise inaccessible polar environments that are critical habitats for many endangered marine mammal species.